Signed letters, photos and other sports memorabilia

Signed letters, photos and other sports memorabilia (Julius Erving, Buck Leonard,  Jack Johnson, Satchel Paige, Harlem Globetrotters (many annual programs, LPs, and other Globetrotter items), Joe Frazier, Ali, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, George Foreman, Negro Baseball League, Sugar Ray Leonard and more). Boxing gloves signed by Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson and others. Many Harlem Globetrotter programs 1948-2005. Click here to review the other Harlem Globetrotter items. Pictured is the 1949 (23rd Season) Harlem Globetrotter's program -->

<--Harlem Globetrotter ('46-'74) Bob "Showboat" Hall's (signed) travel bag. This is the actual bag he used in his world travels with the Harlem Globetrotters...

-- Rare original AFTRA Engagement Contract dated January 28, 1972, for Pearl Bailey's appearance on the Harlem Globetrotter's Celebrity Special (NBC) at The Forum in LA -- signed by Pearl, w/ her Social Security # (Pearl was paid $1000 for her appearance).

--  Absolutely rare original signed check for $5002.30 from Samuel Goldwyn Productions made out to Pearl Bailey, dated September 6, 1958. Pearl Bailey was working on Porgy and Bess, which was released June 4th, 1959 (Otto Preminger, Director). This check was all or part of her payment for playing Maria in Porgy and Bess. The check is signed on the back twice -- Pearl Bailey and Pearl Bellson (Pearl was married to jazz drummer Louie Bellson, who revitalized the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the 1950s). The Porgy and Bess film was marginally successful when released, winning an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award. Ira Gershwin and the Gershwin estate were unhappy with the film, however, and rescinded the rights to the film in the 1970s. As a result, the film has never been on video or DVD here in America, and few public screenings have been permitted, albeit begrudgingly. It is believed that the original negative is in dire need of a restoration. This collection has a DVD copy of the entire film, obtained from another country.
--  Dubose Heyward: PORGY. Published in 1934 by The Modern Library, NY. Stated First Modern Library Edition. Hard cover, no dj, 196 pages, Illustrated Chapter headings. DuBose Heyward (August 31, 1885 – June 16, 1940) is best-known as the author of the 1924 novel Porgy, which became the foundation of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. Langston Hughes called Heyward "one who saw, "with his white eyes, wonderful, poetic qualities in the inhabitants of Catfish Row that makes them come alive." Biographer James M. Hutchisson characterizes Porgy as "the first major southern novel to portray blacks without condescension" and states that the libretto to Porgy and Bess was largely Heyward's work. Book is in good condition.
--  Rare 1959 vintage poster (16" x 23") of the film (Belgium), Porgy and Bess. -- starring Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey and others.
--  A vintage First Edition hardback illustrated motion picture movie book titled: The Samuel Goldwyn Motion Picture Productions of Porgy and Bess, copyright 1959...the year the movie was released.
-- Souvenir program of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess", Produced by Cheryl Crawford ca. 1943. Directed by Robert Ross, Starring Todd Duncan, Anne Brown, Georgette Harvey et al. Cover art by Al Hirschfeld, 9" x 12", 15 pages, includes 10 b/w photos. Clean, flat and still tightly bound in EXCELLENT condition.