1041

Madame Wanda Collection

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Madame Wanda Collection

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Auction Date:2013 Jul 17 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Two books of signatures collected by the professional psychic, seer, astrologer, and handwriting analyst Madame Wanda (real name Pauline Strauss), from the period of 1929–1953. The books contain over 1200 signatures from actors and actresses, ballet dancers, swamis, composers, musicians, cartoonists, columnists, and foreign dignitaries. The books have multiple signatures to each page (most pages are signed on both sides), with most in ink, and some in pencil. One book measures 7 x 9.25, the other 7.75 x 10. An amazing collection of notable names, including many Academy Award winners. Signers include: James Whale, Bobby Jones, Basil Rathbone, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Buster Keaton, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, John Barrymore, Rita Hayworth, Tyrone Power, Irving Berlin (2 AQS), John Ford, Bela Lugosi, Una O’Connor, Carole Landis, Cecil Beaton, Carmen Miranda, Helen Twelvetrees, George Sanders, Shirley Temple, Jane Darwell, Sidney Toler, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, and Billie Burke.

There is mention of an Assistance League several times in these books. The Assistance League was the first non-profit orginization in the West and still exists today. Anne Banning, a prominent member, whose signature is in the book borrowed the money to purchase a house for their first headquarters. In this house, the Assistance League had a thrift shop, trousseau shop, the Treasure Chest, an art gallery, and a tea room in the attic. The Attic Tearoom of Hollywood began in the attic of League headquarters. Meals were prepared for executives and actors who worked at the nearby studios. Such rising stars such as Anne Miller, Shirley Temple, Norma Shearer, and Mary Pickford served as volunteer waitresses who donated their tips to the League.

The books themselves are in good condition, obviously handled from obtaining the signatures, with most of the pages fully- or partially-detached from the binding. The pages themselves are in very good to fine condition, with some pencil name notations near some of the signatures, and some staining to the edges of Book Two’s pages, affecting just a small handful of signatures. A more comprehensive list is available for download here.