Judy Garland Spots James Mason In Rare 1805 Book

by Stephen J. Gertz

The original, unsigned and undated, artwork for a series of satirical prints, Symptoms of Drilling, signed on the published prints as  "Designed & Etched by H.B.H. Esq. 1805" without imprint, recently fell into my lap. Bound by Riviere and Son c. 1900 - incredibly with misspelled title, "Symptons," on the upper cover - it was from the collection of the great film  director, George Cukor, and bears his celebrated bookplate designed by Paul Landacre.

Bookplate by Paul Landacre.

"For George / I came across this book & spotted James Mason. Judy"

It was a gift to Cukor from Judy Garland, inscribed, "For George/ I ran across this book & spotted James Mason / Judy." The book was likely presented and the message likely written c. 1953-54, the years that Cukor's production of Garland's star-vehicle, A Star Is Born, co-starring Mason, was shot and released. 

Symptoms of Drilling / Fall in Gentlemen!- heads up! - eyes right!

Ready! -p'sent! - wait Gentlemen, wait for the Word "Fire!"

The watercolors, in a style similar to Thomas Rowlandson, depict a motley crew of comical recruits engaged in soldier's training under the direction of a drill sergeant. The captions have been added by hand in the sky above the heads of the recruits. A bookseller's description tipped to the front endpaper mistakenly attributes them to Rowlandson but the only surviving copies of the published prints, at the British Museum (incomplete set) and Brown University (complete set), bear the signature and date at noted above.

Shoulder Arms.

It remains unknown who "H.B.H." or "H, H.B." is, and the published album is unrecorded by Tooley or Abbey.

March!!!- Cock-up there!

To the Right - face!

The series might well have been titled, "1st Division, Wildly Divided, Amateur Army... Chaos on the March!!!" If someone looking like James Mason is part of this platoon of British Gomer Pyles I don't see him. Miss Garland was clearly poking fun at the British actor who, in A Star Is Born, portrays washed-up movie star, Norman Maine, to Judy Garland's rising star, Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester, the two in a heartfelt yet disastrous marriage.

Authentic Judy Garland autograph material is difficult to come by - studio publicists routinely signed still photographs - and her signature mutated over the years, her autograph from the 1930s - 1940s quite distinct from later examples. As odd as her signature appears here in contrast to earlier ones there is little doubt that this inscription is genuine. Why would someone make the  effort to deceive with this obscure, one-off album, and why would it be in George Cukor's possession? 

Had she remained in character the inscription would have been tear-stained and signed, "Mrs. Norman Maine," how Vicki Lester accepted her Academy Award after dearly beloved husband Norman Maine took a long walk off a short pier and journeyed into the drink for a final, dramatic exit stage-right to continue his full-time drinking into eternity.

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[H.B.H. or H., H.B.]. Symptoms of Drilling. N.p.: n.p., n.d. [1805]. Oblong octavo (5¾ x 16¾ in; 145 x 427 mm). A set of five original watercolor illustrations folded in two.

1. Symptoms of Drilling. Fall in Gentlemen!- heads up! - eyes right!
2. To the Right - face!
3.  March!!!- Cock-up there!
4.  Shoulder Arms
5.  Ready! -p'sent! - wait Gentlemen, wait for the Word "Fire!" 

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Images courtesy of David Brass Rare Books, with our thanks.
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The Most Significant Marilyn Monroe Autographed Document Comes To Market

by Stephen J. Gertz

The most compelling, important, and revealing piece of Marilyn Monroe autographed memorabilia extant has come to auction.

It is the earliest signed item, a business letter, yet to surface that documents  the existential moment when print model Norma Jeane Dougherty became Marilyn Monroe but was three years away from becoming the star with all that followed; Norma Jeane but no longer Norma Jeane, Marilyn but not yet Marilyn. It captures an identity in flux that never found certainty afterward.

Co-signed as Norma Jeane Dougherty and Marilyn Monroe and dated January 21, 1947, it will be auctioned at Nate D. Sanders Auctions on November 18, 2010.

Sent to Harry Lipton at the Elise Cukor-Lipton Agency, NJD/MM writes:

This will notify you that under date of January 10, 1947 I mailed a registered letter with return receipt requested to National Concert & Artists Corporation, 9059 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles 46, California discharging them as my agents and stating that I wish my agency contract transferred to you at Elise Cukor-Lipton Agency, 9157 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. I have been informed by National Concert and Artists Corporation that my files and pictures are available for pick up. Will you please acknowledge receipt of this letter. Very truly yours...  cc: Screen Actors Guild

National Concert & Artists Corporation (NCAC) grew out of NBC Artist Services Department, the National Broadcasting Company's personal management branch that was split off as an independent entity in the early 1940s due to gross conflict of interest issues, NBC being both seller and buyer of talent services. 

It is known that Norma Jeane Dougherty was represented for modeling work by The Blue Book Agency. 1946 was a very good year for Norma Jeane's modeling career; she appeared on dozens of magazine covers, an anonymous beauty. In July, 1946, she caught the eye of and was interviewed by 20th Century Fox executive, Ben Lyon, shot her first screen test, and signed with the studio, NCAC, apparently, representing her. Norma Jeane Dougherty, at Ben Lyon's behest and with his input, changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. A year later, in August 1947, after  a few tiny and lackluster film assignments, 20th Century Fox declined to renew her contract.

But before that occurred, in January of 1947, she switched representation, signing with the respected boutique talent shop, The Elsie Cukor Agency; Elsie Cukor was director George Cukor's sister. That relationship would end shortly after her Fox contract expired. Monroe would drift for a while before hooking up with agent Johnny Hyde, who landed her a part in the Marx Brothers' Love Happy (1949), an appearance that caught director John Huston's attention.

With Groucho Marx, in Love Happy.

 Her subsequent appearance in Huston's The Asphalt Jungle (1950) was her break-out role, and Marilyn Monroe left Norma Jeane Dougherty behind, once and for all, in fact if not in soul.

This TLs (Typed Letter, signed) records an early, key point in the tale, and it is the only known document to possess her autographs under both names, likely the first and last time that Norma Jeane Dougherty would share billing with Marilyn Monroe and vice-versa; no earlier  document - none, period - possessing both signatures has yet been discovered.

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Single page, 8.5" x 11". In very good condition, with uniform moderate toning to the page, a bit heavier at edges, not detracting at all from the crisp and precise signatures.

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Image courtesy of Nate D. Sanders Auctions.

This is the second time within thirty days that Nate D. Sanders has pulled a giant rabbit out of his hat. Last month, as reported by Booktryst, the auctioneer offered an unpublished Dr. Seuss manuscript that ultimately sold for $40,800 w/buyer's premium.

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Of related interest: Marilyn Monroe: Avid Reader, Writer & Book Collector.

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