Books signed by the author

[skyvue]

I like Rudy Vallee. I've come to really enjoy his music, as my appreciation for music of that era has increased over time, and I get a kick out of his odd, often salacious personality. He really was kind of bonkers, or so it often seems.

So when I decided to purchase the first of his two or three memoirs, Vagabond Dreams Come True, which was published in 1930, I opted to really take the plunge and buy a signed copy.

It arrived in the mail today. It has no dust cover (never very surprising with an 80-year-old book) but is otherwise in good condition, and there on the title page, just opposite a black-and-white photo of the man, it is inscribed, "Hope you like it! -- Rudy Vallee."

Aw, heck, why just describe it when I can show it to you?

​

From the color of the ink, I'm guessing this was signed late in Vallee's life, but I don't mind that.

Like I said, I'm really excited about this purchase.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Excellent buy -- it's a very entertaining book, and unlike a lot of celebrity memoirs, Vallee wrote every word of it himself, as he did every other book and magazine article appearing under his name.

I also have a signed copy -- mine was presented to one Norris Crosby of Bucksport, Maine in honor of his finishing 32nd in the 1930 Van Cortlandt Park Race. Never let it be said that Rudy failed to appreciate his fans!

 

[skyvue]

Very nice! There's something to be said about your copy having been signed back in the day, rather than more recently, like mine.

I've changed the title of the thread, by the way, thinking it might be good to have a thread devoted to books signed by famous (and not-so-famous, authors.

Another one I have in my collection is actor Edward Arnold's Lorenzo Goes to Hollywood: The Biography of Edward Arnold, which was written in 1940. I'm a big fan of Arnold's work and it's an enjoyable book, though it focuses almost entirely on his theatrical career, which I found mildly disappointing.

But it has a signature -- no inscription -- which pleases me.

 

[Edward]

I have a few signed editions, most acquired in person - among them books by Leonard Nimoy, Tom Baker, Nick Cave and Reggie Kray. I would love to have something signed by Bogart... I was looking at signed items - photos, though, not books - by Marlene Dietrich recently, but alas those were rather outside my budget.

 

[Puzzicato]

I have signed editions from Terry Pratchett, Katharine Kerr and Anne McCaffrey. My taste in fiction clearly tends towards fantasy!

 

[skyvue]

I have a few signed editions, most acquired in person - among them books by Leonard Nimoy, Tom Baker, Nick Cave and Reggie Kray. I would love to have something signed by Bogart... I was looking at signed items - photos, though, not books - by Marlene Dietrich recently, but alas those were rather outside my budget.

I have a few signed non-book items -- photos signed by Groucho Marx, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers, Lauren Bacall, Jimmy Stewart, and Woody Allen, among others, cards signed by Kay Francis and Ann Harding, and books signed by Fran Lebowitz and Richard Avedon.

I also purchased as gifts for my wife books signed by Vincent Price, Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf (she's a huge VP fan, and we're both "What's My Line?" fans).

I also have a picture of myself, taken by and signed by Annie Leibovitz.

 

[Diamondback]

I have a modest collection, almost all signed by astronauts or members of elite military aviation units--notable exceptions being Gene "Failure is NOT an option!" Kranz, and "Poet Laureate of Naval Aviation" Barrett Tillman.

----------------
Now playing: John Williams - The Imperial Probe - Aboard the Executor
via FoxyTunes

 

[LizzieMaine]

I have a number of items signed by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll -- radio's Amos and Andy -- which I picked up when I was researching my biography of them, including a copy of their 1929 promotional book, the original 1942 script to their 4000th episode, inscribed to Hollywood columnist Jimmy Starr, and a 1982 postcard which may be the last autograph Gosden signed before his death. I also have a number of Vallee items aside from the book mentioned above, including a pile of Fleischmann's Yeast Hour scripts from 1929-31 with Rudy's handwritten changes.

Other signed books I have include a copy of "Show Biz -- From Vaudeville to Video," signed by Abel Green, longtime editor of Variety, and a radio technical manual signed by John F. Rider, who was a legendary figure among radio technicians of the thirties. And, I have several comic books signed by C. C. Beck, the curmudgeonly creator of Captain Marvel -- I actually got these for pennies, because "someone had written his name on them."

 

[Puzzicato]

And, I have several comic books signed by C. C. Beck, the curmudgeonly creator of Captain Marvel -- I actually got these for pennies, because "someone had written his name on them."

That's crazy! You must have been very happy to take them off the seller's unworthy hands!

 

[Smithy]

I have a few, all WWII memoirs by former RAF and RNZAF pilots.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"I have a book by Barry Humphries which my sister Hortense, had signed for me, as a birthday gift, it reads: "Dearest Binkie, Kind thoughts from an intellectual loved one, Barry Humphries"

 

[December]

The best I have is a book signed by Jeremy Kyle!! lol

 

[Kid Mac]

Selected Poems, Seamus Heaney.

 

[MrNewportCustom]

I have a few modern books signed by the authors. Kinky Friedman has signed about half of the books I have by him and Richard S. Prather signed the last Shel Scott book (#40) in the series, ShellSchock. Mr. Prather passed away less than a year later.

I do have one vintage book that was signed, but not by the author. It's title is Triumph Over Pain (1938) and Larry and Ellen gave it to Dr. Gray on December 25, 1941.


Lee

 

[BegintheBeguine]

My Kinky Friedman snotrag was signed to me by Kinky.
The latest book I have that was signed by the author is Paper Chess by Kell Black. It's two complete chess sets you punch out and make, or just leave it on the cocktail table for guests to pick up and say '"'Cool" over.

 

[clubwitsend]

I've got the Doris Eaton Travis books signed by her...'The Days We Danced'- an autobiography...and 'Century Girl', a pictorial/collage biography by Lauren Redniss. She was so wonderful!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I have a copy of Gabby: A Fighter Pilot's Life by WWII fighter ace Francis Gabreski signed by COL Gabreski and several other aces including Jerry Johnson and Walker "Bud" Mahurin who just recently passed away at age 91.

Another one that I have is XIV Army at War by George Forty. In addition to being signed by the author, it's also signed and inscribed by Lieut. James Allan, a company commander in the XIV Army's 2nd Battalion, The Green Howards, whose account is in the book. My copy, which I found at a library sale several years ago, was originally a gift from Mr. Allan to Dennis Cavanaugh, an OSS* veteran who had served in Burma, for the copy also has enclosed a letter to this individual from Mr. Allan written on Burma Star Association letterhead.

*Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA

 

[Rick Blaine]

Hanta Yo by Ruth Bebe Hill, Sounder by William Armstrong, Where the wild things are by Sendak, Silent Spring by Eisenstat (photographer), The Eye of Jazz by Herman Leonard, The Melungeons by Kennedy, Photographs by Annie Leibovitz. And a number of other classic children's books 'cause me Mum was a children's librarian and met many Authors & Illustrators at conventions.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I have a signed Alan Ginsberg and one from Yogi Berra! Who I once shared a ride to Vet Stadium with.

 

[dr greg]

HST

Got a F&L on the Campaign Trail signed in my presence by the late Dr Thompson