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The Golden Age of Hollywood
Lot 194
A William Wellman archive of ephemera, including letters from Clara Bow and John Ford
14 May 2019, 13:00 PDT
Los AngelesSold for US$637.50 inc. premium
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A William Wellman archive of ephemera, including letters from Clara Bow and John Ford
Comprising an Autograph Letter Signed ("Clara–('It Girl')"), 1.5 pp, 8vo, Culver City, December 1963, to William Wellman, on a Christmas card with her name also stamped on the inside, with original transmittal envelope. Bow appeared in Wellman's aviation film, Wings (1927), the first film to receive the Best Picture Academy Award®. In her letter, she reminisces about the making of that picture: "You were always my favorite director, but you were a hard taskmaster. I think I did my best acting under your direction"; a Typed Letter Signed ("Jack"), 1 p, 8vo, July 18, 1950, from director John Ford to Wellman, on monogrammed stationery, with an aged piece of tape at the top where he had superstitiously attached a dime (the imprint of which is still visible); an Autograph Letter Signed ("Billy"), 4 pp recto and verso, 8vo, Los Angeles, July 8, 1922, from Wellman to his parents, on "William Fox Vaudeville Company" stationery, with original transmittal envelope. A 26-year-old Wellman regales his "Little Mother and Dad" with news of breaking his nose while diving in a pool and assures them that he will not have a "misshaped beak–it is still the same long affair." He also expresses excitement over the good reviews surrounding the recent films he has worked on for Fox, Oath-Bound (1922) and [The] Fast Mail (1922); a 6 x 6 in. "Happy Birthday" tile dated February 29, 1952, with signatures in pencil by stars such as Fred MacMurray, John Payne, and Ricardo Montalban; a 1 p Autograph Letter Signed from actor James Franciscus (husband of Wellman's daughter) containing a humorous citation for Wellman titled, "For Gallantry in Marital Warfare"; a marriage certificate uniting Wellman with wife Dorothy in 1934 (unsigned), accompanied by a glamour portrait of Dorothy inscribed to Wellman's parents; a vintage portrait of Helene Chadwick, one of Wellman's earlier wives; and a signed portrait of Anne Baxter inscribed, "For Pat / who stole / the best of a / tired wardrobe! / Fondly / Anne Baxter." Baxter appeared under Wellman's direction in Yellow Sky (1948).
Provenance: William Wellman, Jr.
8.5 x 11 in.
Provenance: William Wellman, Jr.
8.5 x 11 in.




















