Last month Nate D. Sanders sold more than 1100 items from the personal collection of Moe Howard (1897-1975) of the Three Stooges. The collection, which had remained intact since Howard's death, includes three passports dated 1939, 1955, and 1964. Let's have a look. 1939:
James Thurber, the celebrated American author and cartoonist, is shown here in a 1955 passport photo at age 60. Thurber lost an eye in a boyhood accident in which his brother shot him with an arrow. His wife Helen describes his condition in this document with the words "left eye missing." At this point, he was virtually blind and no longer able to draw. Even his familiar signature is barely recognizable.
With this passport, James Thurber travelled to the Netherlands, France, and England. The question is, did he ever leave Thurber Country?
Note: There is more on this great man of lettershere.
See a passport that once belonged to Groucho Marx here.Now, does anyone have a real passport that belonged to Saul Steinberg? That might be interesting....
Well, you never know what will turn up next on eBay. In this case it'sGroucho Marx's1939 passport. It is issued to Julius H. Marx who may be accompanied by his wife Ruth. This passport is issued just around the time the movie "At the Circus" is released. The Marx Brothers are a bit past their prime now although Groucho is sharp as ever. He is 48 years old. The couple has been married for 19 years and will be divorced in another three.
The passport is not signed on page three where indicated but is signed on the photograph. Information on the inside front cover has not been completed. There are no visa or customs stamps, at least in the photo. The question, then, is was this passport ever used?
What is clear is that this interesting piece of Hollywood memorabilia will have a new owner when the auction closes in some four days from now. A single bid of $1,250 has already been received.
Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth
Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx
Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth
Passport of Julius H. "Groucho" Marx, shown with wife Ruth
Note: I am indebted to Steve Stoliar, author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho's House, for pointing out this auction to me. You can check out his website here.He has already made a significant contribution to this blog, sharing his personal library of three Dr. Seuss books, two inscribed with green eggs and one with ham! Read all about it here, then reward him for his noble service to this blog and buy his book.
I have a few more posts of a distinctly Marxist naturehere.
