Offered here is an autographed piece of cardstock signed by Rupert Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) who was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes, Sr. and uncle of billionaire Howard R. Hughes, Jr. His three-volume scholarly biography of George Washington broke new ground in demythologizing Washington and was well received by historians. A staunch anti-Communist, in the 1940s he served as president of the American Writers Association, a group of anti-Communist writers.
Also included: Rupert Hughes cornercard May 3, 1943 envelope addressed to Bowman in New Castle, PA; Scott 905.
Ex. James A. Bowman Collection ---
James A. Bowman, a longtime educator at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, began collecting autographs on stamps in the late 1930s and continued into the 1950s. A history buff with an impressive, award-winning stamp collection, Bowman incorporated the signatures of some of the world’s greatest names as a way of exciting the imaginations of his seventh grade classroom and, in his own particular way, bringing history to life: ‘I have found that there is a visual means of forming this necessary educational contact, which inspires the best in the lives of pupils; namely, the exhibiting of the autographs of the great people in all fields of endeavor.’ Bowman's collection includes over 700 different autographs of famous persons signed on cards, letters and over postage stamps.
The catalyst for Bowman was a stamp auction in 1938, and the chance to obtain a coil strip of three of the 2c Thomas Edison Commemorative, signed across the face by the famed Menlo Park inventor. He lost the bid, but in his failure Bowman discovered a novel way of enhancing his philatelic pursuits—mailing stamps to notable figures for them to sign. His first successful signed stamp was Alfonso XIII of Spain, and his second, after several attempts, was King Edward VIII.
Although the advent of World War II forced Bowman to secure a license for sending stamps abroad, even this could not slow the steady growth of his collection. And much to Bowman’s eruditionary delight, as his collection grew, so did the fascination of his students: ‘Many of my pupils have been inspired by the signatures of the great people of our times to do better. Some of the pupils have themselves taken up the hobby.’ Filled with an array of world leaders, presidents, inventors, scientists, artists, and athletes, the James A. Bowman Collection is one of the most extraordinary autographed collections ever assembled where every single signature was acquired directly by the collector. Each autographed item from the Bowman Collection will be listed separately and available to collectors through our eBay auctions in the weeks and months ahead.
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