Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Rudolph Valentino Bust

This is a fantastic photo of a Valentino bust sent to me by Rick Spector. The bust is a great likeness of Valentino, the base depicts someone behind a movie camera filming a scene. This is a very unique piece and would be highly valuable.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

A Sainted Devil Movie Program

This is a movie program from the film, "A Sainted Devil." The program is from England and is not a common program. Most of these programs are highly collectible and are fairly reasonably priced compared to original lobby cards and movie posters.

Beyond the Rocks Lobby Card

This is a lobby card from the film," Beyond the Rocks." Original lobby cards from this film are very valuable and not as easy to find as some of Valentino's other films. I personally like lobby cards from this film because of the vibrant colors on the cards.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Photos of Rudolph Valentino from A Sainted Devil

These are five rare photos from the lost film, "A Sainted Devil." Having never seen the film, the costumes make it appear to be a cross between The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Blood and Sand. I feel the items from lost films are more sought after by collectors.












The Life and Loves of Rudolph Valentino

This is a very rare booklet from 1926. It is entitled "The Life and Loves of Rudolph Valentino." This soft bound booklet is 30 pages long and has various photos of Valentino from his films. The back of each photo in the book reads, "Other side for framing purposes if you so desire." There are articles in the book from Dorothy Herzog, Edward J. Doherty, and C.F. Zittel. This appears to be a supplemental booklet produced by a magazine or newspaper. The article from C.F. Zittel is sited from "Zit's Weekly Newspaper." This is the only copy of this book I have ever come across. This book is extremely rare, and quite valuable.








Saturday, July 24, 2010

A Sainted Devil Swedish Movie Program

This is a fantastic Swedish movie program/herald from the film, "A Sainted Devil." The art used for the front of this program is the same art used for the Swedish movie poster. This is a great item from a lost film.



Sunday, July 18, 2010

Rudolph Valentino Autographed Page

This is a great Valentino autograph, most likely from a scrapbook of some sort. This particular signature is unique in the fact that it is dated and shows where he signed it, London. This is when he went to Europe in 1923. This would be a great piece if it was framed and mounted with a few photos of Valentino from this trip!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

London Edition of Daydreams by Rudolph Valentino

This is a very rare edition of Daydreams, which is Valentino's book of poetry. This is the blue hardback edition of Daydreams from London. If anyone has a photo of the dust cover for this book, please send me a photo. This book is extremely rare, I am unsure if a dust cover even exists.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Photos of Rudolph Valentino from Cobra

These are five photos from the film, "Cobra." For any Valentino fan who has not seen this film, I would highly recommend it. It depicts Valentino as an Italian womanizer who comes to America. Nita Naldi is fantastic in this film as well.








The Eagle Rudolph Valentino Movie Program

This is a movie program for the film, "The Eagle." The program is from the Capital Theatre, it states, "Rudolph Valentino in his latest and best picture." There are some great photo on the inside and back from the film. This appears to be a custom program produced by the theatre which makes it more valuable because less were produced. These programs / movie hearlds are great collectibles, they serve as a mini poster and lobby card all in one for a fraction of the price.







Friday, June 18, 2010

Rudolph Valentino Vintage Sheik Bust

Attention Valentino experts, we have a fan/collector that needs our help. Recently, I was contacted by someone who owns this fantastic Valentino Bust. It originally belonged to their Mother, they are looking for any information about this item. It measures 9" tall and about 5" wide. It used to have a small gold plaque on the bottom that read: 10-25-1926. My guess is that it is a one of a kind plaster piece that someone created; however, I am not certain of this. If anyone has seen this, has any information, or also owns one of these please post your comments or send me photos of the one you own. The owner would be grateful for any information you may have.













Sunday, June 13, 2010

1920's Silent Star Paper Fan

This is promotional paper fan from the Colonial Theatre from Massachusetts. The fan features various silents stars, but features Valentino right in the center of the fan. Even though these fans were most likely massed produced by the theatre, I have never come across one until now. This is another example of a great random Valention collectible.







Thursday, June 3, 2010

Candid Photos of Rudolph Valentino

These are five candid photos of Valentino. Many photos, including some of these are staged or posed photos. I really enjoy the unstaged, candid photos, they seem to be harder to come by.









Friday, May 28, 2010

Rare Glass Slide, Post Valentino's Death

This is a rare glass slide with an image of Valentino from the film, A Sainted Devil. This had to be a very offensive message to his family, fellow actors, and his fans. The slide reads:

My Friends and Admirers

I want you to know I am dead only in body. It now lies in a places belonging to a person not yet dead.

When death takes that friend my body again will be moved and in another generation it will find a final resting place in the potters field. So I wish to take this opportunity to beg my friends in Hollywood to buy for me a final resting place and attend to it as soon as possible, then I will be happy.

I wish to have it known I was murdered by a jealous woman because I would not consent to her divorcing her husband and marrying me. I wish my friend Ulman to be in charge of the money for my final resting place, because he is honest; not my Brother or Sister as they only love me for my money as do some women of the silent pictures, who try to make people think I was in love with them, when they know I did not care for their company.

I am

Rudolph Valentino


After Valentino's death there were many rumors about his death, one of the many rumors was that he was poisoned by a jealous husband, this slide suggests a jealous wife. Regarding his brother and sister, I know of no ill feeling he had toward them. During this time there was talk about where to bury Valentino, originally it was to be in Italy; however he ended up in one of June Mathis's crypts. The slide also makes mention of his business manager George Ullman; however, Ulman, with one l, is misspelled.

The part that bothers me the most is that the slide attempts to speak for Valentino after his death, it seems a disrespectful act so soon after his death. I am unsure about the source of this slide. It could have been something created by the movie studios, George Ullman, or possibly a local theatre owner, I am unsure. I have never come across another one of these slides, this is a great example of a random Valentino item.


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Postcard from the Valentino Memorial in Italy

This is a postcard from the Valentino Memorial which is located in Castellaneta Italy, Valentino's birthplace. I hope to be able to visit this someday.


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Rudolph Valentino Promotional Token

This is a Rudolph Valentino promotional token that was most likely given out at a re-release of The Sheik. The front depicts Valentino along with his name and the years of his birth and death, 1895, 1926. The back reads, "Hollywood's top silent star of all time, Idol of millions as "The Sheik." I have not come across many of these tokens, I believe they are difficult to find and very sought after by collectors. I am looking for one of these myself.




Saturday, May 22, 2010

Photos of Rudolph Valentino with Dogs

Two of these photos are from movies sets. The third photo is from the set of The Eagle with Clarence Brown, the second photo is a rare photo from the set of Uncharted Seas. Valentino was an advid dog lover, therefore there are many photos of Valentino with his dogs.













A Rogue's Romance Mailer

This is a cardboard mailer for the film, "A Rogue's Romance." The film was originally released in 1919. This mailer was mailed by Vitagraph and is dated 1922. The film was re-released to capitalize on Valentino's up and coming fame even though he had a supporting role in the film. The original star of the fim, Earle Williams is also called out on this flyer as well. I would assume something such as this would be sent to theatre owners by the studios. This is a very unique item.




Sunday, May 16, 2010

1925 Rudolph Valentino Theatre Handout Photo

This is a theatre handout from 1925. It depicts a color drawing of Valentino in a v-neck sweater with a bow tie. On the back of this handout are advertisements for a few upcoming movies. The comical fact is that none of the advertised movies are Valentino films. This is simply advertising with Valentino's face on it so that people picked it up and looked at it. These handouts are difficult to come across.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Spanish Son of the Sheik Booklet

This is a Spanish booklet that depicts Valentino on the cover reading mail. This is from a Spanish Chocolate company. The top reads Evaristo Juncosa, collection of movies, Rodolfo Valentino from The Son of the Sheik. This appears to be promoting Valentino and The Son of Sheik. This is not a very common booklet, but not extremely valuable.