Romantic intrigue are a part of this collection of ten titles from the library of Rue McClanahan’s Manhattan home. This group includes five paperbacks and five hardcovers. There are a few FIRST EDITION’s, including a 40-year old coffee table book entitled “Hollywood and the Great Fan Magazines.” Two of the newer hardcovers even have Rue’s bookplate glued inside. However, it is a couple of the books from the early 50’s that are really interesting because they have a romantic story attached. During a summer Rue spent acting as one of the Jatoma Players in Ann Arbor, MI, she became infatuated with a number of local boys: Ed; Norman, who ended up deflowering her years later in NYC and later still becoming her second husband; and a suitor named Max Harris. Rue studied German in college as did Max, and so he used their language connection to try and win the battle for her affections. One of these books is a falling apart old German textbook that belonged to Max Harris, it contains Rue’s notes and even a 60-year old folded piece of paper with a paragraph she composed in German. The other book in this pairing is a book of poetry given to Rue by Max Harris for Christmas of 1954. This volume contains a beautiful inscription on the inside cover wherein he declares his love. This collection of books comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from The Estate of Rue McClanahan, and we are going to include copies of several pages from Rue’s journal during this period, when she is trying to figure out which one of the men she wanted to be with. It is compelling reading!
Stay Tuned…
New items will be regularly added to the Estate Sale. Please keep checking back for more great things from The Estate of Rue!Featured Items
NOW $80! Rue's Dramatic Black Hat with Hat Box [SOLD]
One glance will tell you that this hat of Rue’s was definitely for some role she played – it is just too dramatic! Even if the tulle netting, ostrich feather, and sequins didn’t convince you, then certainly the double-stick tape and foam insert put in there so the hat would stay firmly on her head would do the trick – this hat is from a project, we just don’t know which one. Therefore, this “Sonni of San Fransisco” number is being listed as one of Rue’s personal hats from her closet. The entire piece is about 10″ across and about 8″ high, but it is malleable and so those measurements can change. The firm woven part is about 7″ x 6″ and it has a double row of sequins inside the brim. Because of the big feather, Rue kept the hat in a solid hat box – 12″ x 4.5″ – and we’ll include the box with the hat. Also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
$275 NOW $80!
Rue Made Red Rose Earrings [SOLD]
Rue made these red fabric and metal rose earrings over 30 years ago. She was definitely not as a good a jewelry maker as she was an actress, but that never stopped her from going for it anyway. They measure a mere 1″ long and the rose is no more than .5″ at its widest. She put little pieces of tape on the back because they were hurting her ears when she wore them – and she did wear them, all the way up until the end of her life. They come with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$99
Rue's Carved Maori Box Given To Her By Her Son Mark
Like most mothers, Rue always thought of her son as a little boy. Also, like most mothers, no matter what her son gave to her – crayon drawings, pipe cleaner sculpture, macaroni necklaces, etc… – she adored and kept forever. Sometimes her boy hit the ball out of the park though and gave her something she not only adored as a mother, but also as Rue McClanahan, world class shopper and collector. This vintage carved Maori box with paua shell inserts is just such an item. Rue genuinely loved this piece. When a big earthquake hit the Los Angeles area in the late ’80s, this piece flew off of Rue’s dresser in her adorable Encino house (photo posted) and a little corner of wood popped off. Rue said she looked for that little piece for days but never found it; she figured one of her cats or dogs thought it was a bit of kibble and probably ate it. Nevertheless, she displayed this piece in her various homes for the rest of her life, and when asked its origin, she’d proudly say: “That was a gift from my son.” Rue’s carved Maori box comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$375
Rue's Suggestive Thumbtack Holder
First of all, only Rue McClanahan would keep her thumbtacks in such a beautiful wooden box. Second, only Rue McClanahan would own a thumbtack holder that could be called “suggestive.” Keep in mind, Rue was never overtly sexual or in any way crass or vulgar – Betty White, on the other hand… but that is another story. Anyway, Rue kept this box of thumbtacks in her office – she was always pinning something or another up on the bulletin board behind her desk – and whenever she would ask for someone to hand her a thumbtack and let them know they were in the box, as soon as they would pull the drawer open she would casually remark: “Isn’t that an interesting box? It always reminds me of something, but for the life of me I don’t know what.” It never failed to make us all roar with laughter. Yes, we all are 12-year olds at heart! Rue’s suggestive thumbtack box comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$275
Rue's First Edition Book About Lydon Johnson
Rue McClanahan was a VERY politically active person. Boy oh boy would she have a lot to say about this election coming up! Rue did her homework and read a lot. She particularly enjoyed biographies and autobiographies about and by political figures. Here is one of the hardbound FIRST EDITION books from her collection. The volume comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$99
Rue's Williams-Sonoma Heavy Porcelain Platter
This heavy porcelain platter of Rue’s is bigger than you might expect from the photos – it is 17″ long, 6.5″ wide, and it has a 1.5″ high rim around it. There seems to be some discoloration from a long ago buffet spread at one of Rue’s parties – it looks like tomato stains – but it might come out, we didn’t try. The piece was made by Williams-Sonoma and it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$225 NOW $112.50