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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
Six of Rue's Lipsticks [SOLD]
Rue has lots and lots of makeup. Although she preferred to have a professional do hers for her – as long as they were quick about it – she wasn’t afraid to do it herself. One of her classic Rue McClanahan signatures involved applying a fresh coat of whatever tube of lipstick was handy – and she had lipsticks all over the house – and then kissing whatever she was signing. In fact, since she’d suffered a stroke and her right arm was weak, she signed the separation agreement from her final husband with lipstick and her lips. We’ll include a copy of one of her lipstick signatures with these six tubes of her lipstick and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$125
Rue's Heavily Annotated Copy of "A Streetcar Named Desire"
Rue McClanahan played a very famous “Blanche” before the “Blanche” we all know her for; she was “Blanche DuBois” in a production of the Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire” at The Pasadena Playhouse way back in the 1950s. She later said that “Blanche” was part of the inspiration she used as the “Blanche” on “The Golden Girls.” This is Rue’s original, heavily annotated play from that performance. Rue wrote EVERYTHING about her performance in this volume: stage instructions, prop locations, motivations, emotions her character would be feeling. If you study acting, this is a glimpse into a master’s process. In addition to a poignant note handwritten by the director, this ultra-rare and exciting piece even has one of Rue’s first little margin “doodles” in the corner of a page with the silly phrase that Rue sometimes said under her breath when exasperated with something or someone – “pish tosh” – written inside. Rue’s copy of a famous play she starred in over 60-years ago comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$750 NOW $375
Rue's Hardbound and Soft Cover Albee Play
Rue was a fan of Edward Albee; who isn’t? She knew Mr. Albee personally, and actually introduced me to him at the Drama Desk Awards one year. I had read some of his early work in the ’70s and thought he must be a mad man, so it was a pleasant surprise to find him completely normal and seemingly sane. Here are two versions of the same play from Rue’s library, one softcover and the other hard. The hardbound volume belonged to someone Rue worked with on a project and she signed it over to Rue – there is in inscription in the front, as you can see – and that was when Rue first came to know the work of the writer many consider to be the best living playwright alive today. Rue’s pair of Albee plays come on the same Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$99 NOW $49.50
Deep Red Garnet [SOLD]
Every gal ought to have a little faux alligator case filled with loose gemstones like Rue did. She bought fine stones whenever she came across them and then would have them set in custom pieces over the years. Here is one of her deep red garnets; the perfect rock to buy someone special (or yourself – your special!) and maybe have made into a piece you design some day. It measures 7/16″ long by just over .25″ wide. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$99
Original Martha Swope 8" x 10" Stage Shot
Martha Swoop is one of the most prolific and successful dance and theatre photographers in the world. This is an original rehearsal shot that she took of Rue in her early career. If we knew who the man was, we could figure out the show. Do you know? We’re thinking this may be “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” but Rue looks a little too young for her turn as Martha. If you know, please email us at info@estateofrue.com. Ms. Swoop stamped this piece, so it is clearly marked as one of her photographs. Remember, because the photographer is famous, the piece is already highly collectible, but when you add in that it was OWNED by the Rue McClanahan, the provenance goes off the chart! Rue’s Martha Swoop original 8″ x 10″ comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$325 NOW $162.50
Rue's Director Chair [SOLD]
We aren’t quite sure which project Rue used this chair on, but we know she had it for years in the yard of her Manhattan apartment. The canvas has a little discoloration along the edge, and the stain is worn off the arms in some spots from frequent use, but it is still solid and there are no rips. The back is embroidered with Rue’s name. Comes with the frame and panels shown, and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$325