Marlon Brando, the Marx Brothers and Joseph Conrad auction in New York

Scarce First Edition books, photos and film memorabilia will go under the hammer, this Sunday

National Book Auctions will hold a special film, photography and art-related auction on June 27 that features the first session of the auction gallery's art, film and photography-themed collections along with many select book and ephemera lots.

Antique cameras and projection equipment will be offered along with artwork such as original paintings by Thomas Moran and William Merritt Chase.

Rare books include a 1649 copy of Mathew Merian's "Todten-Tanz" or "Dance of Death", "Espiritual Que Trata De Los Malos" printed in 1574 (a book of Spanish mysticism banned during the Inquisition), and a 1677 printing of Hobbes' translation of "The Illiads and Odysses of Homer" and antique Arabic texts and manuscript leaves.

Among the antique cameras are such famous brands as Seneca, Zeninger, Graflex, Seroco and Tektronix, several antique folding bed models and many assorted lenses, film holders, plate holders and more.

From the same collection, there will be offered an extensive library of photographic history and reference books. In addition, a selection of Kliegl studio lights and several antique original commercial Simplex film projectors that came to us from a New York theatre will be featured.

Promotional materials for the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx pictured left) and a First Edition of 'Nocturnes' by Thomas Mann (right) will feature in the sale

Elsewhere, the sale will also offer a sizeable collection of cinematic books and ephemera including antique and vintage movie stills, lobby cards and sheet music.

There are items promoting great stars, films and characters such as Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, King Kong, Tarzan, The Marx Brothers, and others - including a copy of "A Lesson in Love" signed twice each by Groucho and Chico Marx

It will sell alongside very scarce first editions George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (1914) and "The English Governess at the Siamese Court" (1870) by Anna Harriett Leonowens, the books that inspired "My Fair Lady" and "The King And I".

Rare editions and first printings will be offered from literary greats including signed limited editions of "Nocturnes" by Thomas Mann, "The Secret Agent" by Joseph Conrad, "Dynamo" by Eugene O'Neil, "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck and a unique, elaborately hand-written and signed copy of "Armenian Folk Song - The Partridge" by Eugene Field.

Other signed editions include "Naked Lunch" by William S Burroughs, "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller and titles by Aldous Huxley, Larry McMurtry, Douglas Macarthur and others.

National Book Auctions is located in Ithaca, New York.

Meanwhile, for collectors and investors on the look-out for a rare and valuable Marlon Brando autograph, this early signature signed on a photo of the actor in his famous role as Mark Anthony in 1953's Julius Caesar is currently on the market and available to collectors.

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