AUTOGRAPHED - BING CROSBY A collection of six gramophone records, personally presented from Bing Crosby to Anne Shelton, comprising 'Swinging on a Star / Going My Way', 'Let's Start the New Year Right / White Christmas', Pistol Packin' Mama / Vict'ry Polka', 'Adeste Fidelis / Silent Night, Holy Night', 'Amor, Amor / I'll be Seeing You', and 'Sweet Leilani / The One Rose'

Presented in a personalised white leather album the front cover gilt-blocked 'To ANNE / 10th NOVEMBER, 1944', the inside front cover inscribed in black ink 'To Anne / My Partner from / the War days / Love, / Bing Crosby'. 

Provenance: The Anne Shelton Personal Memorabilia Auction, Wallis & Wallis, Lewes, 15th July 1996, lot 452. A copy of the catalogue for that sale accompanies this as per the photos.

This is a remarkable and highly valuable piece of music and wartime history. This collection captures a specific, historic moment during World War II when Bing Crosby toured Europe to entertain the troops, frequently performing alongside the popular British "Forces' Sweetheart" Anne Shelton.

Historical Significance

  • The Date: November 10, 1944, places this gift right after Bing Crosby's famous USO tour of Great Britain and France in the late summer and autumn of 1944.

  • The Connection: Crosby and Shelton performed together on variety broadcasts for the troops, notably for the Allied Expeditionary Forces (AEF) programs. The inscription "My Partner from the War days" directly solidifies their professional camaraderie and mutual respect during a high-stakes era.

  • The Tracks: The 78 RPM records included in this album represent the absolute pinnacle of Crosby's career. It features "White Christmas" (the best-selling single of all time), "Swinging on a Star" (which won an Academy Award in 1944), and iconic wartime morale-boosters like "Vict'ry Polka" and "I'll Be Seeing You."

Collector and Market Value

In the memorabilia market, items like this are highly sought after because they bridge the gap between Hollywood history, music history, and military history.

  • The Inscription: Genuine, intimate signatures from Crosby to another high-profile celebrity carry a massive premium over standard fan autographs.

  • The Presentation: Custom-made, gilt-blocked leather presentation albums from this era are incredibly rare.
Why It Commands This Price

  1. Association Copy Value: In the collecting world, an item given from one famous person to another is called an "association copy." This is exponentially more valuable than a record signed for an ordinary fan.
  2. The "White Christmas" Factor: Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time. Having a copy personally gifted by him during the actual year of the war (1944) makes it a holy grail crossover piece for music historians.
  3. Flawless Provenance: The custom gilt-blocked cover and explicit "War days" inscription tell the entire story on their own, meaning a buyer doesn't need to guess if the signature is authentic or who "Anne" was.
Local Viewing / collection welcome, item can be posted and will be tracked and insured, a signature and handover photos will be required on delivery.

Offers welcome, any further information or photos please feel free to ask.