Bidding for Hollywood - The Douglas Fairbanks Jnr collection

This remarkable archive of signed photographs, cinema posters, personal jewellery, objects of vertu, furniture, paintings and clothing was amassed over Fairbanks Jr’s life as a film star, naval officer. producer and family man.

They have been consigned for sale by his grandson, Dominic Fairbanks, himself an actor and film producer who inherited the collection from his mother Daphne (Fairbanks Jnr’s eldest daughter). He comments: “I have great pleasure in offering this collection of family items from my late grandfather’s estate, so that they may be enjoyed by film collectors and Fairbanks admirers all over the world.”

Douglas Fairbanks Jr was among the biggest names of his generation. The only child of the silent film era swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) and his first wife Anna Beth Sully, he first tasted box office success as a 16-year-old in the 1925 Samuel Goldwyn picture Stella Dallas) and went on to star in over 130 motion pictures opposite the likes of Greta Garbo, Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, John Wayne and Fred Astaire.

He was also a confirmed Anglophile. Fairbanks Jr first lived to Britain in the 1930s after Warner Bros asked its stars to take a 50 percent Depression-era pay cut. He refused, was fired, and instead took up an offer from the Elstree film studios to live and work in London.

During the Second World War (his last film before enlisting was The Corsican Brothers, 1941) he was assigned to Lord Mountbatten’s Commando staff and became well known in the highest social circles. Knighted by George VI in 1949 for his post war work in founding three hospitals for war wounded (the first American star to receive the KBE at the time) he spent much of his time in the UK from the 1950s.

Key moments of Fairbanks family life from the early to the late 20^th century are reflected in the collection.

Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

Gold snuff box given to Douglas Fairbanks Snr and his second wife Mary Pickford - £7000-9000 at Sworders.

A four-colour gold snuff box hand engraved 'Fairbanks' (estimate £7000-9000). It had been a gift to Douglas Fairbanks Snr and his second wife Mary Pickford who honeymooned in London in June 1920. Made in Switzerland of Germany c.1820, it has been later fitted with a mirror as a minaudiere.

'For my Douglas' 

Silver photo frame given by Mary Pickford to Douglas Fairbanks Snr - £250-350 at Sworders.

A sterling silver pocket photo frame given as a present by Mary Pickford to Fairbanks Snr is inscribed 'For my Douglas' April 22, 1940. Complete with photos titled ‘Mother' 'Pete' 'Mary' and 'Daphne' it is guided at £250-350.

The Three Musketeers

Pair of tinplate wall lights formed as crossed swords - £300-500 at Sworders

A pair of tinplate three light branch wall lights formed as crossed swords. Estimated at £300-500, these were believed to have been created to celebrate Douglas Fairbanks Sr's 1921 film The Three Musketeers - one of two films from the silent era in which Fairbanks Jr was also given a small role as a boy (the other American Aristocracy in 1916).

Mary Lee Epling

Portrait of Mary Lee Epling by Louis Betts - £300-500 at Sworders

Fairbanks dated many famous and beautiful women and was married to Joan Crawford from 1929-33. He married Mary Lee Epling in 1939 and remained devoted to her until her death in 1988. This three-quarter length portrait of Mary Lee seated in a red dress dated June 1935 by American portrait painter Louis Betts (1873-1961) estimated at £300-500.

The portrait of Mary Lee Epling seen in one of Fairbanks Jnr's homes

Fairbanks Jnr, the artist

An oil painting of Palm Beach by Douglas Fairbanks Jr - £500-700 at Sworders

Fairbanks Jnr was himself a competent amateur artist. This oil painting of the garden at his Palm Beach home has a guide of £500-700.

International Best Dressed

Douglas Fairbanks Jr's trilby hat and leather briefcase - £80-120 at Sworders.

Fairbanks Jr has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also, in 1969, inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List. His well-known sartorial elegance is reflected in a large quality of his clothing – ties, shoes, suits and overcoats – that comes for sale direct from his estate. His much-loved green felt trilby hat by Lock & Co and his well-used brown leather briefcase with DF initials to the front are guided at £80-120.