According to Swann officials, the collection will include 27 pen and ink drawings and more than 150 limited signed prints. The auction house calls the sale "likely the largest collection of signed Hirschfeld etchings and lithographs to ever appear at auction."

Highlights of the auction will include:

• A pen and ink drawing on board of Carol Channing holding a cash register showing the record-breaking receipts from Hello Dolly, signed and inscribed by composer Jerry Herman and director Gower Champion, and signed by Hirschfeld.  (Estimate:  $8,000 to $12,000)

• A pen and ink drawing signed by Hirschfeld of Two for the Seesaw, with Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft.  (Estimate:  $6,000 to $9,000)

• An original cast drawing from the musical Raisin, published on Oct. 14, 1973.  (Estimate:  $6,000 to $9,000) The items will be on public exhibition Oct. 2 from 10 AM to 4 PM; Oct. 4 through Oct. 6 from 10 AM to 6 PM and Oct. 7 from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Illustrated catalogues are available for $35 from Swann Galleries, 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, and may be viewed online at www.swanngalleries.com.

For further information, and to make advance arrangements to bid by telephone during the auction, please contact George Lowry at (212) 254-4710, extension 303, or via e-mail, [email protected].

Hirschfeld—who created immortal drawings of theatre stars and shows for the New York Times for many decades—died on Jan. 20, 2003, at the age of 99.