Ann Landers’ estate items to go on auction block

San Francisco Letters, memorabilia and furniture from advice columnist Ann Landers’ estate will go on auction next month.

The items will be included in a Butterfields Auctioneers’ “Connoisseur’s Sale of European & Asian Furniture, Decorative Arts & Paintings.”

Among Landers’ letters will be correspondence between her and former U.S. Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush and Kennedy, and other political figures.

Included in about 150 lots are a late 18th-century George III inlaid sideboard, estimated at $8,000 to $12,000, an early 18th-century George I giltwood mirror, a rare pair of Italian Neoclassical armchairs and Empire-style candelabra from the mid-1800s. Works from Landers’ art collection will also go on the block.

Landers, whose real name was Esther Lederer, died in June at age 83.

The Nov. 24 auction will take place over the Internet and in the Butterfields salesroom in San Francisco.

Baseball hall of famer reaches divorce settlement

Minneapolis Minnesota Twins hall of famer Kirby Puckett has reached a divorce settlement with his wife, Tonya.

Attorney Robert Zalk, who represented Kirby Puckett, said both parties worked hard on a “peaceful settlement.”

Tonya Puckett filed for divorce in February after she told police her husband had threatened to kill her during an argument about his alleged infidelity.

He denied making such a threat, and prosecutors declined to charge him.

Zalk said their property would be split equitably, and that the Pucketts reached an amicable agreement on the custody of their two children, ages 10 and 12.

Actor parts with rare comics

Plano, Tex. Holy auction, Batman! Actor Nicolas Cage’s collection of 400 rare comic books has been sold for more than $1.6 million.

The actor’s collection, which included a 1938 comic with the first appearance of Superman, sold at auction Thursday at Dallas Comicon, a collectors’ convention.

The man of steel’s debut, Action Comics No. 1, sold to an unidentified buyer for $86,250. Detective No. 38, a 1940 comic featuring the first appearance of Batman’s sidekick, Robin, sold for $132,250.

“This was a real treasure trove of high-quality material from the Golden Age of comics,” said John Petty, director of Heritage Comics Auction.

CD to benefit Indian orphanage

Beverly Hills, Calif. Actresses Penelope Cruz and Melanie Griffith have helped put together a CD featuring Bob Dylan, Sting, Ricky Martin and others to raise money for an orphanage in Calcutta, India.

The orphanage that houses 150 girls was opened three years ago through the efforts of Nacho Cano, a Spanish singer, songwriter and producer who has helped raise about $1.5 million for his SABERA Foundation.

The album will feature new recordings by Sting, Martin, Alanis Morissette, Placido Domingo and a duet by Elton John and Luciano Pavarotti.