Autograph Values
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:18 pm
On another thread ("Merry Christmas, Mama") are some comments about the eBay sale of an autograph book that may contain Lizzie's autograph (or maybe not). The book went for $898, which might be a bargain if the 1879 Lizzie autograph can be authenticated.
I was perusing an old copy of AntiqueWeek (while waiting for my flats to heat) this morning. One of advertisements listed the following items that had been sold recently. Unfortunately, I can't tell from the tiny pictures what dates are on the items, but I'm assuming they've been authenticated. Can you guess which was the most valuable and which the least?
1. A handwritten letter (or so it appears) signed by George Washington.
(Probably only the signature is Washington's.) I'm guessing from
the stationery that he wasn't President when it was written; possibly
earlier in the 1780s.
2. A two-page love letter from John Keats, ca. 1820, signed with
initials "J. K." only.
3. An autographed photo of Geronimo, the Indian chief, signed in
block letters (ca. 1890).
4. A "commission letter" that appears handwritten, signed by Abraham
Lincoln, mid-19th century, during his presidency. The handwriting in
the body of the letter looks different from Lincoln's and was probably
done by a copyist.
5. A very delightful photograph of a young Howard Hughes, standing in
front of a hangar beside an early monoplane. The photo is signed
by Hughes. Looks to be from the 1930s or early 40s.
One of these items fetched many times the value of any of the others. Can you guess which one? (I couldn't.)
I'll post the values in a couple of days. Feel free to cheat if you can find an outdated copy of AntiqueWeek or guess which auction house was involved.
I was perusing an old copy of AntiqueWeek (while waiting for my flats to heat) this morning. One of advertisements listed the following items that had been sold recently. Unfortunately, I can't tell from the tiny pictures what dates are on the items, but I'm assuming they've been authenticated. Can you guess which was the most valuable and which the least?
1. A handwritten letter (or so it appears) signed by George Washington.
(Probably only the signature is Washington's.) I'm guessing from
the stationery that he wasn't President when it was written; possibly
earlier in the 1780s.
2. A two-page love letter from John Keats, ca. 1820, signed with
initials "J. K." only.
3. An autographed photo of Geronimo, the Indian chief, signed in
block letters (ca. 1890).
4. A "commission letter" that appears handwritten, signed by Abraham
Lincoln, mid-19th century, during his presidency. The handwriting in
the body of the letter looks different from Lincoln's and was probably
done by a copyist.
5. A very delightful photograph of a young Howard Hughes, standing in
front of a hangar beside an early monoplane. The photo is signed
by Hughes. Looks to be from the 1930s or early 40s.
One of these items fetched many times the value of any of the others. Can you guess which one? (I couldn't.)
I'll post the values in a couple of days. Feel free to cheat if you can find an outdated copy of AntiqueWeek or guess which auction house was involved.