Book of Autographed Photos

by Robert G.
(Waterford, MI USA)

About twelve years ago, my father gave me a scrapbook. He found it in the wall of the home I grew up in. Apparently, the previous owner wrote the stars and asked for autographed photos. There are close to 100 autographed photos and a list of the stars. There is also a postmarked envelope to the lady, stamped 1943. I had the photos placed in an album on acid free paper, and I still have the original scrapbook. I have not had much luck finding out how much this might be worth or what I can and should do with it.

Some of the people are:

Bill Carter
John Garfield
Robert Alda
Harry James
Ronald Reagan
Frank Sinatra (signed Frankie)
Humphrey Bogart
Henry Fonda

... and so many more that I am not familiar with.

Any help would be great. Some are signed to the lady who asked for them.

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Book of Autographed Photos

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May 10, 2010
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by: Bill

That book is certainly a good find, even if the autographs on the photos are not authentic. Those photos depict some of old Hollywood's and big band music's biggest stars. Early in their careers, they all were friendly to autograph collectors, but when they became famous, they quickly ceased signing autographs for those without connections. Sure, at the height of their popularity, if they were in a good mood, Sinatra and Bogart would sign for fans who asked politely - but that was few-and-far-between.

Just like today, once those celebrities became stars, they didn't routinely sign autographs though the mail. They would either send photos with preprinted signatures or they would employ secretaries to sign for them. Sometimes stars would and still do sign through the mail when their workload begins to decrease. Henry Fonda, though he was still famous, signed through the mail when his career slowed down.

All that doesn't means that your autographs aren't authentic. Authentic autographs of the biggest celebrities continue to be discovered.

It is interesting that several of the celebrities you mention were connected through friendship or business. Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan were close friends. Bill Carter, who is mostly forgotten today but was a successful actor in the 1940s, and Sinatra were friends. After he left movies, Carter became a businessman and sold Sinatra a home. early in his show business career, Sinatra was a vocalist in Harry James' big band orchestra.

I don't think Frank Sinatra would have allowed secretaries to sign "Frankie."

If they are authentic, here are estimates for autographed signed photos:

Bill Carter - $25
John Garfield - $300 - $400
Robert Alda - $30 (He was the father of Alan Alda)
Harry James - $50
Ronald Reagan - $500
Frank Sinatra - $1250 - $1500
Humphrey Bogart - $2500 - $3000
Henry Fonda - $200 - $250

Inscriptions aren't going to make much of a difference, if any, to the high dollar ones.

You should search the net for authentic examples and compare those to yours. If you want to sell, find an auction house and tell them what you have.





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