The Autographs of Robert RipleyRobert Ripley was a legend in his own time. He created and drew the newspaper comic panels featuring the odd and bizarre from around the world. He was an amateur anthropologist, adventurer and world traveler. An estimated 80 million people read his comic strips. Ripley's Believe It or Not had a successful run on radio while Ripley was still drawing. He also created a TV show that ran 13 episodes, ending when he died in 1949 at age 58. We can still find Ripley at Ripley Entertainment venues, which includes Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museums, Ripley's Movie Theater, Ripley's Sightseeing Trains, Ripley's Aquarium, Guinness World Records Attractions, Ripley's Haunted Adventure, and Louis Tussaud's Wax Museums. Ripley's signature can be found for $75-$100. Dealers usually sell Ripley signed photos for $200-$250. His cartoon panels were compiled in several books during Ripley's life (and many, many since his death.) I own a signed one from 1929 titled simply "Believe It or Not ... Ripley". I paid about $100 for it on eBay. Dealers would probably ask at least twice that. Signed books show up often on eBay and most of them are dedicated to the owner with neat inscriptions. Mine reads "To J.A. Turner, Jr, with $5,065,521,349.30 Parlayed On My Best Wishes ... Ripley .. Believe it Or Not." Signed drawings will start at around $300.
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Many people still remember Jack Palance as host of the very popular Ripley's Believe Believe It or Not during the 1980's. Dean Cain also hosted a version in 2002-2003.