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Author
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Topic: 361421938095: Gus Grissom autographed photo
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pharoid
Member Posts: 109
From:
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 11-05-2015 12:02 PM
   
Would like an opinion on authenticity of eBay item 361421938095, a signed Gus Grissom photo. Sincerest thanks to all cS members for your time and your expert opinions.
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datkatz
Member Posts: 176
From: New York, NY
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 11-05-2015 05:55 PM
Not even close. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 11-05-2015 09:38 PM
Signing with a Sharpie before 1967 puts this in the category of a miracle. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 11-05-2015 09:59 PM
Nope ... nowhere near it. |
robertiam
Member Posts: 13
From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Registered: Aug 2015
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posted 11-06-2015 12:03 PM
Not even close, very fake. |
bwhite1976
Member Posts: 281
From: Belleville, IL
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-06-2015 06:42 PM
Regarding real Grissom autographs — did Grissom ever sign with the Mercury 7 symbol? |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-07-2015 12:55 AM
I think I have seen Grissom sign with the Mercury 7 symbol, but not certain enough to bet on it. And I have to disagree with some of the comments here as to the degree of how "off" the signature is; though I think this is certainly not an authentic autograph, I don't think whoever did the signing did that bad a job imitating Grissom's handwriting — I've certainly seen worse. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-09-2015 12:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ColinBurgess:
Signing with a Sharpie before 1967 puts this in the category of a miracle.
Felt tip pens and markers existed prior to 1967. The Magic Marker came out in 1953 and other felt tip markers were available by the end of the 1950s. Felt tip pens came into use around 1962. The first Sharpie brand marker came out in 1964. While not very common, astronaut signatures in felt tip pens and markers do exist prior to 1967. I've seen several authentic Ed White signatures in felt tip, for example. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-09-2015 12:25 AM
With the type of marker alone no longer being necessarily a disqualifier, I think we're looking at quite different probabilities regarding the authenticity of this piece. |
Steve Zarelli
Member Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 11-09-2015 10:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
While not very common, astronaut signatures in felt tip pens and markers do exist prior to 1967. I've seen several authentic Ed White signatures in felt tip, for example.
There are many Gemini era items authentically signed in felt tip. Looking at the Apollo 1 crew photos that originated from rock solid sources such as the Chaffee and Grissom families as well as Gene Cernan. All signed in black felt tip. Some had a degree of fading, others look very fresh and bold. The variance due to how they were stored or displayed presumably. Admittedly, at first glance the questioned photo does look odd with the larger than typical signature and the almost cartoonish symbol. However, the dedication and signature were signed quickly without the slightest hint of hesitation, and the formation is spot on. There is an odd hiccup on the R in "Regard," and the slightly larger than typical size (which could be explained by using a marker instead of the usual ballpoint). I have an undoubtedly authentic Grissom signed item in my files with the Mercury symbol. However, it is a group signed item and I can't be certain the symbol was done by Grissom.... Although it is closest to his signature. Lastly, looking through the seller's other offerings -- some also dedicated to "Gloria" -- I'm not seeing any obvious red flags. While not well versed in the entertainment signatures, overall the items pass the preliminary smell test. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 11-09-2015 01:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Felt tip pens and markers existed prior to 1967. Felt tip pens came into use around 1962.
I think that was the Flair brand by Papermate. It was the first one. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-09-2015 01:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
The Magic Marker came out in 1953 and other felt tip markers were available by the end of the 1950s.
A fellow faculty member of mine in PA was Mr. Mearkle. We always referred to him as "Magic." |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 11-10-2015 09:13 AM
Well, someone thought it was good enough to bid $697 on. I think it's one of those rare finds you don't come across that often. Nice to see these come to light so we can have an occasional look. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-11-2015 08:32 AM
I was the winning bidder. I placed a max bid before Steve Zarelli made his post, and when I saw his post I figured the price would escalate (the seller was thrilled, and I explained to her what happened to cause the escalation) -- fortunately, the price stayed within my limit.The litho was inscribed to Gloria Winters, who played Penny in the 1950s TV series "Sky King". You might recall a line in Jimmy Buffett's song "Pencil Thin Mustache" which goes "... I remember being buck-toothed and skinny, writing fan letters to Sky's niece Penny". That was Ms. Winters that he was writing about, as many kids in the 1950s became hooked on aviation at least partly because of the Sky King show. In a 2006 interview of Ms. Winters (Airport Journals magazine) entitled "Fan Letters for Sky's Niece Penny", she relates a story from the early 1960's, when she and Kirby Grant were headlining as a song-and-dance team on the state fair circuit. The two were signing autographs at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, and waiting in line were Gus Grissom, Pete Conrad, Alan Shepard, and Wally Schirra with their kids. She later sent a letter to Gus Grissom reminding him of the experience, and the litho you see in this thread was the result. Thus, this signed litho becomes a signed piece with a story behind it, which is always a good thing. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 11-11-2015 07:04 PM
Nice job! I threw a bid in on it too, but relatively low. I was leaning toward it being the real deal and thought maybe a bargain or not hurt too much if it turned out to be bad."From out of the western sky comes Sky King". From the show opening. Watched it on TV way back when. The "Songbird" was a Beech 18 then a Cessna 310, I believe. Great back story. Thanks for sharing. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 11-12-2015 07:13 AM
Nice pickup John. Although I'm no expert in autographs I felt the Grissom was good. |
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