His first autograph?

[augusthog]

OK kids, here is a story for you.
A friend of ours gave this to my wife many years ago. (This is written on the back cardboard part of a picture frame.) My friend tells me that his mom worked for JW's mom in California back in the day and she gave it to her. She in turn gave it to her son (My friend) then he gives it to us.
I've tried to get the signature authenticated, but there is not to much out there from the Dukes early days.
My biggest questions are:
HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
Already talked to (and sent this pic) the lady who runs the museum in Iowa and she sounded real excited about it. Told me a good story with it too that adds to the likelyhood of it being real.
If it is real, and I have no doubt that it is, It's one heck of a treasure find.
Any comments or suggestions?

 

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[jtermz]

whos name is it

 

[Oregon Viking]

whos name is it

Marion Mitchell Morrison, better known by his stage name John Wayne.

 

[aa battery]

well pilgrim protect it well

 

[TheHunterGT]

OK kids, here is a story for you.
A friend of ours gave this to my wife many years ago. (This is written on the back cardboard part of a picture frame.) My friend tells me that his mom worked for JW's mom in California back in the day and she gave it to her. She in turn gave it to her son (My friend) then he gives it to us.
I've tried to get the signature authenticated, but there is not to much out there from the Dukes early days.
My biggest questions are:
HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
Already talked to (and sent this pic) the lady who runs the museum in Iowa and she sounded real excited about it. Told me a good story with it too that adds to the likelyhood of it being real.
If it is real, and I have no doubt that it is, It's one heck of a treasure find.
Any comments or suggestions?

I would say you did the right thing with showing it to a museum. They should be able to track down a handwriting specialist and compare it. Even if he did not sign his name that way often....they should be able to match it by curves and strokes etc etc. Awesome stuff man...hope it turns out to be the real deal!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Definitely not his first autograph, since someone online was selling his 1924 HS yearbook signed by him.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

My big question is why would he give his mother his autograph? Seems odd to me. And why so formal with his full name and even the year he signed it?

Your best best is to send it to PSA/DNA or someone similar. PSA/DNA will charge you $100 for their service, so you might be better off finding someone locally to give you their opinion first.

 

[TheHunterGT]

My big question is why would he give his mother his autograph? Seems odd to me. And why so formal with his full name and even the year he signed it?

Good point. My only counter would be due to it being signed on the back of a picture frame. I know many people like to place dates on the back of pictures and paintings for memory purposes.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

That is a good point, but why sign it with his last name? His mother knows his last name! I signed all the greeting cards I gave to my mother, but I never signed any with my last name.

 

[TheHunterGT]

Another good point. I have never signed my name in such a fashion to my mother either. Perhaps she is the one that gave him his swagger by calling him all 3 names while angry at him. I know when mom was upset because first,middle,last was used. Pucker factor was instant in those situations.

That being said my father still signs all 3 names on everything...checks...cards....anything. Perhaps the old timers were taught that way in school?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Anything's possible, so I'm definitely not going to say it's fake. What's bugging me is why fake his autograph on a piece of cardboard? If someone was looking to fake it, they'd sign a photo or something else that would sell for much more money.

 

[austin]

He was born Marion Robert Morrison. Some say Marion Mitchell Morrison or Marion Michael Morrison. In 1927 he had done only one picture for $10 a day, maybe as an extra. Easy to see how he might have sent his mom or a friend in Cal/ that he was close to a present. Also easy to understand how he would have signed it with his whole name. He doesn't start really acting until 1930.Have seen this signature before. Would bet that it's genuine and VERY rare. It is worth a great deal. Contact Sotheby's or Christies Auction houses. They will verify it and get you top dollar. If their is a picture in the frame it will be worth much more, if not, much less. But they are the experts...

 

[augusthog]

My big question is why would he give his mother his autograph? Seems odd to me. And why so formal with his full name and even the year he signed it?

Your best best is to send it to PSA/DNA or someone similar. PSA/DNA will charge you $100 for their service, so you might be better off finding someone locally to give you their opinion first.

I'll give these guys a shot. I've tried local, they wont touch it.......

 

[augusthog]

He was born Marion Robert Morrison. Some say Marion Mitchell Morrison or Marion Michael Morrison. In 1927 he had done only one picture for $10 a day, maybe as an extra. Easy to see how he might have sent his mom or a friend in Cal/ that he was close to a present. Also easy to understand how he would have signed it with his whole name. He doesn't start really acting until 1930.Have seen this signature before. Would bet that it's genuine and VERY rare. It is worth a great deal. Contact Sotheby's or Christies Auction houses. They will verify it and get you top dollar. If their is a picture in the frame it will be worth much more, if not, much less. But they are the experts...

He was born Marion Robert Morrison, but mom took the Robert out and gave it to his younger brother. There is a grey area here. He didn't like losing "Robert". The lady at the museum says this adds to the credability (?) of it being real.