Grover Cleveland Autographed Photo found!
 

[B][SIZE="2"]I run an ebay consignment buisness, and in a case of stuff that an older gentleman brought me was this photo:

[IMG]http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9420/grovercleveland1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8764/grovercleveland2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2076/grovercleveland3.jpg[/IMG]

It seems to be a younger Grover Cleveland in the photo.

I called the Cincinnati Historical Society and found out alot of information about the Photographer. Come to find out he was a very prominant photgrapher back in the middle 1800s in Cincinnati. Took all kinds of photos of all kinds of famous and non famous people. The historical society had photos that had this same backing but did not have a copy of this picture of a young Grover Cleveland, who became our 22nd and 24th President!! The time period that Landy was doing photography coincides with the younger years of Grover Cleveland!!

What an AMAZING Presidential find![/SIZE][/B]

That is very awesome! Gosh I'm sure I'm not the only one here wondering what that might be worth!

wow...awesome find! Will you be getting it authenticated? I wonder who the best person is the authenticate presidential signatures from that time period...I do know that even back then they had secretarial autos...not saying yours is because I have no idea on a signature like that! :)!

Take that to Pawn Stars LOL

I have no clue wether to pay the $ to authenicate it or not. With all the junk I am hearing about the latest adventures with authenticators I am not sure it would be worth it.

The hard part is that all the signatures I can find online for him are very slightly different, but those all have been Presidential signatures, not from his pre presidential days. In know my signature has changed slightly over the years. I wonder if his did?

[QUOTE=garpike;899927]I have no clue wether to pay the $ to authenicate it or not. With all the junk I am hearing about the latest adventures with authenticators I am not sure it would be worth it.

The hard part is that all the signatures I can find online for him are very slightly different, but those all have been Presidential signatures, not from his pre presidential days. In know my signature has changed slightly over the years. I wonder if his did?[/QUOTE]

I also do heavy volume of consignment sells on the internet. I would pass on this piece if it was offered to me. That is just my opinion though.

[QUOTE=Zerokruel;899934]I also do heavy volume of consignment sells on the internet. I would pass on this piece if it was offered to me. That is just my opinion though.[/QUOTE]

Pass on selling it or pass on getting it authenticated?

IMHO...
 

Don't let it go until you can get the best opinions you can on it. Do as much research as you can.
Personally I'd think if it was a preprint (which they did even back then) the ink in the signature would be the same as the rest of the back. It appears darker. The big question is did he sign it or someone else did it for him.

Best of Luck,
VinnyH

[QUOTE=VinnyH;900016]Don't let it go until you can get the best opinions you can on it. Do as much research as you can.
Personally I'd think if it was a preprint (which they did even back then) the ink in the signature would be the same as the rest of the back. It appears darker. The big question is did he sign it or someone else did it for him.

Best of Luck,
VinnyH[/QUOTE]

Yeah I have been doing alot of research all day today,I just got a response back from the Curator of Prints and Photographs at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Here is her response:

[I][COLOR="DarkRed"]Thanks for sending the scans. I don’t know what to think. I found an early photo of Cleveland and it didn’t look anything like this one. In all the photos of Cleveland his mustache goes down at the corners and in yours it goes up and the hair looks curlier in yours. The signatures look similar though. I can’t find any reference that ever puts him in Cincinnati. The 1880 Democratic Convention was held in Cincinnati. He wasn’t nominated until 1884 but he could have come to the convention. He isn’t listed in Landy’s book of celebrities. Landy was at that address from 1868-1895. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

Linda Bailey
Curator of Prints and Photographs
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203[/COLOR][/I]

So it looks like he COULD have been in Cincinnati for the Convention in 1880, but by that time I would think he would look older than this photo, closer to the presidential photos we see of him.

This is totally awesome!! Keep us updated with information as you find stuff out about it. I will be curious to see what you uncover!

[QUOTE=garpike;899994]Pass on selling it or pass on getting it authenticated?[/QUOTE]

I would pass on selling it, unless the potential client wanted to pay the fees for getting in authenticated. I think this piece has a potential price tag of $375-500 to the right person - if it is legit. However, I'm on the fence about the authenticity - and I would never sell anything like this without an good COA/LOA.

I'm starting to agree...
 

[QUOTE=Zerokruel;900171]I would pass on selling it, unless the potential client wanted to pay the fees for getting in authenticated. I think this piece has a potential price tag of $375-500 to the right person - if it is legit. However, I'm on the fence about the authenticity - and I would never sell anything like this without an good COA/LOA.[/QUOTE]
Looking at other samples of his signature, this one has a classic "r" at the end of Grover. All his presidential signatures seem to tail off at the end of Grover with not much of an "r" at all. I don't see him getting better penmanship as he aged. Usually it's the other way around.

Still have my fingers crossed for you,
VinnyH

I seriously would buy this thing just to get onto Pawn Stars and I'm not joking, I am a huge fan of the show...lmk :)

[QUOTE=fitch123;900193]I seriously would buy this thing just to get onto Pawn Stars and I'm not joking, I am a huge fan of the show...lmk :)[/QUOTE]

LOL!! I wish I lived closer, I would take it there in a moment! :D

Does anyone have a recomendation to a legit Authenticating Service that could handle this item?

[QUOTE=VinnyH;900188]Looking at other samples of his signature, this one has a classic "r" at the end of Grover. All his presidential signatures seem to tail off at the end of Grover with not much of an "r" at all. I don't see him getting better penmanship as he aged. Usually it's the other way around.

Still have my fingers crossed for you,
VinnyH[/QUOTE]

Yeah I agree with what you are saying, I have been ALL OVER the net today trying to find a signature that is closer to mine with no luck. :o

[QUOTE=garpike;900209]LOL!! I wish I lived closer, I would take it there in a moment! :D

Does anyone have a recomendation to a legit Authenticating Service that could handle this item?[/QUOTE]

I would go with either PSA/DNA or JSA. Ask for a LOA with a picture of the item. You don't want them putting their lovely little sticker directly on this.

[QUOTE=Zerokruel;900217]I would go with either PSA/DNA or JSA. Ask for a LOA with a picture of the item. You don't want them putting their lovely little sticker directly on this.[/QUOTE]

holy crapola!! $75.00 to get this looked at....and I could get a Letter saying it isn't real!

yeah but with PSA, its what 5-10 bucks to get the early look?

[QUOTE=garpike;900249]holy crapola!! $75.00 to get this looked at....and I could get a Letter saying it isn't real![/QUOTE]

Exactly. That is why, I would not be willing to cover the fee's for authentication if I took this item on. If I'm taking around 30-35% - It won't be worth it when it's all said and done, even if it is real.

So, to be really honest - I would turn this piece down unless your client is willing to get it authenticated (with them covering the cost).

[QUOTE=Bengals4life;899922]Take that to Pawn Stars LOL[/QUOTE]

No joke I was thinking the same thing. They may pay the fees for you to go to take it to them. Love that dam show. :D

[QUOTE=iluvfish2;900263]yeah but with PSA, its what 5-10 bucks to get the early look?[/QUOTE]

Only thing I found on PSA was $75.00 service as well. :o

That's an awesome card! PM Wheeler about it, he might be able to help you out. He has a ridiculous collection of historical autos.

[QUOTE=Zerokruel;900265]Exactly. That is why, I would not be willing to cover the fee's for authentication if I took this item on. If I'm taking around 30-35% - It won't be worth it when it's all said and done, even if it is real.

So, to be really honest - I would turn this piece down unless your client is willing to get it authenticated (with them covering the cost).[/QUOTE]

If it's real...we're talking probably closer 1K for this...just the rarity of the actual photo and then having an authentic bold autograph...people pay silly money for things like this! If it's real...

You could always list it on ebay with some obscenely high BIN price with super high res images & then submit it to PSA for the $15 fee. They give a quick opinion & if they think it's legitimate on first glance, and you choose to submit it for full authentication (either encapsulation or LOA) I believe you can get a $15 credit off the fee.

[QUOTE=garpike;900209]LOL!! I wish I lived closer, I would take it there in a moment! :D

Does anyone have a recomendation to a legit Authenticating Service that could handle this item?[/QUOTE]


I am going in February, I'll take there!! :)!