[QUOTE=GrayGhost;1393540]We got Baseball stars, Presidents and so much cool stuff. I paid a bit for this, especially in my situation, but there aren't many of these around and Im sure its worth more than I paid. The Department store magnate and Institution:)[/QUOTE

A nice looking book. He is surprisingly quite plentiful in signed books. I just found a half-dozen signed by him for under $50 and another 4 under $100. “Lines of a Layman’ is most common and you can also find ‘View From the Ninth Decade’ and ‘My Experience With the Golden Rule”. He seems to be one of the most interesting of the store moguls that is available. The only other one I notice is Wanamaker. You don't see much on Wm Macy, Gimbel, Sears or Roebuck.

[QUOTE=Michael B;1393728]Thanks. Now its junk seems....smh

[QUOTE=GrayGhost;1393755]sorry, just that I thought it was worth a lot more. Well, I won't lose money. I apologize for the stupid post above.

Ive had my eye on one of these myself! Nice affordable way to get a pre declaration Hancock signature! May be my next autograph if I can find one at a reasonable price!

Except for the fact that the document is not in Hancock's hand.

David these bills of lading have long been accepted to be in John Hancock's hand...Is there something about this that you can share with us that we dont know?

Sure--it couldn't be simpler. Look at the signature at the bottom, the signature of the ship's master, James Scott. Look at the "James." Notice it's exactly the same as the written "James Scott" in the third line--which is supposedly in Hancocks hand. Notice the "J" in the Scott signature at the bottom, the "J" in the written "James Scott" in the third line, and the "J" in the written "John Hancock." All identical.
Conclusion: The entire document was written by James Scott.

I agree with David and thought the same thing to myself...clearly all three J's are written by the same person

Outside of the "J"...take a look at the "O" in John and the "O" in Scott...identical, even down to the flick and carry to the next letter...

Or could entire document been written by Hancock? Some of the lettering is in Hancocks style writing. Either the Whole item was written by James Scott or Hancock. I agree same person wrote whole document. This item almost identical to several I have seen at reputable auction houses and with PSA letters. Never seen one advertised as in someones hand other than Hancocks.

The way the document is filled out it seems to me that Scott is the author and signer. His name appears at the bottom. It would be unusual for Hancock to sign his name at the top and Scott's name at the bottom. To me it is Scott filling in Hancock's name and signing his own.

Just an opinion of course.

Im just curious myself. The writhing appears same as all the ones I have seen at past major auction house autions that claim Hancock penned these in His hand. No one alive from this time period to confirm either way I guessing.:)

Plus the flair beneath the Scott name would likely indicate that as a signature as opposed to just the name of someone written in script by someone else.

Because PSA is, as usual, dead wrong (And their examiner is simply not very bright.)
Read the document, which is a bill of lading. It clearly states that it is signed by th ship's master, James Scott. So, that is Scott's signature at the botttom. But, looking at the signature, and comparing with the rest of the writing, we see the entire document was written by the signer. James Scott.

Ok I guess here is my question. I have seen dozens of these online and they all have the same looking "John Hancock" in upper right corner. So your going to tell me that every one of them knew how to fill out a cargo slip the same way Hancock did? I dont think so. Most of this sailors probably couldn't read or write let alone fill out cargo manifests in such elegant writing. From what I have read Hancock was a smuggler of sorts. Hancock wrote these for them. Compare this document to any Hancock letter and letter formations the same. I can Post pictures of these as well. Did "john Scott" fill this one out as well?

Believe what you want. The document was written--in its entirety--by the ship's Captain. Who could read, write, and do lots of other things, like knowing enough mathematics to navigate on the high seas. He could certainly fill out a simple form.

Hancock was simply a person shipping goods. He had absolutely no authority to fill out and sign a Bill of Lading. Only the shipper could do that. It's still the same today.

how about this? So your telling me all these sailors wrote exactly like this? I dont think so. Hancock wrote these bills.

You are right; I am wrong. Hancock filled out the document, and signed it in the Captain's name.

So "John Scott" filled this one out as well?

Did you read what I posted above?

Im not tring to be right..I Just want to know for sure as I have wanted to buy one of these but unsure if I should.

You may not be trying, but I think you are right. I think all those documents were written by Hancock. I was wrong.

I have always thought they were cool as a "pre" declaration signature. I just never pulled the trigger on one because there is not much info on them.

Funny how all the examples you posted, the"John Hancock" autos are totally different from each other. Which would mean they were probably signed by the ships master whether it was John, Alex, etc.

Dick Fowler vintage signed 1949 Bowman card
 

I just added this vintage signed card of no-hit pitcher Dick Fowler to my collection.

Dick Fowler was the only Canadian to pitch a no-hitter, which he threw in September of 1945 upon returning from WWII.
Amazingly his no-hitter was his 1st pitching appearance in 3 years and was the 1st shutout in his career that spanned 10 seasons in the ML. Fowler was a huge guy for his era, 6'4" and 225 lbs. and I believe that at one point he was also a Canadian Mounty. He was inducted into the Canadian Sports HOF in 1985.

I picked up a signed 1953 Topps Smoky Burgess today, though it won't be here before the month ends. He was short-printed in the set.
http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/...ats=0&format=0

EDIT: My photo isn't loading; if you want to see it, just check eBay's completed listings.

Kenesaw Landis

Wow, I can actually read his name! Nice pickup

A beautiful Landis photo. It is nice to see a legible signature of his. A 1908 signature , it must be one of his earliest examples out there.

Nice stuff everyone.
I posted this in the December thread by accident. I am placing it here correctly.

I am very happy to show my newest signed 1934 Goudey. It's my first new one in 2 yrs. Thanks to Andrew for making this available to me.

I am now at 76/96 of the set.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../88%20Peel.jpg