Old Honus Wagner Photo Value
 

Can someone please tell me what this Wagner photo is worth? I bought it thinking it was autographed and then when I got it, I realized it was not hand signed. It is glued to a studio cardboard back. Thank you.
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5fpnpi3m.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0cfp35lp.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...psob4gkml9.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/...psytbrwsrt.jpg

I've seen this exact image on fakes. My guess is this is fake as well.

Saw this on eBay too, not real.

Hey Joseph, your Wagner was once owned by Bill Mastro and it's pictured in Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Baseball Collections.

Is it actually a period silver gel photo? I almost bid on it, thinking it was worth several $100 if the photo alone was real. The problem was that the part with the silvering was exclusively at the bottom, where the faux autograph was located.

If it is a period silver gel, it's worth some decent bucks, but I would have it professionally (if you can't do it) removed from that cdv backing, as they never belonged together.

The photo itself was almost certainly taken in the studio of R.W. Johnston in 1913.

There was one in December too
 

Bottom edge appears to have silvering. Interesting to find out if it's the real deal.

Albert

Hi-
Despite the silvering and old look, I am fairly certain this is a fairly well known fake that has been discussed on Net54 multiple times in the past. I even saw one that a fairly well known dealer had at a show. I believe he pulled it from his case after I explained that it was a fake. I think it comes with multiple backs as I thought at least one other had a Minnesota photographer's back on it. I hope you can get your money back.

Alan

Do all of them come with the facsimile signature at the bottom? I've never had one of these in hand, so if someone else has, and knows it's a modern reproduction, please ignore the rest of my comments.

I think it's been established that the signature is a facsimile. Given that it's a very good facsimile of an unusual and early (1910's) Wagner signature (J Hans Wagner), if I'm right about the photographer and the year (1913), Wagner chose this photographer to do a very high-quality portrait, but I've only seen two examples of his photos of ballplayers (both of Wagner). If the print is period (I personally have no idea), then it's possible that in addition to the portrait that stayed in Wagner's family until recently, Wagner also had a bunch of these smaller 'seated' images created by the same photography studio. It's even possible that they were printed 'cdv size' so that they could be pasted to old cdv backings for display. The big question is whether or not these are period silver gel prints.

Notice how the silvering effect does not change despite the two different photos at two different angles? That silvering was on the original before it was photocopied and not on that specimen. Silvering changes with the angle of the photo in comparison to the light source (it is essentially a reflection). The fact that this is not happening here is further evidence it is not authentic.

Rhys

Good eye Rhys - I didn't notice that.

Has anyone seen a 'real' print of this image?

Scott-
Yes, all of the ones I have seen had the facsimile signature at the bottom.
Alan

Thanks Alan.

Looks like the same fake that was being sold at the National.

Went to the Philly show tonight and saw one of these fakes for sale.

Don't have the catalog in front of me but I'm pretty sure the original was in Charlie Sheen's collection, sold at auction 10-15 years ago.

I remember seeing the original at auction, but don't remember where.