1977 Wilma Rudolph

[Marslife]

Hey Fellas! am downsizing moving to a smaller place, forgot I had this, had her sign her book back in 1977! any idea of value?

TTYL!

Cliff

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[mrmopar]

Have no clue, but doing a quick check, it seems people are asking a lot just for the book, I saw $75+ for used copies on a couple searches. None on ebay.

Doesn't mean someone is paying those prices, but still you might just have a nice item if you wait for the right buyer.

Reminds me of a Carl Furillo book I stumbled upon (knowledge of, not the actual book). It was a small independent release from 2002, apparently not a lot of copies. I have seen asking prices of several copies in the high 3 figures. It is apparently quite hard to find and when a copy is available, expensive.

I can't believe anyone would pay that kind of money for a book like the one I speak of, but who knows. I think sometimes a wild price just sticks to a certain item and people think they have a fortune in the making.

[Marslife]

ha ha thanks Curt! I was shocked when I couldn't even find the book on Ebay! also no autographs to be found on ebay... crazy!

thanks again!

Cliff

[Michael B]

I can find copies of the book priced from $4.50 to $172 all unsigned. This book was only published in paperback. The first edition was published by Signet. I believe they may have done a second printing. It appears that Penguin may have also published an edition.

As for selling the book. People may love it or ignore it. Her signature does not get the respect that it should. Then again, none of the U.S. women who won the 100 m dash at the Olympics from 1960 forward get the respect that the men do. Only three women have won that race back to back in the Olympics, two of them American, and most people would not have a clue. They are Wyomia Tyus (1964, 1968), Gail Devers (1992, 1996) and Shelly Ann Frazier-Price (2012, 2016). Merlene Ottey gets more publicity and she never won a gold medal at the Olympics. Yes, she competed in 7 Olympics, but still no gold. Tyus won back to back and you can find her signature for less than $10.00 regularly.

Rudolph died 25+ years ago at the age of 54. She was a generous signer, even in the mail. I have a hard time selling her signature for $40-50 on an index card. Even though she pretty much pulled a Jesse Owens in 1960 with gold in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay. The only female runner that commands a great price is Stanislawa Walasiewicz aka Stella Walsh. I sold several in Warsaw, Poland last year at the World Olympic Collector's Fair with absolutely no haggling. One signed in Polish at the 1932 Olympics and one on a postal cover as Stella Walsh.

[Marslife]

Great stuff Michael! thank you!

I'll put it back in the attic for now. hopefully one of the grandkids will be runners and I'll pass it along...

Thanks again!