Honus Wagner letter....dated 1909

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

OK...Tomorrow I'm meeting with a gentleman who's grandmother left him a letter written by Honus Wagner. He wants to get the letter authenticated and asked me what he should do. I told him about Jim Spence and PSA and gave him both telephone numbers. He then asked me about the value if indeed its an original letter/autograph. I told him I'm not sure but stated its worth at least 3K.
Was I way off on this guess or in the ballpark? He said the letter is at least three paragraphs and the date and year (1909) are on the top right side. Also, written on the top border of the paper is a notation from a relative that reads "letter from ball player". He's thinking of donating the letter but I'd sure like to make him an offer and was wondering what you guys think..

Thanks,

Paul

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Posted By: davidcycleback

If the handwriting and letter are sharp, your price guess seems fair. 1909 is early. I checked the recent Mastro auctions and the cheapest Wagner autograph was about $1,700. A 1918 letter to his glove manufacturer sold over six thousand. The handwriting was mint and it had Wagner's personal letterhead.

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

Maybe I'm wrong here but i think $3k is a little high. Wagner letters aren't all that rare (certainly not to the level of a Ruth, but easier to locate than Matty). I do think the "glove" letter sold for that much money because of the content - being to his glove manufacturer. I would guess a one page letter from 1909 would be somewhere around the $1500-$2000 range. Just by way of comparison, I purchased a 1909 signed envelope (no letter inside) for about $800 a few months back. It has since been authenticated.

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

Well he brought the letter in and here are the contents...

Top left...(letter from Hall of fame 0ct 17-08
Baseball player) written by a family member

Mrs John H Battner,

My dear Madam, Your letter in hand and in ????
Will say I am sorry I have no photo's on hand but will say
you can get them at Sporting Life publisher at Philadelphia, Pa.
I am pleased to hear of your husbands good opinion of me in the Bl Bl (baseball?)
line but I am afraid he gives me more credit than I deserve. Respect yours,

J H Wagner

The letter is just awesome looking and whats really cool is that he mentions the photos from Sporting life which of course are the rare W600's...Damn I got goose bumps just holding the letter and reading it.