Gehrig auto'd pic on Craigslist MKE

[Michael B]

I want to reply to two of the postings.

1. I don't think it is ballpoint pen. I received a j.peg photo of just the signature and was able to zoom in and out with the scroll wheel on my mouse. It looks like light fountain pen. What looks like highlights that would make it appear to be the light glare on ballpoint ink seems to be where they scratched the emulsion of the photo. See the attached image. You can see the separation of the ink on the pen nib in the 'G' and 'h' in the last name. Also, fountain pens can make impressions in photos much like ballpoints.

2. This photo was in the archives of the Baltimore Sun and it arrived there in 1940 as shown by the date stamp. This type of stamp has two functions:
a) The date the newspaper photo library receive the photo originallly
b) The date the photo was used by the newspaper.

You may find a photo with one date stamp and on occasion a photo will have multiple date stamps showing the use of the photo, especially a popular one, over a period of time. I have an original Jesse Owens photo shot at the 1936 Olympics that has date stamps from 1936 through 1986. It was most common for a newspaper to stamp it upon original receipt. Many of the 3000+ original photos in my personal collection have date stamps that correspond with a time period near the date of the event in the photo.

That being said, it is highly unlikely that any news organization would have or distribute an original signed photo like this to a newspaper. It makes no sense. Additionally, knowing that Jay Parrino has dealt in may high end and valuable items, it is highly unlikely he would dump a signed Lou Gehrig on ebay. He gained his reputation and wealth dealing in rare stamps and coins.