Hank Aaron Signed Telegrams

[Sivart31]

Hey Guys,

Hope you all are well. Does anyone know the story behind these? Were they really dispatched and saved or were these made for signing purposes? There seem to be a bunch on the market but each is slightly different in content/sender.

Thanks!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174447874722

[mrmopar]

Just a guess because aside from Navy Family grams which were basically radio messages printed out for you to read, I have never sent or received a telegram. My assumption is that if you sent one, you got nothing to show for it. Maybe I am wrong and there was a printed copy of the message, identical to what the recipient received. Someone who sent one can probably advise further.

as the recipient of a telegram, i doubt Aaron would have signed it. It's possible they were kept and later passed on or sold and that person somehow got them signed later. That would be my best guess as to why they exist.

It's also possible they are completely BS and just made to look like a legit telegram and sold that way either signed or even unsigned (and later signed).

First time seeing one here, so I am just tossing out guesses and assumptions.

[Sivart31]

I was surprised too, although many have been certed by JSA/PSA.

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

,,,,,as the recipient of a telegram, i doubt Aaron would have signed it. It's possible they were kept and later passed on or sold and that person somehow got them signed later. That would be my best guess as to why they exist.
It's also possible they are completely BS and just made to look like a legit telegram and sold that way either signed or even unsigned (and later signed).

First time seeing one here, so I am just tossing out guesses and assumptions.

I would tend to agree with the above. If signed by Hank Aaron it would have had to been signed later and gotten from Hank Aaron himself as the P.O. would have sent these to him direct. Of course, someone could argue that a P.O. employee kept copies and had them signed.

"Mailgram is a type of telegraphic message which was transmitted electronically from the sender to a post office and then printed and delivered to the recipient via postal means.

Western Union invented the Mailgram in 1970. Service via Westar, Western Union’s own communications satellite was introduced in 1974.

Western Union discontinued all telegram messaging, including Mailgram, in 2006."

[roarfrom34]

they are not BS, I recall reading at onetime that Aaron kept all the telegrams he received after hitting HR #715 in 1974 and at one point he signed them all & were later sold into the hobby (although I can't recall the original distribution method).

[Sivart31]

The listing made reference to a TV signing. So I assume HSN or QVC paid him to sign them on television?