Max Schmeling Autographed photo. Value?

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

so I chalked it up to pugilista dementia and stayed home

It is amazing that he lived to be 99! They didn't exactly have the caution we do now when it comes to head injuries. And by most reports, he was an intelligent and engaging fellow. So maybe it (familiarity) was just his way. You know, a "hugger".

[JimStinson]

Thats EXACTLY what I figured ! but was not going to travel 3,000 miles for a hug. I will tell you a funny story exacty as it was told to me ... an old friend of mine had a card of Max, you know the one where he is pictured with the swasita ??? well it was MINT and worth a few bucks and he wanted to have Max sign it so there was a heavyweight champs reunion in Las Vegas , and Max was there and Joe Louis etc. so he brought the card to Max Schmeling and asked him to sign it and Max examined the card and looked at the swastica and said "NO GOOD" and scratched it out with the pen and then signed the card and handed it back to the guy...lol

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Thats EXACTLY what I figured ! but was not going to travel 3,000 miles for a hug. I will tell you a funny story exacty as it was told to me ... an old friend of mine had a card of Max, you know the one where he is pictured with the swasita ??? well it was MINT and worth a few bucks and he wanted to have Max sign it so there was a heavyweight champs reunion in Las Vegas , and Max was there and Joe Louis etc. so he brought the card to Max Schmeling and asked him to sign it and Max examined the card and looked at the swastica and said "NO GOOD" and scratched it out with the pen and then signed the card and handed it back to the guy...lol

Now that would be an interesting card...

[southcrawler]

Hi there!

I normally just read all the fascinating and instructive information posted by the members of this great community (information that wouldn't be available anywhere else, I guess), but as a native speaker of German and a teacher I thought I would chime in and try to contribute some insight regarding the exact meaning of Schmeling's dedication to the lucky addressee of the photo. First, it isn't written in "old German" (which actually once existed and was in use until about 1940 - and which is definitely nearly impossible to decipher even for Germans born after the 1950s like me...). Max used "modern German" (= the Latin alphabet as we know and use it today) and the dedication which reads "zur freundlichen Erinnerung" can be literally (but also accurately?) translated with "for friendly memory/memories". So "freundlich" just means "friendly" in English, not "friend" or "friendship" and Max chose a quite formal wording for his dedication (which makes me doubt that Mr Valk was a close acquaintance or even a friend of his).

Thanks for reading this rather brash stuff and take care!

Dirk Holtschmidt

[toybulldog]

This translation stuff can be difficult. I have this 1929 Max Schmeling TLS in german.



When I send through the translation site, word for word, it seems to come up in broken english:

The german version:

den 25. Januar 1929.

Sehr geehrter Herr Woller !

Fuer Ihren Brief meinen besten dank.
Will gerne das Amt eines Ringrichters in Ihrem Streit uebernehmen, kann Ihnen aber als erstes schon verraten das Sie leider eine K.O. Niederlage erleiden werden.
Der entscheidende Schlag war eine rechte Hand. Ungefaehr 10 inches lang und fuer die meisten Zuschau er nicht zu sehen gewesen.
Anbei ein Photo von mir. In der Hoffnung, das Sie nicht gewettet haben, verbleibe ich an Sie und Ihren streitenden Freunden mit den besten Gruessen.

Ihr
Max Schmeling

Translates to:

The 25th of January 1929.

Dear Mr. Woller!

For your letter mean best thanks to. The office a ring judge in your dispute wants to receive gladly, however first already betray you can you that unfortunately a K. O. Defeat suffer become. The decisive blow was a right hand. To not to see approximately 10 inches long and for most Zuschau it been. Enclosed a photo of me. In the hope, that you did not bet, I remain at you and your fighting friends with the best greeting.

Your Max Schmeling

Certain words seem to translate differently in sentences than if you sent them through by themselves. Why wouldn't the word "Zuschau" translate in a sentence but will translate to "Watch" on its own? I suppose you do need an actual german speaking translator to decifer properly?

Incidently, the signed photo which accompanied this letter has a similar german inscription to the one posted. I actually won the signed photo some time ago in an online auction. When I removed it from the frame it came in I discovered the letter behind the photo in the frame. A lucky freebee!





Best,
Mark O.

[travrosty]

google translate is pretty good these days, it gave me this when i entered it in. click on link.





http://translate.google.com/#auto/en...ten%20Gruessen.

[travrosty]

Schmeling only made that line with a dot on either side next to his name the first couple of years he signed, about after 1930 you don't see that anymore.

[toybulldog]

Originally Posted by travrosty

google translate is pretty good these days, it gave me this when i entered it in. click on link.





http://translate.google.com/#auto/en...ten%20Gruessen.

Thanks, not 100% but definitely much better:

25 January 1929.

Dear Mr. Woller!

For your letter to my best thanks. Will gladly take over the duties of a judge in the ring your dispute, you can already tell you first, unfortunately, a KO Will suffer defeat. The decisive blow was a right hand. About 10 inches long and for most viewers it was not visible. We have attached a picture of me. In the hope that you do not bet, I remain in you and your friends competing with the best regards.

her max Schmeling

I used:
http://www.freetranslation.com/

Perhaps some are better than others for certain languages? I'll save the google link.

Mark O.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by southcrawler

Hi there!

I normally just read all the fascinating and instructive information posted by the members of this great community (information that wouldn't be available anywhere else, I guess), but as a native speaker of German and a teacher I thought I would chime in and try to contribute some insight regarding the exact meaning of Schmeling's dedication to the lucky addressee of the photo. First, it isn't written in "old German" (which actually once existed and was in use until about 1940 - and which is definitely nearly impossible to decipher even for Germans born after the 1950s like me...). Max used "modern German" (= the Latin alphabet as we know and use it today) and the dedication which reads "zur freundlichen Erinnerung" can be literally (but also accurately?) translated with "for friendly memory/memories". So "freundlich" just means "friendly" in English, not "friend" or "friendship" and Max chose a quite formal wording for his dedication (which makes me doubt that Mr Valk was a close acquaintance or even a friend of his).

Thanks for reading this rather brash stuff and take care!

Dirk Holtschmidt

This is why I love this site! Thanks for taking the time to answer this thread for your first post, Dirk.

Max has moved on to a worthy home, where he will be well loved.

[travrosty]

his goal was 100, almost made it, he signed for at least 78 years, has to be a record in boxing. Other than Muhammad Ali, and maybe Jack Dempsey, he signed more than almost anybody. the newer signatures are very affordable still, the signatures from the early 30's and late 20's, (vintage) still bring a premium.