Matty McIntyre's ca. 1905 Photo Album

[slidekellyslide]

A few similarities and a some differences. That probably just mucks it up even more. I like the similarities though..starting the M high and probably not too many people slanted their y at the end of their name like that.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

A few similarities and a some differences. That probably just mucks it up even more. I like the similarities though..starting the M high and probably not too many people slanted their y at the end of their name like that.

I wanted to hear your opinion before I gave mine

I was VERY excited when the 1909 Tigers autograph page was posted, for the exact characteristics you mentioned ('M' and 'y').

Having said that, if there were 'lots' of McIntyre autographs around the hobby, and the single photo and inscription I have, was offered for sale as a genuine 'autograph', I wouldn't touch it. But I think this is a good test of 'provenance' (for lack of a more appropriate term). Given that my 'Matty' was not even pictured in the original auction description, it obviously wasn't being passed off as a fake autograph. So, is the 1909 Tigers sheet a forgery? If not, then that leaves us comparing the two bits of writing, deciding if they are reasonably close enough to think they were 'probably' or 'possibly' written by the same person, and if so, what is the likelihood that someone else had the same knowledge as Matty regarding the players in the album, and also wrote his first name with these same characteristics.

I don't know for certain, but I do believe it was Matty who penned the inscriptions.

On the other hand, if someone who I respected (with regard to autograph authentication) PM'd me saying that I was wrong, I would believe them and simply scratch my head.

[yanks12025]

But why would he write his name and a friend in the one photo and not Me with a friend or the friends name?

[prewarsports]

That was common back then, it was a more formal to refer to yourself in the 3rd person.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

But why would he write his name and a friend in the one photo and not Me with a friend or the friends name?

What Rhys said. There were a lot of conventions back then that seem strange to us now. I have an item that Ray Morehart's wife wrote 'Babe himself' on the front. Another item has 'Walter himself' written on the front, supposedly by Walter Johnson's wife. Seemed weird to me. Actually, I think Walter Johnson wrote it, not Hazel, but that's for another discussion

[slidekellyslide]

The one photo I had with the inscription "My Boy In Detroit" with a 10-12 year old kid with a baseball mitt still has me perplexed though since McIntyre had no children. I guess it could have been just a kid that was like a son to him. Either way the McIntyre signature that you provided is fairly convincing and has me leaning towards the inscriptions being written by McIntrye himself.

[prewarsports]

The slant and letter size/formation are more important than the actual "match" in comparing signatures. 100% that is his signature in white, the comparison is dead on.

[Michael B]

I would have to agree with Rhys on both of his points. First, I could state comfortably that the handwritten identification is in the same hand as the signed team sheet. Consider that the team sheet may have been signed on the quick or standing up so there would be minor anomalies, but the 'M' and 'y' are distinct. Secondly, it is not uncommon for people to use the third person when identifying photos. May people consider that relatives or friends may view a photo album after they have died so they use formal names. I have attached two scans. The first is on the back of a photograph I received in 1990. It was received shortly after Percy Beard, 1932 silver medalist in the 110m hurdles, had died. For the longest time I assumed it was in his wifes hand as she sent it along to me. That was until I picked up a group of index cards that included the second scan. I came to the conclusion that he had some of these presigned and his wife sent them out after he died. These are both in my Olympic signature database as his signature. I maintain a database of all Olympic signatures that pass through my hands, whether for keeping or selling.

Cheers,

Michael