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.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by 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

Actually, they don't. If one pressed hard enough with a fountain pen to make the impression above, it would have split the nib. Anyone who is used to a fountain pen--as Gehrig certainly was, since he died before ballpoints were introduced--knows not to press hard.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Actually, they don't. If one pressed hard enough with a fountain pen to make the impression above, it would have split the nib. Anyone who is used to a fountain pen--as Gehrig certainly was, since he died before ballpoints were introduced--knows not to press hard.

Actually, they do. Since it is pressure on the nib that causes the flow of ink, you would need to press down to get any ink flow. Hold a fountain pen by the thumb and forefinger at the top and try to write. You may get some ink flow, but not consistently. This is the same with any writing instrument, whether a pencil, ballpoint or even sharpie. Other points to consider are whether the person is left handed, how are they holding the pen and is the nib damaged.

A person writing crook left handed draws the pen across the writing surface differently from a right handed person.

You do not need both halves of the nib ball to be touching the surface for it to write. The flow would be affected, but it would still work.

The nib end is flexible. That flexibility, though barely negligible, is what allows for a smooth flow of ink no matter the hand pressure of the writer. The nibs are designed to work for all people and not customized. Also, the two halves of the nib can be separated by less than ½ of a millimeter and still work. This could also cause the scratching of the emulsion of a photo. Have you ever heard the expression ‘scratch out a sentence’? Think of the sound a fountain pen makes on good paper - scratching.

I have attached several images. The first is a flatbed scan of the signature of 1928 Olympic gold medalist Ray Barbuti signed around 1928. Clearly a fountain pen signature. The next few show the same signature at an angle where I have purposely added lamp glare. You can see glare off of the ink which makes it look like ballpoint pen ink, but is clearly not. You can also see the indentation into the photo and the separation of the nib on the bottom of the ‘y’. At the top of the ‘R’ in Ray and the ‘B’ in Barbuti there is also consistent separation of the nib. I have attached an enhanced image of those two letters to show this. I believe this refutes your contention.

Cheers,
Michael

[David Atkatz]

You are correct, Michael.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

You are correct, Michael.

Thank you. I appreciate civil intellectual discourse. I believe that with open eyes and open minds we all learn from each other. I learn quite a bit from the contributions of the members.

[deep2deep]

What do you think about this one I have? Story is it was won at a Christmas Bazaar in New Hampshire, at the South Sutton Community Center in 1937 or 1938. Supposedly donated by Willie, West & McGinty a known act in New York at the time. Signed by Lou Gehrig "Compliments Lou Gehrig" also signed by Robert "Red" Rolfe "Sincerely Robert "Red" Rolfe. Do you believe this is or could be authentic.