Cycleback's THE VINTAGE COLLECTOR
11-08-2001 Issue
edited by David Rudd
comments, questions,
submissions are welcome
...................
CONTENTS:
-- On Autographs:
Interview with James Spence
-- Boxing Review:
The Shelby Debacle, by Murray Greig
-- The World's
Smallest Theft
NEXT SALE will me
sent out on Monday Morning
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AUTOGRAPHS: INTERVIEW
WITH JAMES J. SPENCE
(James Spence, lead
authenticator at PSA/DNA Authentication Services, is widely regarded as one of
the country's leading sports autograph experts. You can visit his website at www.jspence.com )
......
CYCLEBACK: I've
heard you referred to as James, Jim and Jimmy.
What's your preference?
SPENCE:
Professionally I advertise/ trade under James Spence, however all my life I've
been Jimmy.
CYCLEBACK: Where are
you from and how did you become an autograph authenticator?
SPENCE: I was born
in New York City, grew up in Englewood, NJ and have lived the past 12 years in
Orwigsburg, PA (north of Reading rural town).
My grandfather and father were both autograph collectors dating back to
the 1930's. They both worked at Yankee
Stadium during the 1940's. They performed ushering duties and as a teenager my
dad was a stadium vendor.
CYCLEBACK: Do you
have a favorite athlete and/or sports team?
SPENCE: As long as I
can remember I have passionately followed the NY Yankees.
CYCLEBACK: Do you
collect non-autograph memorabilia?
SPENCE: With the
exception of some stadium seats everything else in my collection is signed.
CYCLEBACK: Are there
special challenges when authenticating 'foreign alphabet' signatures, such as
from Ichiro and other Japanese players?
SPENCE: We have only
accepted items signed in our known alphabet in English. Ichiro, Irabu, Park, Nomo etc. sign their
name in this fashion since coming to the States and playing. Early on they would sign both ways but they
always shorten it up to save time.
CYCLEBACK: Are you
like a medical doctor, in that when you attend a dinner party or similar
gathering people want you to authenticate their autographed items for free?
SPENCE: Funny you
mention that. These occurrences do
happen, but even more so people tell you what they have, lost, what was stolen,
damaged or what their relatives have. I
especially listen to stories of events when they were in the company of a
celebrity. Getting an autograph proves
to be an indelible memory that is recounted over the years.
CYCLEBACK: I read a
story about a Princess Diana signed obituary (the obituary being hers). Do you come many similar bonehead
fakes? Do you ever get a good laugh out
of them?
SPENCE: Every week
there is at least one autograph that appears on an item that was manufactured
after the death of the individual. This
happens quite often with baseballs, especially Major League baseballs where the
forger is unaware of the specific dating marks on the ball. I'd have to say the best laugher I've seen
is the wire photo signed by Kenesaw M. Landis.
The photo was a shot of Ford Frick at a ballgame.
CYCLEBACK: I've
heard that Mr. and Mrs Lou Gehrig had nearly identical signatures. Have you found it challenging
differentiation between the two?
SPENCE: No, it is
quite obvious in the manner in which the letters are formed. Her version was flattened and elongated
(less rounded) and not as the same angled pitch.
CYCLEBACK: I saw an
1877 carte de visite of George Wright signed on the back (something to the
effect of 'Greetings from Geo. Wright'), indicating the autographed photo was a
gift to someone. Was collecting
autographs a popular hobby in the 1800s?
SPENCE: Baseball
autograph collecting didn't get much respect until Ruth came along. Home Run balls were retrieved from the
stands and put back into play until fans wanted to keep them as mementos and
have Ruth sign them. Autograph album
books rarely predate 1920 an even then they were uncommon. Cabinet cards were often identified in
another hand and in isolated instances actually signed by the pictured
player. In the late 1800's, autograph
collecting was more popular with Civil War generals.
CYCLEBACK: What is
your assessment of the number of forged autographs on eBay and similar online
auctions?
SPENCE: Based on
what comes in for authentication that has derived through eBay there is serious
reason for concern. They basically take
a caveat emptor approach and let people take their chances. If I was to get involved
in a purchase I would use a credit card so that I have a way of placing a
charge back on the vendor if returning the item proved to be a hassle. Ebay has turned non-business people into a
swarm of mail order companies that has been difficult at best to regulate.
CYCLEBACK: Who's
autographs should the collector take special care before buying?
SPENCE: The most
common subjects for forgery that come in for authentication are Babe Ruth, Lou
Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Roger
Maris, Muhammad Ali, Mark McGwire and Thurman Munson.
CYCLEBACK: A common
collector's complaint about the plethora of forgeries on the market (other than
the forgeries themselves), is that it casts a dark cloud of suspicion on
legitimate autograph collections that do not have formal documentation of
authenticity. For example, a collector
may have gathered a financially modest but personally valuable collection of
autographs by going to the ball parks during summer vacation. Twenty years later, when considering selling
the collection on eBay, she realizes that many people won't take her word that
they are authentic. What should this
type of collector do in trying to sell the collection?
SPENCE: Initially
photographs with the players help but are not ironclad forms of
authenticity. As an authenticator, I
can get a sense or feel from the collection by seeing it in it's entirety. Having a respected authenticator examine the
collection will cost but with the certification it will get more attention and
increase the overall value.
CYCLEBACK: What past
or present player has notably attractive handwriting? Notably poor?
SPENCE: The sloppy
(why do they bother) autographs include Greg Maddux, Nomar Garciaparra, recent
Mike Piazza and the ballpark version of McGwire. these are tough opine and often end up in the inconclusive
pile. My favorite signatures include
the classic and legible beauties such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Dizzy Dean,
Hughie Jennings, and Rogers Hornsby.
The best penmanship award goes to a two year pitcher from the 1939-40
seasons. He gets my vote as the finest
example in the hobby. Lillard's ornate
style could replace John Hancock on the D. of I. He died in 1991 and will probably cost under $25.
CYCLEABCK: I have a
collection of autographed index cards.
In the case when I have doubles or triples of one player, there are
trends in the placement of the signature.
For example, on my index cards Burleigh Grimes signed small and in the
upper corner, while Monte Irvine signed on the lined side. Are there notable instances were players had
especially eccentric placement habits?
SPENCE: Many of the
old timers such as Cool Papa Bell, Burleigh Grimes, Max Carey and Ernie
Lombardi would favor the top of the index card. This makes it more challenging to mat the signature. They must have envisioned other players
would also ink their names to the same card so they were leaving some room.
It's almost like they were leaving the center of the card (sweet spot) for a
better player. This may show something
in reflecting their modest demeanors.
Lined side signers include Carey, Irvin, Lindstrom and Sewell. This habit probably derived from learning
penmanship on lined paper from grade school.
Some players like Ruffing or Hartnett preferred signing vertically. Others like Sam "Wahoo" Crawford,
Ty Cobb and Judy Johnson almost insisted on nicknames, dates personalizing or
adding a statistic or affiliation.
CYCLEBACK: What's
the deal about Mr. Mint and the 2001 National Convention in Cleveland? I wasn't there, but have heard identical
stories that start with him giving away an expensive autographed ball and end
up with him having a temper tantrum.
SPENCE: My mother
told me if I don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all.
CYCLEBACK: Do you
have any recommended books on autographs?
SPENCE: One of the
best "Detecting Forgery" by Nickell (University of Kentucky
Press-1996). The IADA/IACC International Autograph Dealers
Alliance/Collectors Club print monthly pamphlets with great articles from
active hobbyist. Subscribe!
CYCLEBACK: Since the
1990s, the major trading card companies have issued countless autographed
cards. Are you aware of any
authenticity problems?
SPENCE: I've seen
some problems, but the majority are authentic versions.
CYCLEBACK: I assume
that you have a list of players whose autographs you authenticate. Is there a specific process to adding new
names? For example, when some suddenly
popular rookie, do you make a conscious effort to study his signature?
SPENCE: My threshold
for adding a new name to the examination list relies on my comfort level. There are some players that have been around
for a while whose penmanship makes it difficult including him.
CYLEBACK: At private
autograph signings, do the celebrities bring along entertainment to help pass
the time (music, friends, a book)? I
won't ask what Dennis Rodman brings.
SPENCE: Wives,
entourages, booze and championship rings come to mind.
CYCLEBACK: In your
experience with famous athletes, which ones stands out as class acts?
SPENCE: Joe Sewell
and Brooks Robinson were my all-time favorites. I know fewer non-celebs that are this gracious and these two
haven't let fame go to their heads.
They haven't forgotten where they come from. Willie Mays and Frank Robinson must have gotten lost along the
way.
CYCLEBACK: What's
your favorite movie, television show book?
SPENCE: I can't get
through "Pride of the Yankees" without getting misty-eyed. Gary Cooper didn't look much like an athlete
but was able to portray Gehrig's humble and self-effacing nature.
"Rudy" and
"Pumping Iron" have a special place in my heart.
"The Old Man in
the Sea" by Hemingway is a must read for everyone. His remarks about baseball and DiMaggio are
well placed and show his reverence for the game of baseball.
I use to like a show
back in the early 1980's called "Fernwood Tonight" with Martin
Mull. God knows why that first came to
my mind.
(end of interview)
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THE SHELBY DEBACLE
By Murray Greig
One of the most
rewarding aspects of collecting boxing books is discovering local or regional
histories of fights that grabbed national and international headlines. These
'hometown' treatments often shed a new perspective on the event, and because
they were usually not written for mass-market distribution theyıre often more
truthful.
I unearthed one of
these gems during a recent trip to Shelby, Montana the unlikely site of the
July 4, 1923 world heavyweight title bout between Jack Dempsey and Tommy
Gibbons. In addition to the fabulous display of Dempsey-Gibbons memorabilia at
the Marias Museum of History and Art, the sleepy town of 3,000 offers several
other attractions related to the fight not the least of which is the site of
the 40,000-seat stadium. At the time it was built (at a cost of $82,000),
Shelby had no paved streets and a population of just 500 residents. As the
massive octagonal-shaped arena was being constructed (it covered six acres and
used 1.3 million board feet of timber), people from all over the state bid on
the lumber so that they could build homes after it was torn down.
The museum and
sightseeing aside, the other must for any visitor to Shelby is to pick up a
copy of The Fight That Won't Stay Dead, a fascinating 62-page booklet written
by the fight's co-promoter, James W. (Body) Johnson and edited by John F.
Kavanagh. Published by the Shelby Promoter newspaper for Montanaıs 1989
centennial, the booklet is a combination of Johnson's original notes and a
manuscript he wrote in the early 1960s, fleshed out with dozens of
never-before-published photos, personal recollections and a round-by-round
recap of the fight by the editorıs uncle, sportswriter C.T. Kavanagh. Thereıs
also a chapter on the arena construction written by architect F.H. Keane, and
capsulized biographies of all the principals.
The most interesting
reading in The Fight That Won't Stay Dead is Johnsonıs first-person accounts of
dealing with Dempsey and his manager, Jack Kearns. While making no bones about the fact Kearns 'slickered' the
Shelby promoters (total gate receipts were $202,000, but Dempsey was paid
$255,000 and Gibbons only $7,500), Johnson clarifies many of the myths about
the event that subsequently became part of boxing lore. "Right here let me
say I never saw or spoke to Kearns or Dempsey since the fight, " Johnson
notes in a passage penned in 1964. "Many times Dempsey has been in the
same town or community as me, and several times I've been invited to say hello,
but declined. I've never even been in Jack's restaurant in New York, but many,
many times I've walked past it. Why? I don't know ... except that the adverse
and unfair publicity we received and the abuse we absorbed has made me want to
forget the whole darn thing. I've tried to do so all along, but then along
comes some biased or misinformed story by some new author , with everything but
the truth ..."
Johnson also delves
into subjects like Kearns absconding with the IRS receipts, Dempsey's threat to
leave town if his full purse wasnıt paid in advance, and dozens of other
fascinating tidbits. As an insider's eyewitness account of one of the most
bizarre and misunderstood chapters in boxing history, The Fight That Wonıt
Stay Dead is eminently more readable that most of the glossed-over versions of
the Shelby debacle contained in the many Dempsey biographies. A companion
publication, the reprinted souvenir program of the fight, is also available at
several Shelby outlets. For information on both booklets, contact the Marias
Museum of History and Art, Shelby, MT. 59474.
---
Speaking of vintage
boxing memorabilia, many of the finest images from the Harry E. Winkler
Collection of boxing photographs have been posted on the Internet at
www.sports.nd.edu/exhibits/winkexhibit/winkmenu.html. Winkler was a longtime Los Angeles area boxing aficionado and
California correspondent for The Ring from 1939-53. His extensive collection of
photos most dating from the 1920s and 30s was acquired by the University
Libraries of Notre Dame in 1977, including 4,000 4x5-inch glass negatives. Among the fighters best represented in the
collection (more than 30 plates each) are Dempsey, Tony Canzoneri, Speedy Dado,
Jackie Fields, Jimmy McLarnin, Tommy OıBrien and Mickey Walker.
The Winkler
Collection of boxing photos is part of the UND's massive Joyce Sports Research
Collection, which also includes huge holdings of vintage baseball, basketball,
and football memorabilia. Next time I'll look at some of the baseball holdings.
Until then, happy collecting!
(The author, Murray
Greig, lives in Western Canada and specializes in vintage hockey memorabilia.
He is the author of Big Bucks & Blue Pucks: An Anecdotal History of the
World Hockey Association, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Biggest Deals
in Hockey History.)
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WORLD'S SMALLEST
THEFT
Some of the world's
smallest pieces of art, which fit into the eye of a needle, have been
stolen. Three pieces created by the
British sculptor Willard Wigan vanished, while being packed after an exhibition in London's Covent Garden. The
three minute carvings, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tower Bridge and Jesus, are together worth £100,000. They
are each less than a millimetre in size and are mounted in the eyes of needles.
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That's all, thanks
for reading.