Click to enlarge

Humphrey Bogart

Superb Vintage Clear fountain pen signature on album page. Bogart signatue is rare in any form.


Humphrey Bogart Autograph Study
Here's Looking at You, Bogie!

By Tricia Eaton

We know him as the suave, no-nonsense Rick Blaine from Casablanca, but Humphrey Bogart was not as tough in person to approach for an autograph. Rarely signing through the mail, Bogart’s autograph is one of the most desired from classic Hollywood. Consequently, forgeries and secretarials are much more common than the genuine article. I collected and scrutinized more than 100 authentic examples of Bogie’s autograph to learn the tricks to identifying his authentic signature. The good news is that his autograph is as hard to imitate as Bogart himself.
A Desirable Autograph
It should come as no surprise that Bogie’s autograph is one of the most sought after of all vintage entertainers. Depending on condition, inscription and pose, collectors will pay anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 for a signed photo. A plain signature usually brings from $300 to $1,000, given the quality and matting possibilities. A rare handwritten and signed letter is worth about $4,000, because Bogie was rarely known to write letters to anyone besides “Betty,” his fourth wife, Lauren Bacall. One exception was a handwritten letter to a noted journalist, Bob Thomas, which sold for nearly $3,000 this past January. With such large sums of money involved, a buyer must be confident that the item is authentic before making a purchase.

Bogie’s In-Person Autographs
Bogie rarely, if ever, signed through the mail, but he was an approachable signer in person. His signature is often present in fan autograph albums from the ’40s and ’50s, not only in the Los Angeles area, but in New York City as well. Upon first glance, these rushed in-person examples may look questionable. In fact, the most convincing thing about them seems to be that they are in a book with other authentic autographs.

Stick With Authentic Bogies, Not Phonies
Although Bogart passed away in 1957, he was named the number one actor of the 20th century by the American Film Institute in 1999. His life was cut short at only 57 years old, but a mere 27 years on the silver screen was more than enough to secure him a place in our hearts. Bogie had a signature as unique as his persona—easily impersonated but never truly duplicated. It plays to our advantage that his autograph generally changed little over time. Studying the pictures here (See source code below for article to see images) should make it easy for you to tell the real from the fake—Bogie hated phonies!


This story has been shortened for the web. Read the entire story in the August issue of Autograph. Click here to buy this issue of Autograph, on sale in bookstores and newsstands through August 19, or call 1-800-996-3977 or 714-263-3560

Source: http://autographmagazine.com/tabid/73/itemid/191/Humphrey-Bogart-Autograph-Study.aspx