Cy Young Auto...Legit?

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

James,

I remember when Jim offered this Cy Young signed postcard.
I'm envious as that's one terrific piece that I would love to own.

As stated by other posters, Cy definately signed earlier in his career with the straight "y" and "g" at the bottom. I'm not certain that the original posters' example is real, but just noting that different variations of Cy's sig definately exists....

Well Yes and No , the interesting thing is that on his VERY early signatures , Actually BEFORE 1913 , most notably one of his player contracts there is a very pronounced circle loop to finish the "g" in Young. Then later on even in the 1930's I see the straight vertical version and after that alternate versions of both the loop and the straight vertical drop in both the "y" in Cy and the "g" in Young.

Interesting sidenote after Cy Young's wife died he moved in to live with a neighboring family that was no relation. They had a young daughter named Ruth , She was still alive 20 + years ago as I spoke to her on the phone. She remembered Cy and looked at him almost like her own grandfather. She told me that as he got older any letters that needed to be written for him would be written by her or her mother and then signed by him.
I've seen some of those and they are clearly in a different feminine hand. But what she didn't admit too but I firmly believe is that toward the very, very end either her or her mother or both were responding to autograph requests and signing for him too. The "good news" is that those don't look anything like either of the authentic versions of his signature so they are easy to spot
_____________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Well Yes and No , the interesting thing is that on his VERY early signatures , Actually BEFORE 1913 , most notably one of his player contracts there is a very pronounced circle loop to finish the "g" in Young. Then later on even in the 1930's I see the straight vertical version and after that alternate versions of both the loop and the straight vertical drop in both the "y" in Cy and the "g" in Young.

Interesting sidenote after Cy Young's wife died he moved in to live with a neighboring family that was no relation. They had a young daughter named Ruth , She was still alive 20 + years ago as I spoke to her on the phone. She remembered Cy and looked at him almost like her own grandfather. She told me that as he got older any letters that needed to be written for him would be written by her or her mother and then signed by him.
I've seen some of those and they are clearly in a different feminine hand. But what she didn't admit too but I firmly believe is that toward the very, very end either her or her mother or both were responding to autograph requests and signing for him too. The "good news" is that those don't look anything like either of the authentic versions of his signature so they are easy to spot
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jim@stinsonsports.com

Jim,
That's very interesting info about the earlier version of his sig on one of his very early contracts. Do you have an exemplar to share, just out of curiousity?

[JimStinson]

I'm guessing but it looks like based on the scan that the postcard was cut in half as there appears to be hinges upper right corner and lower left corner. If it was indeed cut in half I would wonder why as the other half would have been the address portion.

With regards to the signature of Cy Young I mentioned in an earlier post here it is, If the date is correct this would have been signed about 6 years prior. Big difference.
_____________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

[Scott Garner]

Thanks Jim! That's very helpful!
BTW, I haven't ever seen that version of his signature. It does seem like the "oun" in his sig from his last name Young stayed pretty consistent throughot his life from 1907 until he passed away. Just an observation...

[slidekellyslide]

My friend listed it yesterday...there are pics of the front and back of the postcard.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cy-Young-Aut...item3f228eb2d4

[chaddurbin]

no return? there's the ebay buyer's protection but for an item like this you'd like more than a 45 day window

[slidekellyslide]

I know the guy, he'll refund your money if it turns out bad...the dealer that sold it to him also gave him a money back guarantee.