Rare Shoeless Joe Jackson autograph

[shelly]

The autograph from the photographer is worth the same as the Joe Jackson signature.

[Klrdds]

In comparing this signature to my Joe Jackson auto ( I own his signed 1945 South Carolina driver's license ) and checking those on the PSA autograph facts site I have no confidence in this piece. IMO it is just too neat and too perfect for something signed by Joe, especially signed in 1911 when his career was just beginning to take off and getting the recognition that comes with that. His handwriting at that time would, in my opinion , be as "rough " and unformed as ever since he was young and not accustomed to signing anything he would not have to. A young illiterate man I can't fathom signing that neatly, when his other signatures from the rest of his career/life are not that smooth looking.
I would not bid on it ...I maybe wrong , but I would not let the lure of this photo suck me in.

[Runscott]

The article makes it sound like PSA assessed the prints themselves as from the same period as the autographs (1911). PSA is pretty good about getting print age correct.

Heritage uses the term "ironclad provenance" to describe the Mathewson signature. Since they came from the same scrapbook, the Jackson must have the same ironclad provenance: "Bowen's husband, Bill, first saw the scrapbook about 10 years ago. It was stored in a barn near Cleveland and belonged to a couple whose family was friends with Frank W. Smith, a photographer with the Plain Dealer newspaper."

I think it's really neat how this stuff gets found in barns.

[GrayGhost]

No way joe is good.yech

[MVSNYC]

I'm not an auto expert, but the first time I saw the Jackson sig in question, I said to myself, "no way is that real." Just doesn't have the same characteristics of the known authentic Jackson sigs.

[bender07]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

I'm not an auto expert, but the first time I saw the Jackson sig in question, I said to myself, "no way is that real." Just doesn't have the same characteristics of the known authentic Jackson sigs.

Same for me on the Matty. Not an expert but just didn't look right. I have a hard time with the fact that these would even exist. Reminds me of those Ruth autographed photos in REA recently (I think it was REA).

[johnmh71]

The issue I have is that someone who is illiterate is going to have a hard enough time signing their name, but then add a place and date? Doesn't seem right. You look at the stuff Stan Coveleski signed and he always signed just his name.

[David Atkatz]

That "Jackson" is just as good as the rest of the signatures in the grouping. Did you see the "Mathewson"?

[shelly]

It reminds me of those nine Ruth picture that also came from a photographer. They where taken down and never heard from again.

[Klrdds]

All this stuff is found in barns in pristine condition after years....I leave something in my garage for 2 weeks and it looks like crap.
I guess these barns are just cleaner and more climate controlled in Ohio!!

[packs]

Very strange that there are more than a few Joe Jackson's being auctioned off in relatively short periods of time. Goldin has the 1919 ball right now. Heritage has this photo. What took them so long to come out of hiding? And why at the same time?

[Runscott]

The Black Sox ball has been auctioned before.