Ann Dvorak Signed Photo – The Real Deal (For the Early 1930s)
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 163
Yesterday, we took a look at the first autographed photo of Ann-D I ever bought. Unfortunately, it turned out to not be her signature, but was probably signed by a studio secretary. Today, we take a look at the real deal.
Here we have two 11x14s signed by Ann sometime between 1932 and 1936. I know this because around 1936 Ann changed her signature. Apparently, someone was forging her signature on checks and so she altered her autograph. Here’s a closer look at the signature on the second photo.
The top photo I did not pay a dime for. A local dealer who I have known for years obtained it in a lot of other photos which he made a huge profit on, so he just handed it over to me one day!
The second photo I bought from an eBay dealer. As I recall, I had purchased some Ann item from him and asked if he had anything else, and he came up with this gorgeous shot. He wanted $120 which I really could not afford at the time. I offered $75 and once he realized that I was an obsessive fan and not a dealer who would try to turn a profit, he let it go for the $75. It has hung up in every place I have lived ever since.
The above cut signature is currently listed on eBay and is another example of Ann’s pre-1936 autograph. The asking price is $99 which is a bit high. The photo that’s with it usually goes for around $30-45 (assuming it’s original) and the cut should not be more than $20, so $50 is a more accurate price.
Tomorrow, we’ll dig up Ann’s post 1936 signature.
Can you tell us what that inscription reads on the second 11×14?
Was there a procedure or protocol within the studio whereby some fan letters, like these, actually reached the star, and why some (like the one we saw yesterday) ended up getting pawned off to the studio secretary?
Buy your Ann D. souvenirs before “THE” book hits the market in November…or else
The inscription is hard to read even in person, but I think it says “To Bob, My very best wishes.” I’m not sure what the protocol was at the studio. Since these two are 11x14s, I am inclined to think that they may have been handed to her by studio employees. Most of the “fan” photos I have seen are smaller ones that seem to be the stock photos sent out, so the 8×10 may have been mailed into the studio. This is all pure speculation on my part!