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1912 Christy Mathewson Signed Letter & Autographs with Extraordinary Provenance....
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Sold on Aug 5, 2010 for:
$35,850.00
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Description
1912 Christy Mathewson Signed Letter & Autographs with Extraordinary Provenance. A young woman's game of hooky to see her father's favorite ballplayer set into motion a turn of events which supplies the collecting world with this truly charming lot, bookended by letters mailed fifty years apart. A worn but complete clipped 1912 article from a Pueblo, Colorado newspaper recounts the story of young Edwina Vories, a Boston college student from the small Rocky Mountain town who suffered the wrath of the school's dean for her unexcused absence to see Christy Mathewson pitch against the Braves at Boston's South End Grounds.Feeling somewhat guilty for having encouraged his daughter to break the rules, the elder Vories penned a note to the legendary Giants hurler, the text of which is reprinted in its entirety within the newspaper article. It closes, "I sent my daughter in Boston a telegram to attend the game to see you. I send the card showing her troubles with the dean on account thereof. I believe the young lady is a fan, good enough to deserve your autograph, but if you should send it my second daughter would, no doubt, appropriate it at once."
Just below is reprinted Matty's response, which reads, in full:
"Dear Sir,
I received a letter from you last month which can hardly be answered by saying thank you, so I am just going to autograph your daughter's card and enclose it, together with another one of my signatures for your other daughter.
Yours truly,
C. Mathewson."
Matching this newspaper text to the letter is Mathewson's handwritten note, penned in 9+/10 black ink on a 5 x 6.5" unlined page, folded at center. The note is dated "Dec. 23, 1912" and includes addressee and return address at top. The word "(over)" appears at the close, though there is nothing on verso except for a vintage piece of tape strengthening the fragile center fold. Also present within the marvelous little archive is the card (approximately 3 x 5") to which the Big Six refers, signed "Christy Mathewson" twice, and dated "12/23/12" at bottom. These signatures are likewise 9+/10 in strength.
Closing out this remarkable offering is a 1962 handwritten note from the elderly Edwina, which begins, "Dear Mr. Johnson: At long last I have found the Christy Mathewson letter with the autographs which I am sending herewith along with the newspaper article at the time, which tells how we happened to have the letter." This letter remains in perfect condition, with original mailing folds. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.
Auction Info
2010 August Signature Sports Collectibles Auction #7024 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2010
5th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 6,355
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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