Circa 1919 George Gipp Signed Photograph....

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Circa 1919 George Gipp Signed Photograph. Still considered one of the most versatile athletes to play the game of football, and a figure who carries an almost mythical persona in sports circles, George Gipp is presented on this incredible signed original photograph. There's no need to reiterate the legendary story of how Gipp's head football coach Knute Rockne used his tragic story of his early passing to motivate his Notre Dame squad at the halftime of a 1928 game versus Army at Yankee Stadium, as we're extremely confident that serious vintage signature collectors already know the significance of this lot inside and out. To state that this offering is rare would be quite the understatement. According to the hobby's most influential autograph experts, it's estimated that there are less than ten signed Gipp images in existence. This example consists of perfectly scribed fountain pen ink, and is signed "Gipp," as he was referred to by his Notre Dame University teammates. Admittedly, the 4.5x6.5" photo is missing three small corners, due to its removal from a scrapbook, with the second "P" in "Gipp" being affected ever so slightly by the removal. However, a Gipp signed piece in any condition will surely command significant demand in the circles of the discerning gridiron collectors. Aside from the missing corner pieces, the photo remains extremely clean, with light surface wear on the front and a small portion of scrapbook remnants on the verso. Consigned by the relative of a Notre Dame hockey player and nationally-ranked track star during the Knute Rockne era, we strongly urge any interested parties to bid early and often as it may be many years before a signed Gipp photo appears again at auction. Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.