Bela Lugosi as The Monster from FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN sp

I happened to see this intriguing framed photo at auction and was wondering what you guys might think of it.

It was sold prior back in 2006 by MastroNet auctions and has a sales letter accompanying it attributed to Steve Grad at PSA. I believe MastroNet did get in hot water a few years later for some authentication practices that included items that had passed through PSA.

What I can see of the photo looks like it may be a lower definition reproduction (I'll include an attachment of an production original still from which also has a wider angle of the image). Were these kind of later generation stills very common in prior to Bela's death in 1956? It may possibly be a magazine photo given the lack of definition.

The dedication and inscription is in a green fountain pen which, if real, would have been a brilliant choice given the Monster is often thought of as green skinned. Is that almost too perfect a choice back in the day?

The handwriting does look typical of Bela's (just a quibble or two...the hesitation of the connection of the "B" and "e" in 'Bela', the slight looping of the "a" at the end of 'Bela' and the "i" at the end of "Lugosi", that large loop in the bottom of his 'Lugosi ' "g" ).

Prior framing presents an obstacle to being able to examine it more thoroughly via scans.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on February 18, 2022 at 5:08pm

I owned a red Lugosi signature a few years back.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on February 18, 2022 at 5:44pm

The red ones are great! I'm sure yours was a winner, Joe!

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on February 18, 2022 at 5:48pm

Obtained from Tom Kramer.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on February 18, 2022 at 5:50pm

Solid as a rock! Tom had some really fine classic horror material over the years... including Bela.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on February 19, 2022 at 5:16am

Here it is.

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Permalink Reply by eddy on February 19, 2022 at 7:53am

Nice!

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 19, 2022 at 12:12pm

Lovely. And 1951. Super item Joe!

Permalink Reply by Joe W. on February 19, 2022 at 12:32pm

Thought you would appreciate seeing it!

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 18, 2022 at 7:30pm

Indeed, like those postcards from the 1952 UK trip in particular. I just sold one unsigned - new old stock from Dad from Bela Jr.. Red ink makes me a bit wary for the obvious reasons. Like a red MM.

As for the red forgery, the forger didn't know what to do with the "d"'s. and the name so fake-smooth. Every feature is overdone from the underline to the loop of the "g" which appears to lift and start again for the "o" for no reason other than to be seen doing so. The trail offs and restart ink show this to me. The "Bela" is a mess.

The "y" takes the cake.

After all the great SP's and signature styles shown in this thread I'm really happy with mine. :) And the price was just right. Kramer is missed.