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J Dean opinions please

Signed in a New York restraunt 1950

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Permalink Reply by Abcd on September 28, 2018 at 12:16pm

I'm not an expert, but I'm saying: REAL DEAL

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Permalink Reply by Abcd on September 28, 2018 at 2:10pm

Any James Dean Experts?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 28, 2018 at 2:58pm

I took a glance - the hand doesn't look right to me for a few reasons. But, apparently, in July 1950 Dean was living with his dog and stepmother in LA and attending UCLA, which he did not leave until January 1951, moving after this to NYC - and this item is dated July 1950 and said to be signed in NYC? I'd have to do more research on the dates. It is perhaps a little odd that it is the only signature in the residence column, the only sig dated, and the only one not to have a residence. Also, FWIW, those are two different red pens. All that together gives me pause. "The unknown" also seems a bit self aware, and doesn't look like his hand to me from a quick peek at other examples.

James Dean at thecead.com

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Permalink Reply by Abcd on September 28, 2018 at 3:09pm

Thanks Eric.

I thought about the signature in the centre. I've had a look at some letters and can't decide. What I have seen is that the K looks like a b as seen in some other items.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 28, 2018 at 3:17pm

Looking at thecead.com and the earlier examples at PSA facts (which might be pointless if some of those exemplars are as good as their Gleason exemplars), it does not appear consistent with known signatures and writing of James Dean. Construction, baseline, slant, loops, grouping etc. seem off and slowly written.

There is a letter, written carefully and not cursively to be read by a child, from this period here (1951-53 NYC James Dean letter to Marcus Jr.).