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Question about Clark Gable's "G"

I've observed that Clark Gable's autograph remained pretty well consistent over the years of his acting career except for the way he formed the "G" in his surname.  1930's "G" always looked to be more rounded and almost looks like a number "9" while WWII era and onward "G" had sharper lines and open at the bottom. 

I just stumbled upon a document from 1946 in which Gable consents to have his signature attached to some fundraising activities for The Motion Picture Relief Fund.  Both styles of the "G" are on this document in two separate signatures.  All of the other letters look the same on both signatures.  

I wonder if he just switched back and forth with the  "G" in his post-1940 signing... and why?

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Permalink Reply by Nick Dimeo on December 16, 2021 at 8:56am

The “g” that looks like the 9 is almost always the way secretarial is signed for him (I call that the lazy G). The majority of the other “G’s” are usually on official documents and personal checks. Obviously, he signed both ways on that document you posted. I have no idea why, maybe he just liked alternating between the two. 

Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 16, 2021 at 9:05am

Here's another variation of that "G" looking like a "9" that's in-person (and slightly different yet again).  Guess you almost need to take a given piece and judge it by it's own merits.

Permalink Reply by Joe W. on December 16, 2021 at 10:38am

Likely an earlier signature?

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on December 19, 2021 at 2:29pm

Feb. 26th, 1928

Permalink Reply by David Lewis on December 17, 2021 at 11:54am

Etienne, Every official document I have seen no matter the date, Gable used the capital cursive G when he signed. When he signed autographs to fans he signed with the #9 looking g….The variant 9 you mentioned in your second post imho tends to be his earlier autograph…..As with a lot of celebrity autographs the more exemplars you have with inscriptions the better off you will be. These are both in my collection, the Gable came out of the same guest book as the Bergman so I would assume both to be WW2 era…..but don't hold me to it.

Permalink Reply by Allen on December 19, 2021 at 2:10pm

Posting this here as Gable has been a recent topic as well as in Is This Real? Soliciting opinions. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 19, 2021 at 3:59pm

Could be....have you examined it outside the matte/frame? Is that pencil or fountain pen?

Permalink Reply by Nick Dimeo on December 19, 2021 at 4:07pm

Very basic Gable there, hard to tell. I agree some examination needs to be completed outside the matte/frame. 

Permalink Reply by David Lewis on December 19, 2021 at 4:22pm

Allen, If you are buying, as Etienne said you should have a peak behind the curtain…..Etienne….looks like a pencil.

Permalink Reply by Joe W. on December 19, 2021 at 4:29pm

I agree, it's pencil unless terribly faded which I don't think it is. It has some good traits although the "C" bothers me a bit. Likely in person which could account for that. I'm on the fence.

Permalink Reply by Allen on December 20, 2021 at 3:10pm

Thanks for your comments. Aside from the atypical "C," I think it looks fine (but the C is atypical).

It's in pencil on an album page. Matted but not covered with glass or plastic.

Below is the entire image of the album page. Comments welcome always.

Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 20, 2021 at 3:34pm

Allen - 

That 2nd signature is a whole game changer....it would be his then wife Carole Lombard.

I'm not convinced, unfortunately.  That "G" in the Lombard signature suspicious to me as is the connection from the "D".  I also don't like the very rigid baseline on all three words for the Lombard signature.  I'm attaching an authenticated one that you will see is more free flowing.

Realize too that this would be a very desirable (and expensive) pairing and greater incentive for a forger to do their thing.  

The use of pencil also makes it a little harder to date as opposed to ink which is much easier to detect a recent job done.

Just one opinion...let's see what others say......

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