Hi All,

Well. What to do when you can't find what you want after a long deliberate search? You welcome an album page (Al Pg) or signed photo (SP) that is not quite what you want (NOTE I did not say settle - never "settle" for anything). But then, down the road, often sooner than later but not always, you see something - it catches your eye. Is it "better"? "Nicer" or "stronger"? More visible/tangible "qualities"? Upgrades are about qualities - after all - you already have one don't you. Double-weight or matte? Pearl? Stamped? Copyrighted? Vintage? Promo? Better pose? Favorite role? Closer to your heart's desire? If you find "it" and are true to the criterion of your collection, and you buy it (correctly, at a good price and with an understanding of the policies of the seller and using PP with CC) - that is often considered an upgrade. By the time you want one you might pay less, having learned some. Here are some of mine. Which do you prefer and why? Which do you disagree with? What are yours? Images appreciated! :-)

From this 1959 candid with wife Pamela (nice enough (the graph & photo))...

To this vintage studio marked S Pc portrait in blue-green fountain pen:

From this 8x10 copy print SP from the shoot of "Roy Bean"...(I dunno why but ya gotta scroll wayyy down for the next images)

To this 5x7 SP bearing a photographers credit, relaxed, much later in life and pensive, probably in Mexico...

Sometimes these desires can be combined to create a new sub-collection...

This 1956 still signed in the 70's or 80's bought from Kevin's driver...

Retained along with these period examples from the John Verzi Collection of IP signatures, these being obtained in 1961 and 1965 respectively:

Other times it is not so clear cut...1944's Lifeboat was the goal here...

From this nice double-weight period studio marked 5x7 SP with slight smudge and less than perfect contrast as the "B" fits into her arm and the "T" is also rather obscured...

To this signed double-weight promotional still (SS?) from which I found to be from the film with a C. 1945 signature:

Below are great examples IMO. Whales of August 1989. Price and Gish. I found better examples of both, one in character!

From this 8x10 glossy, unmarked, with a Price, shaky Gish, poor Sothern and no Davis at all...

To these beauties:

A Powerful vintage Price with pop contrast, snazzy signature in felt tip and perfect pose...

To this framed film still (yet to be examined surprises expected but I am good with a blade) and Gish in character...

And Bette Davis sans gin and ciggs a few years earlier, OK 56 years earlier... 5x7 1933 double-weight matte finish...

Here is an an easy one:

To this - the only set I know of - all matching ink and time period. All 3.5 x 5 with Gleason naturally coming in larger at 5x7...

What is this? Lateral?

And this?