Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on May 11, 2018 at 2:47pm

You got started a bit before me it was the very early 70s when I started and around 1975 with the advent of the Bicentennial that I started on collecting historical autographs.  Do you remember the newspaper The Antique Trader?  I got some through that and got acquainted with some great people. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Herman Darvick on May 11, 2018 at 2:58pm

I remember The Antique Trader.  By the way, I got most of my good addresses from "The International Who's Who" in my local public library - reference. --- Herman

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on May 11, 2018 at 3:13pm

In the early 80s I began writing a lot of the Scottish Clan Chiefs that were living then most were World War II veterans. I had always loved Sir Ian Moncrieffe's history of the The Highland Clans so thought I would write him to tell him so. I think this was 1984.  Like you I found his address in "The International Who's Who" and went to the postoffice to ask about return postage that is how I found out about International Postage Coupons.  I sent that along with a letter and he wrote right back!  Sadly he died the next year.  Most of them were very responsive including Lord Lovatt (Brig. Simon Fraser) of D-Day fame (Peter Lawford played him in The Longest Day). He wrote me a quite long letter all handwritten.    Did you ever buy from Antiques Americana in Massachusetts or somewhere in New England.  I bought a lot of historical documents and letters from him.  Owings I think his name was.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Herman Darvick on May 11, 2018 at 3:30pm

I usually bought from Charles Hamilton, first from his lists, then from his auctions. We became good friends. I even helped him in his 2 volume "American Autographs" volumes. He thanked me in the acknowledgments and the text which I appreciated. He even wrote a column the UACC's "The Pen & Quill, "Ask Charles Hamilton." It really bothers me when I read that a current dealer "trained" with Charles Hamilton. Anyone who knew Charles Hamilton knows that Hamilton trained no one. Anyway, when I went to Hamilton auctions, I examined the autograph lots like "Military" and "Statesmen" and bought the lots, kept the ones I wanted and sold the rest. That's how I became a dealer!

• ▶ Reply