Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Dimeo on December 21, 2021 at 9:01pm

Etienne, this looks typical to every Brooks I have ever seen. Interestingly, Brooks hated fan mail and tossed most of it all. She was also somewhat of a recluse until she appeared in Brownlow’s Hollywood documentary. Always a rare thing to see her interacting with an admirer.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 21, 2021 at 9:04pm

Thanks, Nick.  She really was one of a kind.  LULU IN HOLLYWOOD is a great read!

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Permalink Reply by David Lewis on December 21, 2021 at 11:52pm

Etienne, If you own this rarity….good job….In my 40+ years of collecting I was able to obtain 1 exemplar of Brooks…..yours would be the second.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 22, 2021 at 9:31am

Not mine....one that I stumbled upon online.  I used to own this one (long gone, unfortunately):

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Permalink Reply by David Lewis on December 22, 2021 at 10:08am

Etienne,  Too bad you had to part ways with her.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 22, 2021 at 10:19am

Yes, certainly not one of my brightest moves!  Her "stock" really seems to have skyrocketed the lately. I bought the above photo for a relatively low price from one of our old-time dealers a number of years ago.  Now I'm noticing some of her TLS's going for thousands.

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on December 22, 2021 at 10:23pm

Etienne, your Brooks card was nice but I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about it. The contrast was far from good, either due to a skipping pen or fading. It was also a later example. Where are you seeing TLS going for thousands? I haven't been following Brooks on eBay lately but 2-3 years ago you used to be able to get photos signed on the back for $500 or less. Maybe the supply has dried up now.  

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 23, 2021 at 8:06am

Hi eva- 

That card had both adhesion and fading issues with the ink.  At the time, I thought it was a 1920's signature and kind of forgave it it's faults...but I think you are correct that it is a later signature.  

I also recall those photos signed on the back a few years ago that a poster dealer had on eBay...haven't seen any since.

If you go to eBay currently, just type in "Louise Brooks signed" and you will see prices from $1500 for a cut to $7500 for a signed book.

And then there's this one for $10k...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/362735837802

Bonkers prices!

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on December 23, 2021 at 10:36pm

Etienne, I think you are talking about Buy-It-Now asking prices. They generally are bonkers.

If you look at sold prices you will get a different. As of today, there was only one sold TLS and it went for $450:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154705752611

Admittedly, it was only signed "Louise" but the content of the letter was very good.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on December 23, 2021 at 10:49pm

Hi Eva -  

Thanks for your note.  Yes, those prices are crazy for the BUY IT NOW stuff.

That Brooks letter you linked had me wondering why it only went for $450 when others are priced in the thousands.  Then I looked at all of the accompanying pictures and saw that this accompanied the $450 one:

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on December 23, 2021 at 10:57pm

Etienne, I saw that too but I don't think everything with a TM certificate is bogus and I'm 99.9% sure that the letter is OK. The letter and Louise's note look right to me from a content and handwriting point of view. I also can't believe that anyone would have the skill, or at least not go to such lengths, to produce this document for $450.

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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on December 24, 2021 at 2:31am

This forum has absolutely opened my eyes to the problems with COAs -- I see EBay/Facebook listings and immediately dismiss them out of hand when I see a paper-printed one and someone concocting some absurd story to justify it.

These days, with the amount of fakes circulating around in all sectors (even popular Canadian authors), I don't take anything for granted. If someone believes they can fake and sell something, they'll do it.

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