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Artist autograph is unclear of meaning

This sutograph is on a watercolor It is signed ...I don't understand meaning of markings before and after..Also cont find this artist....SMGZE4850.JPG

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 29, 2022 at 8:56am

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Permalink Reply by al poluyanskis on July 31, 2022 at 8:40am

Thanks,

so would it be a print #84 or is that the year....i understand copyright....

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 31, 2022 at 9:53am

The year of course. If you understand copyright you know the symbol is not necessary.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 31, 2022 at 12:31pm

Why would an original watercolor be numbered anyway? Is it is print of some sort? Makes no difference as far as these numbers are concerned. The numbering appears part of the work - they can't all be "#84"...and it would be 84/XXX edition. In pencil in the margin of the print. Can you show the whole work?

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Permalink Reply by JK on July 31, 2022 at 5:05pm

It looks like '84 to me. Obviously the year.

The original El Rancho was a famous hotel/club/casino in Las Vegas. A lot of the top talent played there.

I have a check issued to actor/singer Robert Clary from the El Rancho that was payment for a series of shows he did there.

Back to the "artwork". Is it an original? The artistic quality is, to me, somewhat basic or pedestrian. To me it is on the level of some kind of advertisement. So, the bottom line is that I would not expect the artist to be a listed artist.

Edit: the original El Rancho was closed in the late 1960s and the property was sold to Howard Hughes. In 1982 another casino was renamed the El Rancho as a tribute to the original. So, yours is either a tribute to the old one or something done for the new one.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on August 1, 2022 at 3:30am

I see I missed the second scan. That "82" and the colors used indicate 1982 - good catch JK.

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Permalink Reply by al poluyanskis on August 2, 2022 at 4:59am

JK,

Thanks for the help...I think you bought that check from me on ebay....been selling my uncles stuff for over 20 years

Thanks Again

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Permalink Reply by JK on August 2, 2022 at 6:52am

Wow! Small world.

I sent a photocopy of the check to Robert Clary to see if he remembered anything about it. At his age (mid 90s) I guess he wasn't either willing or able to recall the details, but he signed the photocopy and sent it back. But, I found mention of his gig there in his book online.

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Permalink Reply by al poluyanskis on August 1, 2022 at 6:15am

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Permalink Reply by JK on August 1, 2022 at 6:54am

It says 1941 at the top so it's a tribute piece to the original El Rancho, done after it closed.

Purpose? Not apparent. Someone's art project? Part of a set paying tribute to the old casinos of Las Vegas? Something that hung in the new El Rancho to honor the original?

Without any further context It's just a decorative item.