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Marlene Dietrich signed Ross Verlag postcard – Beckett “Unlikely” – Opinions welcome

Hello everyone,

I recently acquired a Ross Verlag postcard (No. 759) of Marlene Dietrich with a German inscription that reads:

“Für Lili – liebe Grüße – Ihre Marlene Dietrich”

I submitted it to Beckett for a Quick Opinion and received an “Unlikely to Pass Full Authentication” result.

Before forming a final opinion, I would genuinely appreciate technical feedback from experienced collectors here.

Observations:

• Period Ross Verlag postcard (No. 759) • Ink does not fluoresce under UV • Natural flow and line variation visible
• No obvious hesitation or drawn lines

I am fully open to critical and honest opinions.

Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.

Tags: BAS, Beckett, Dietrich, German, Hollywood, Marlene, Ross, Verlag, autograph, inscription

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Permalink Reply by JK on February 17, 2026 at 2:54pm

The one observation you didn't provide was how your item compares to other examples of her signature. I don't know her signature but I took a quick look at a dozen or so online and they didn't seem to resemble yours at all.

Did you find others that compared favorably?

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Permalink Reply by altan ucuncu on February 18, 2026 at 12:40am

Thank you for taking the time to review it.

I did conduct a focused comparison with documented 1930s Ross Verlag examples, specifically early German inscriptions rather than her later, more standardized American studio signatures. It is well documented that Dietrich’s signature evolved considerably over time, particularly after her transition to Hollywood.

The structure of the capital “M”, the loop formation in the “D”, and the natural line flow in this inscription align more closely with early European-period examples than with her later simplified form. The inscription style itself also reflects period-appropriate German phrasing.

While I understand that at first glance it may differ from more commonly seen examples online (which are often later U.S. signatures), I believe the comparison should be made within the correct time frame and regional context.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 18, 2026 at 9:12am

Why not post these matching period examples?

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Permalink Reply by altan ucuncu on Thursday

Thank you for taking the time to look and respond.

I appreciate your honest observation. My initial assessment was based on comparison with some early German-period Ross Verlag examples, where the signature style appears less standardized than her later Hollywood-era autographs.

I understand that her signature evolved significantly over time, especially once she was signing in volume in the U.S. period. The earlier examples can vary quite a bit in flow and construction.

That said, I fully acknowledge that this piece does not resemble her later, more familiar signatures.

I’m sharing it here precisely for objective feedback, and I truly value critical input from experienced collectors.

Thank you again for your time.