Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 14, 2012 at 6:59pm

that is a personal choice.  There is something that bothers me about the various slants of the greeting vs. the actual signature. its like the handwriting is from his 60's and later style and the signature is an attempt at his early to mid 50's style. and the slant in the greeting is all over the place.  JSA or not, I wouldn't want it in my collection. but again, its a personal choice.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 14, 2012 at 7:18pm

Joey,

I'd pass on this.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on November 14, 2012 at 7:20pm

Sorry...hit reply before i was done. It doesn't look spontaneously signed. I'm no Mantle expert, but I don't think it's real.

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Permalink Reply by Joey Farino on November 15, 2012 at 10:12am

So I just did alot more research on the auto and the front of the business card that this is signed on was a native american artifact business in maine. The owners last name was "beatty" but went by betty. They were located in raymond, maine in the 40's to late 50's. I contacted the raymond historical society and the lady i talked to said her mother was a good friend of the owner of the business and was not surprised at all that I was in possession of the signed business card and is going to find out more information for me. pretty neat if you ask me. I see some of your points but I compared the writing to his other 50's autos that have a inscription similar to this and they look exactly the same. I think its 100% genuine with all the research ive done.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 15, 2012 at 4:09pm

Its your money, Joey.  But here is an authentic Mantle from 1956.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YANKEES-1956-MICKEY-MANTLE-Vintage-Autograp...

Note that a lot of the letter formation, including the "ck" are similar to his later in life signatures.  the one in the photo above does not have these traits.  could it have been signed years earlier? yes.  but I certainly would have my doubts.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 15, 2012 at 4:18pm

Here is one that may lend credence to your research.  this is a 1953 signed baseball, and the signature looks very similar to yours.  but the formation of the "c" still bothers me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-1953-NY-Yankees-Giants-team-A...

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Permalink Reply by Joey Farino on November 15, 2012 at 4:27pm

i found a 1952 signed menu that was sold at a auction. im trying to find it again. it looks almost identical. with the story behind the business card its signed on and the owners being there in the 40's till the 50's with the last name beatty i dont see how its not a credible autograph. the inscription is exactly how he signed it backi the day. same lettering and flow. i dont see why mantle would purposely try to make his autograph look like it did in his early years unless it was signed in his early years which all evidence shows it is. he was signing on the back of a small business card and at the same time trying to fit in a inscription. so imperfections are going to happen

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Permalink Reply by Joey Farino on November 15, 2012 at 4:28pm

hey terrier im trying to open the links to the autos you posted but its not letting me

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 15, 2012 at 4:58pm

here is the 1953 version. very close to the one that is the subject of this discussion.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 15, 2012 at 5:00pm

here is the 56 mantle.  his signature started to change by this time.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on November 15, 2012 at 5:01pm

here is the photo from your link:

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Permalink Reply by Joey Farino on November 15, 2012 at 5:11pm

wow the 53 auto looks dead on. look at the "tle" at the end of mantle. identical. the lady at the historical society is going to try and get more info for me. i dont see how this isnt mantles 1950's signature. if you see autos with the inscription "a pal" from mantle its the exact same handwriting

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