Autographs, Autographs, Autographs
I heard back from the reader who sent me the original link to the auction for the autographed copy of John Coltrane Ballads, Impulse A-32. The one that sold for more than $5,000 a few weeks ago. His name is Bill and, it turns out, he has a passion for collecting autographs—as well as an impressive collection. With his permission, here is a copy of our correspondence after I replied to his initial note.
Al:
My jazz collecting the past 25 years has morphed mainly to jazz autographs. There is something about a genuine signature that makes an item come alive: This was actually in the hands of Billie, Bird, Trane, etc. One must be careful to not obtain a fake, but I have mainly dealt with reputable dealers, and over time, I have become more savvy in finds on sites such as eBay.
I did bid on this Coltrane item, but exited the bidding when it went above $2000.
The prizes of my collection are signed photographs, some contracts, some personal letters, etc. To give you an idea of some of my prized items, here is a partial list:
Jelly Roll Morton (very hard to find – I have 2, one of which is sheet music)
Bix Beiderbecke
James P Johnson (photo)
Charlie Christian
Fats Navarro (photo)
Clifford Brown (photo, Study in Brown album)
Booker Little
Serge Chaloff
Charlie Parker (2 photos, a note to Chan, a contract, a signature by his entire quartet)
Lester Young (2 photos, one 78 RPM record)
Coleman Hawkins (multiple photos, cancelled check)
Django Reinhardt (photo, concert program)
Wes Montgomery (photo)
Thelonious Monk (photo, concert program)
John Coltrane
Bud Powell
Bill Evans (photo, high school yearbook)
Billie Holiday (photo, 2 separate contracts regarding the rights to her autobiography, one signed Eleanora Fagan, copy of Lady Sings the Blues)
Lee Morgan (beautiful signed photo, paper with all 5 members of Blakey group, contract for club engagement)
Wardell Gray (10″ LP)
Bennie Moten (78 rpm)
Chet Baker (photo)
Charles Mingus (Mingus at Monterey album, photo)
Ma Rainey (royalty agreement)
Like all financial transactions, especially collecting, the price is determined by supply and demand. Some iconic figures are in high supply (Louis, Duke, Ella), but their iconic status keeps their value to at least a modest level. Iconic figures that died young (Bix, Bird, Trane, Billie) command very high prices. Then there are figures that died young that are only known to the ever-shrinking jazz market rather than the general public (Clifford, Lee Morgan, Wardell Gray, Christian, Fats Navarro). Their items are very rare, but prices aren’t at the level of the Bird, Trane items, possibly for this reason. Some more obscure figures command even less interest (Allen Eager, Wade Legge, Joe Albany, Freddie Webster).
The “what” factor values a photo, letter, or official document over a scrap of paper, napkin, etc. Until recently, a signed record album was not as valuable. However, this has changed lately, as evidenced by the recent Coltrane auction. I have seen some signed Miles Davis albums go higher than I would expect recently.
The one “signature” in my collection that turns out to be a fake is Art Tatum. There was a signed contract for chattel mortgage for a Plymouth automobile. The item came from Arline Tatum, Art’s sister. The address on the contract was his home in Toledo (I have been by the home). The signature was somewhat messy, and signed Arthur Tatum. I couldn’t let this slip by my hands, but have been suspicious. Over the years, with the help of databases on ancestry.com, I have seen a signature of Art Tatum, Sr., Art’s Father, on a marriage license, and WWI draft card, which matches the signature on my item. Further research of multiple contracts, a personal check, and Art Tatum, Jr.’s marriage license are all marked with an X. Oh well………………
Someone like you would understand the thrill of the hunt for items such as these. After a while, one becomes more selective and discerning, and don’t feel bad letting an item get away when the price is too high.
Bill
By the way, I enjoy your website.
My reply:
Fantastic. Do you mind if I post your reply on he site, preferably with your name?
I don’t go out of my way to collect autographs or other ephemera, but I am happy when I come across them. Among my most prized possessions is an copy of Sonny and Hawk, with the following signed by Sonny:
“12/13/63. To my friend at ‘A+ P’ with Holiday wishes to you & yours Sincerely Sonny R.”
A & P was a local supermarket chain. I also have an original 78 of Moody’s Mood For Love, signed by James Moody and am original Birdland program signed by Stan Getz. — al
Very cool Rollins autograph!
I only have a few — a couple Steve Lacy signatures that I got when meeting him, a couple from Bobby Few from when I met him, and a rare Peter Brötzmann Japanese LP which he signed a bunch of… also found a copy of Daddy-O Presents the MJT+3 with the signatures of Booker Little, George Coleman, and Muhal — quite a find at a suburban Dallas Half Price Books!
This reminded me – Al, did you remain in contact with the lady (Ornette’s step-daughter, was it?) who had that huge library of photos and signatures that she was trying to sell? Curious what happened there.
My only jazz autograph is by Ed Blackwell. I wrote to him when he first became ill wishing him a speedy recovery and, much to my surprise, he sent me a lovely reply with a notated piece of music at the bottom.
Ed is one of my all time favourite musicians so, as you can imagine, this autographed letter is much treasured and kept in the sleeve of my Byg copy of the Don Cherry/Ed Blackwell album Mu part one!
Sweet story, James!
I remember when Raffe Simonian’s collection was auctioned off by Euclid a few years back. Many of the records were signed early presses in excellent condition. My impression was that the signatures added nothing to the prices that were realized. As a former hard core collector, I can tell you that I regard a signature almost as a distraction if its a clean first pressing. The same goes for ‘promo’ stamps. But things like this can change over time.
Sonny Rollins’ sign impressive. I have some signed albums. Clark Terry, Sheila Jordan, Freddie Redd, Gigi Gryce’s Nica Tempo album(art blakey, horace silver, and percy heath). Valuable albums.
I don’t really have an interest in autographed records (or any other objects) but I have acquired one record with a couple of signatures on it: my copy of Dusk Fire by the Rendell-Carr Quintet is signed by both Don Rendell and Michael Garrick. I didn’t buy the record because of the autographs – I bought it because it was just about top of my “most wanted” list and in great shape.
The weird thing is that, ever since I acquired it, I’ve had this strange hankering to see if I can add Dave Green’s and Trevor Tomkins’ signatures. The current Covid situation has put the dampners on that idea for now. Of course, there’s no hope of getting Ian Carr to sign without supernatural intervention 🙂
I was lucky enough attend John Coltrane’s last concert before he died. It was in a ballroom in Baltimore sponsored by the Left Bank Jazz Society which sent out fliers with news, schedules of upcoming shows etc. to it’s members. On the way in I grabbed one announcing John’s concert. During intermission he was gracious enough to sign some autographs. He signed my flier and I still have it all these years later. The flier is thin cardboard, light blue and green with a nice photo of John. If I knew how I would consider selling it for the right price whatever that would be. How to determine value ?
Like James, Blackwell –as he was often referred to by fellow musicians–was one of my favorite musicians. I had the great pleasure of meeting him on several occasions but I was always empty handed, meaning no lp in tow. Damn.
I remember Marion Brown calling Blackwell “a one man New Orleans marching band”. Aside from the three lovely Cherry-Blackwell duo lps, I strongly recommend “Just Play” (1976) by Blackwell and the visionary Karl Berger. I have Karl’s autograph somewhere. Have to dig it out.
I have an autographed copy of the Thelonious Monk concert tour of Australia in 1965. My (now deceased) friend had the courage to go backstage and get it but I was younger and less brave and just have an unsigned programme. His one reads, as is quite common with Monk autographs, ‘ Good luck – Always – Thelonious Monk.’ It has been treasured since then but now sadly has become part of his estate.
Vaughan Blanding – Regarding your inquiry about value of Coltrane signature – Here is a reputable auction site that lists the various results of Coltrane items over the past years. As you can see, there is a wide range. A simple signature goes for much less than a signed photo, or signed album for that matter. This might give you an idea of what you are sitting on.
https://rrauction.com/past_auction_results.cfm
p.s. – I would like to see a scan of what you have.
I’d love to find a copy of Lee Morgan’s autograph – I saw one for sale on RR Auction a few years ago with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, signed by all of the members of the band, but it was very expensive. If anybody comes across an authentic Lee Morgan auto, please let me know!
Vaughn Blanding –
I would recommend that you go to Heritage Auctions and look this up also to get an idea of the value.
They have lots of high definition pictures of signed items and it will give you an idea of asking price. It’s been a great resource for myself as I own Patsy Cline Showcase signed. Best of luck.
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…I can certainly relate to this one ! Looks like a great collection. The most cherished of all signed ephemera in my collection are the ones I got on first pressings in person after sets at clubs like The Village Vanguard over the years.
Hello, my late father who died in 1979 was an avid jazz fan. I have recently inherited some of his things from my mother and have what seems to be a (sadly undated) program from a concert . It has many autographs which having looked several of them up on the internet..they seem to match what I can find so can only assume they are genuine..they include ; Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Flip Phillips,Charlie Shavers, and several more I can’t quite make out…possibly ; Lester Young, Duke Ellington.
Some are very obviously the real thing..especially Charlie Shavers, in fountain pen on his page in the program, some are faded and could possibly be part of the design of the Program ( it would be great to see a copy of another)..however there are several which are quite clearly written with a different pen.
I’d love to know more about it from someone “who knows” . I can happily send photographs if you are interested in having a look? Regards Richard