Julius "Groucho" Marx

[mercari]

Hello. This is an autograph from my mother's collection. I am not so much asking about if it's real, but I wondered how common it was to have him sign "Julius"? He also drew a characature, which makes this very unique. Sorry about my thumb in the picture!

[Justin]

Are you saying that you know for sure that this is authentic? The fact that he signed with "Julius" might be what gives this away as real or fake.

[mercari]

Are you saying that you know for sure that this is authentic? The fact that he signed with "Julius" might be what gives this away as real or fake.

Yes, my mother met him. She grew up in Chicago in the 1940's. She met him at the Oriental Theater. I have her whole autograph book which includes 2 of the 3 stooges, Desi Arnez, Charles Laughten, Kathryn Grayson, Danny Kay, Roy Rogers.... She met them all and then some.

Edited to add this would have been around 1946.

[Justin]

Very nice.

I'd insure that book!

[mercari]

Very nice.

I'd insure that book!

I've always wanted to take it to antiques road show when they come to Miami (I live in S. Florida) but have never been able to make an appointment to get on the show.
There's an autograph appraiser coming tommorow to Boca Raton in the mall from 10-2. It's going to be a zoo, but I might try to bring it.

[Denisrichard]

Wow, this one threw me! lol For many years Groucho signed with a very distinctive lower case 'g', which looks NOTHING like your moms autograph. I have been studying autographs since 1994 and i have never seen him sign "Julius' on an autograph. But then it hit me...your mom met him in the 40's? Perhaps back then Groucho might have signed differently. Of course i believe your moms story...all i can say is that its a VERY rare form of his sig and could be worth $300+. I'd love to see the others in the book!

[mercari]

I can photograph the rest of the book. Some of the people I am not sure who they are because they are so before my time. My mom is 80, and I am 35... was a late surprise. Anyhow, she was obsessed with celebrities when she was young and would take the L-train into the loop and get autographs. The book means a lot to her, so she gave it to me knowing that I would not sell her treasure.
I will post photos of the other autographs later!

[HappinessStan]

I too would love to see scans of the rest of the book - what a treasure!