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Lot # 648: Marconi's (Baltimore) Restaurant Autograph Album Guest Book Signed by 70 Plus JSA

Starting Bid: $400.00

Bids: 16 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Fall Classic",
which ran from 10/29/2023 7:00 PM to
11/18/2023 10:00 PM



Presented is an autograph album guest book with 70+ signatures from the famous Marconi's Restaurant, a Baltimore institution that was famous for being the regular dining spot of author H.L. Mencken, as well as being the oldest restaurant in Baltimore. Offered is an autograph album that dates from the early 1940s-late 60s that was procured by the Brooks family (the owners of the restaurant). Opened from the 1920s-early 2000s, Marconi's was known for its Continental cuisine and was one of the go-to hot spots for out-of-town celebrities and notable Baltimore residents. When the restaurant closed in 2004, the building was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles' owner, Peter Angelos. There are 70 plus autographs (many are dated) in this book, signatures that have been mostly signed in steel tipped pen. Highlights: H.L. Mencken (D. 1956) & Clare Leighton (D. 1989) famous artist on the same page together with caricatures of themselves drawn by each respective signer; Irving Berlin (D. 1989) dated November 12, 1942, that he also inscribed, “This is the Army” the Broadway play he was touring in at the time; WW II LT-General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. (D. 1945) (Killed in action in Okinawa), appeared on the cover of Time Magazine and also the son of Confederate General Simon Buckner Sr.; Ogden Nash (D. 1971) famous poet; Hank Greenberg (D. 1986) Baseball HOFer who wrote, “All Good Wishes and many thanks for a marvelous dinner” May 4, 1956, when the Indians were in town to play the Orioles; Baseball HOFers on the same page – Paul Waner (D. 1965), Ty Cobb (D. 1961) who dated the page 8/24/56, and Dazzy Vance (D. 1961) signed on the night that nine baseball HOFers were honored at an Orioles' game vs the Tigers; Johnny Unitas signed and dated December 30, 1956 (his rookie year); Baltimore Colts Stars Alan Ameche (D. 1988) 4-time Pro Bowler & Heisman Trophy winner, & Joe Campanella (D. 1967 at the age of 36) dated January 13, 1960. Also signed by: Polly Bergen, Lily Pons, Andre Kostelanetz, James Fitzsimmons, Wilfred A. Beardsley, Billy Rose, Carol Bruce, Henri Chattin-Hofmann, Alexander, Hamilton Owens, John Philip Cromwell, Lou Azrael, Edmund Duffy (D. 1962) won three Pulitzer Prizes for editorial cartoons (he drew a caricature above his autograph); WW II Major General Henry Terrell, WW I & WW II Brig. General Charles W. Ryder, WW II General Robert L. Eichelbe WW II Brig. General J.E. McMahon Jr. (D. 1971), WW II Brig. General Manton Sprague Eddy (D. 1962), Ezra Stone, and many more. The autograph album guest book measures approx. 5x6.5x1", and it contains 200+ pages. The album cover exhibits wear, as some of the outer cover layer has worn away in spots., and many of the pages show darkening as a result of the passage of time. Also, the album had a small cover lock, but the lock is unlocked and there is no key for the lock. The album comes with a JSA LOA, Cert. #B97160. It provides a wonderful collection of celebrity autographs originating from an iconic Baltimore restaurant.

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