Lot # 1729: c.1930s Lou Gehrig PSA Type 1 George Burke Photo – Includes a “To Douglas – Best Wishes – Lou Gehrig” Inscription Signed by Eleanor Gehrig - Measures 8” x 10” (Incl. PSA Type 1 LOA)

Category: Photos

Starting Bid: $400.00

Bids: 21 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Rarities Auction 2021",
which ran from 9/25/2021 12:00 PM to
10/9/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 1729)
c.1930s Lou Gehrig PSA Type 1 George Burke Photo Includes a "To Douglas Best Wishes Lou Gehrig" Inscription Signed by Eleanor Gehrig - Measures 8" x 10" (Incl. PSA Type 1 LOA)

Presented here is the classic c.1930s Lou Gehrig 8" x 10" George Burke Type I photo that is widely regarded as one Gehrig's most revered images on the planet! Baseball's iconic pre-WW1 photographers included the famous Carl Horner, Charles Conlon, Paul Thompson and George Grantham Bain, with many of their popular photos of baseball's greatest players fetching five figures plus. In the 1920s, a new flamboyant photographer by the name of George Burke began to "steal the show", and through the 1930s it was Burke who established himself as baseball's premier photographer. Photo enthusiasts scramble to seize Burke's most popular images, with one of those iconic Burke images being this classic Lou Gehrig 8" x 10" portrait/bust glossy photo depicting the immortal Yankee legend revealing a soft, graceful smile as he leans "left arm over right". Typically, most Burke photos range from approximately 3" x 5" to 5" x 7", with even 6" x 8" examples seldom seen.

Seldom does an oversized 8" x 10" masterpiece surface, with this incredible oversized offering also reflecting a super clean "To Douglas Best Wishes Lou Gehrig" inscription in the lower right quadrant boldly scripted in black fountain pen by Lou's beloved wife Eleanor Gehrig. From late-1938 thru Gehrig's passing in 1941, it was a common occurrence for Eleanor to sign a vast majority of Gehrig's scripted artifacts due to Lou's inability to effectively use his hands as a result of the ALS disabling side effects. The awe-inspiring aesthetics of the breathtaking Gehrig central image overpower the negligible technical flaws, with the crystal-clear focus and superb contrast projecting Gehrig's archetypal smile with a "real life" radiance. Blemishes include several stray wrinkles, including a vertical crease extending from the right side's upper to lower border that fortunately eludes Gehrig's timeless facial pose. Additional defects include a modest surface scratch to the left of Gehrig's cap and a diminutive lower right corner chip.

The final superlative is the verso's critical George Burke violet ink stamp reading "GEO. BURKE 847 BELMONT AVE. CHICAGO", with this traditional Burke stamp residing as irrefutable authenticity for this offering's Type 1 stature. The legacy of Henry Louis Gehrig is unparalleled in baseball history. Tragically, his incredible career was cut short by the deadly "ALS" disease (now more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), which claimed his life at the young age of 37. All of his amazing "batting" accomplishments are typically overshadowed by his 2,130-consecutive game streak, accounting for his sanctified "Iron Horse" nickname. Furthermore, his incomparable "Luckiest Man on The Face of The Earth" farewell speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 will forever reside as our National Pastime's Gettysburg Address. Vintage enthusiasts painstakingly pursue his most sanctified collectibles, with this original George Burke 8" x 10" museum worthy masterpiece signed by Eleanor Gehrig destined to be a centerpiece attraction of any esteemed "Iron Horse" collection!

MIN BID $400
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