Anyone ?

Coingeek

For 30 years I've been trying to figure out whos autograph this is. Anyone have a clue?

ZenithBullionPA

I tried a Google Image search, and unfortunately the result was not helpful. Further, there were no matches in the "visual matches" below the AI summary. Here's what Google AI said:

"This image features a vintage photograph and handwritten note depicting a moment from the early 20th century.

The photograph is inscribed to Miss Bertha Angell and is dated December 1906.
The note indicates the photo was taken during the time "Love Lyrics" were written.
The subject appears in typical fashion for the Edwardian era, featuring prominent facial hair and neckwear.
The photograph was taken by Falk, a renowned photographer active in New York City during that period."

From this, I'd have to conclude that the person pictured is not famous.

I don't know where the AI got "Falk" from. I also believe the note says 1905, not 1906. There's a pencil signature to the left, just below the portrait, saying Joie H. Allan (or something similar...actually looks to me like "Lvie H. Allan" which doesn't make sense). Is that the photographer's name? I have no idea.

My best interpretation of the autograph in question is "Rof Gehaus" or "Nof Oehara" or perhaps "Rob Qehais." All are almost certainly inaccurate, but that's what it looks like to me. Rolf Gehaus, maybe? A man of German ancestry? Anybody in here with extensive experience reading cursive?

Since Google doesn't know the answer, you clearly have an unsolvable mystery on your hands...because Google knows everything :LOL:

burghman

I think the photographer is Ivie H. Allan - googling brings up some info including this page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ivie_H._Allan

A few AI leads regarding 1905 love lyrics:

JBK

A few observations...

First, how a about a better title for this thread?

Second, what have done so far on the 30 years to identify it? Have you ruled anything in or out?

Third, it seens that we are missing part of the notation or date on the right. Is there more than what we can see in the photo?

@burghman identified a couple major clues: the photographer's name and the reference to "Love Lyrics".

By the sound of the inscription it seems this was signed some years after 1905.