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Call me crazy but I'm sending this TTM to George H. W. Bush to be signed (HE SIGNED IT!!!)

This is not sports related, but I've read that several of you send through the mail autograph requests so you probably know the apprehension of sending a valuable item. I'm going to the post office a little later this afternoon to mail this first day cover signed by Presidents Reagan, Ford, Carter and Nixon off to George H. W. Bush to try to get him to sign it as well.
image
I've had success before sending multiple signed Presidential pieces and getting both GW and GHW to sign them and both have been very accomodating, but there is always the chance that the piece never comes back!! Always makes me nervous, but other than being in the right place at the right time and everybody in the right mood, its one of the only ways to accomplish the piece unless you have very GOOD connections. I'm really not too worried about the Bushes as they've always been good to me (at least autograph wise both through the mail and in person), but I've never had much luck with Clinton either TTM or in person yet. I'll probably have to catch him on the campaign trail later this year. I'll let the board know how it turns out. It will be quite a piece if I get all 7 to sign it.

Mike
Buying US Presidential autographs
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Comments

  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow, good luck with that! Definately taking a chance of not getting it returned though.
  • mudflap02mudflap02 Posts: 2,060 ✭✭
    You're crazy!

    41 does several appearances at his library in College Station every year. Sometimes you can catch him in the rec center on campus too. You should just go to an Aggie game in the fall when you know GHWB will be there. Really a fun time.
  • And I thought sending a '68 Ryan/Koosman TTM was a risk.
  • Great piece! Good luck with that image

    Giovanni
  • GOODLIEUGOODLIEU Posts: 629 ✭✭
    thenavarro, in my opinion you are taking a awful chance sending that card out at this time. Both George H Clinton and George W sigs can be obtained at a time and place that you could catch them at in the near future with your awesome item in tow rather than risking it coming up "Lost". With the deceased ex Presidents you have on that card its value has increased tenfold.
  • envoy98envoy98 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭
    I'll jump on the bandwagon and call you crazy as well. image

    That is a neat piece, no idea what it is worth but I can imagine. Personally, I wouldn't take the risk either. Can you insure it and send it registered or anything at least?
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    It will be safe.

    BUT, he is easy to find and usually in a good signing-mood.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.


  • << <i>thenavarro, in my opinion you are taking a awful chance sending that card out at this time. Both George H Clinton and George W sigs can be obtained at a time and place that you could catch them at in the near future with your awesome item in tow rather than risking it coming up "Lost". With the deceased ex Presidents you have on that card its value has increased tenfold. >>





    thenavarro,

    You know, hes right, but then again, since when does something great happen if you don't go for it right? Who knows, maybe you could get it in person one day, but maybe not. In life you sometimes have to go for it to get it! image

    I mean, your still crazy, but I guess a good kinda crazy image

    I say go for it, and Good Luck!!!

    Giovanni
  • baseballfanbaseballfan Posts: 5,472 ✭✭✭
    good luck its quite a piece!!
    Fred

    collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.

    looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started

  • By the way, while your getting Bill Clinton, you might as well get Hillary Clinton! image

    Giovanni
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the good lucks!!! I'm just waiting on my wife to get home so I can go to PO. My little girl is sick today so I took the day off from work to be home with her.

    I agree with Storm888 that it will be safe.

    I would love to take the time to get them all in person, but one thing I've learned in life is to never take tomorrow for granted and I don't know how long either these guys or myself will be around, and I'd hate to miss one just because I waited and waited and waited for the opportunity to arrive in person, and then I wake up to CNN headline news and hear about the passing of a former President.

    I'm not really too concerned about losing it with George H. and George W. as I've gotten them before on special pieces through the mail, and in person, I really think George W. recognizes me as I've gotten him a lot over the years, but I will hesitate long and hard on trying to decide what to do about Bill Clinton, as I've heard some horror stories about things turning up "lost" that were sent to him. Hopefully, I'll get GH and GW with enough time to spare that I can catch Clinton in person during the campaign for his wife, or catch him when he does book tours.

    I've been meaning to send it out to Bush for awhile, but never seem to take the time to do it, so I'm making time today. No matter how many times you drop that envelope in the mail though, it still makes you nervous. I'll be sending it priority mail flat rate with insurance and delivery confirmation.

    Hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be posting a nice scan of a 5 Presidents signed item!!!
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • GOODLIEUGOODLIEU Posts: 629 ✭✭
    Best of luck to you.
    Sincerly
    Art
  • rube26105rube26105 Posts: 10,225 ✭✭
    im crazy, im with ya, do itto it!!!!!!!! image
  • IronmanfanIronmanfan Posts: 5,522 ✭✭✭✭
    Didn't Lelands recently have a private signing with him that you could have your own item(s) signed if you wished?
    Successful dealings with Wcsportscards94558, EagleEyeKid, SamsGirl214, Volver, DwayneDrain, Oaksey25, Griffins, Cardfan07, Etc.
  • Do not let the clintons sign this! Becuase Psa will declare it has a stain!
  • Umm .. if you put it in the mail, expect a secretarial signature or an autopen.
  • All I can say is good luck. If the ex-pres comes through though, you will have yourself a very nice piece.

    J
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    Rube, I just did it to it, no turning back now. I just dropped it at the post office.

    Metrotheme, it will come back unsigned before it comes back with a secretarial or autopen. They are good about not ruining the high dollar stuff with that junk as long as you request an authentic or nothing. It's not the typical signed photo request.

    Ironmanfan, I don't know about Leland's but Patrick Van Tiem of Michigan was scheduled to have a private signing with him in January. Patrick has done a few of these and George H. donates his fee to charity for these signings. I tried to jump into that signing but Patrick wouldn't allow any mail ins for that event. Patrick has been the source for years for the signed George Bush with Babe Ruth photos, the Yale signed jerseys and the special edition Presidential signed bats, and several others.

    Now its the waiting game, take care,

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    This is what I'm shooting for, all 7 on one item like this one.

    See all 7 here from this January 08 R&R Enterprises auction, sold for over $7,800!!
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    You're crazy. Give up your foolish dreams.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Umm .. if you put it in the mail, expect a secretarial signature or an autopen. >>



    I agree. I hope you don't get an autopen. I sent a request for him and got a photo with an autopen signature. Hopefully, he won't do that with this piece.

    Shane

  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    I like ya Lee, (In a brotherly sort of way, don't go getting any strange ideas! )

    Yours and Rube's posts always help me smile
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    First part of the journey is complete. It arrived at Bush's office on February 5 at 10:27 AM. Hopefully it will be a relatively quick turnaround, because of the results of Super Tuesday, Texas will now play a large role in determining the Democratic candidate and Hillary is scheduled to start being in the state next Wednesday, and she will be doing a debate in Houston at the end of the month. I'm sure Bill will be around at some point as they get around to the various Congressional districts and that should make it easier to get him. He will be the key as to whether I get all 7 or not I'm sure.

    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • Good for you Mike! I'm glad you went for it, you will see there was nothing to worry about. I know your smart and used some kind of delivery confirmation, lol, so theres no way they will let it get lost image After all, the last thing they don't want is any beef with any of us here on the PSA boards! image

    Your gona have a great piece when its all said and done. By the way, are you gona try to get both Clinton's? image

    Giovanni
  • TNTonPMSTNTonPMS Posts: 2,279 ✭✭
    That is a cool piece indeed , I think when he see's the signatures of the others he will definitely sign it and send it back , it is not your regular everyday kinda request for a signature .

    Absolutely sweet piece, I am confident it will be taken care of .

    Best of luck to you .


  • << <i>That is a cool piece indeed , I think when he see's the signatures of the others he will definitely sign it and send it back , it is not your regular everyday kinda request for a signature .

    Absolutely sweet piece, I am confident it will be taken care of .

    Best of luck to you . >>



    image

    Exactly what I was about to say! image

    Giovanni
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    Giovanni,

    I'm only going to try for Bill for now. I won't try to get Hillary (at least on my envelope) unless she is elected President. I would always regret if I got her now and she wasn't elected. Would kind of be like having a 500 HR Club signed ball, but having one signature on there of someone that only hit 480. image

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    I doubt he reads all of his mail. From what I hear, he is very busy with his Uncle John's Farm coloring book. He has all the grass green and the sky yellow, but he has a team working on that.
  • TNTonPMSTNTonPMS Posts: 2,279 ✭✭
    I almost ran Bill over while he was jogging in Westchester last year .

    He was running with a guy I guess was secret service and I was comming over the hill and there was no real room for him to run, so he was in the street , I moved over , looked at the guy and was gonna yell out the window { Get out of the *&^*&^$ street }

    Then I realized it was Bill Clinton , I told my guy who was readin the map hey that was just Bill Clinton , he says yea right , so I turned around , sure enough it was , so I just waved to him , he waved back and then we turned around again and headed on our way , I was suprised secret service din;t try to see ehat we were doing going back and forth like that . . .
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    I would try sending a copy of it first to see what happens.
    Ankur
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!


  • << <i>Giovanni,

    I'm only going to try for Bill for now. I won't try to get Hillary (at least on my envelope) unless she is elected President. I would always regret if I got her now and she wasn't elected. Would kind of be like having a 500 HR Club signed ball, but having one signature on there of someone that only hit 480. image

    Mike >>



    LOL, I hear ya! image

    Giovanni
  • I would not send TTM. I really like the post mark from ben franklins post office in Philly. I think I sent off some letters from there when I was in Philly.
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    You mailed during late evening of the 4th and it arrived by 10AM on the 5th...... Do you live in the White House?
  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭
    My High School Diploma is signed by GHW Bush, but people have told me that its an autopen. imageimage

    My BA and BS are signed by Gray Davis---I suspect autopen.

    My MA is signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, but that may be an autopen too.

    You guys got me interested in TTM! Maybe I will have better luck with that instead of just piling on the degrees.
    "So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve

    BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
  • Bottom9thBottom9th Posts: 2,695 ✭✭
    Good luck and keep us posted!
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭


    << <i>You mailed during late evening of the 4th and it arrived by 10AM on the 5th...... Do you live in the White House? >>



    LOL, much better than the White House, I live in the great state of Texas!!! Seriously, I live just south of Dallas and it only had to go to George Sr.'s office in Houston. Down here, it typically only takes a day for Priority Mail within the state if its going to one of the major cities. However, if they have to get on their horse to deliver it, it takes a little longer.

    Take care,

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    UPDATE: Got a phone call earlier today from George Bush's office. They just wanted to let me know that my piece was still in good hands and that former President Bush will be in the office in 2-3 weeks and they will be getting it signed for me and returning it thereafter. They said his travel schedule has been really hectic lately and that he hasn't been in to sign.

    Looks like it is going to work out after all. image They even called me back and asked that once they had it signed, if I wanted it FedEx or insured mail back. Awesome service!!! Much better than TTM experience with most ballplayers and actors/actresses.

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • DeutscherGeist....what college did you attend? UC? CSU?
  • ElemenopeoElemenopeo Posts: 2,577 ✭✭
    Very cool. It's surprising to me that the folks in his office are that accommodating and cooperative. Scans will be required when you get it back, of course! image

  • rube26105rube26105 Posts: 10,225 ✭✭
    ha ,what did i tell ya mike!!!!!! scoffers are now belittled and bow before the navarroimage anytime a Pres that sees something signed by others Presidents,they will sign it no prob,not to be outdone by the others!!!!! the biggest prob is getting them to open itimage
  • ...I would suspect that getting George W's sig. on that piece would signicantly devalue it. No cussing is allowed here so I will keep my mouth shut.
    image


  • << <i> They even called me back and asked that once they had it signed, if I wanted it FedEx or insured mail back. Awesome service!!! Much better than TTM experience with most ballplayers and actors/actresses.

    Mike >>




    It's not like you're not paying for it. image
  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭
    That is really nice to get a call. I think the staffers respect items like the one you have. It really is nice of them.

    About them mailing it back. Is it really the case that they can use FedEx and have you pay for it when it arrives? I thought the sender has to do it. COD is still a great service even if you do pay for it. The value of that item and its increase with GHWB's signature is worth it many fold.

    "So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve

    BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
  • TNTonPMSTNTonPMS Posts: 2,279 ✭✭
    That is great !

    You must have been blown away to get a call from the WhiteHouse !

    What I am wondering is why anyone would think that his signature would devalue the piece ?

    You took quite a risk there , but it paid off .

    I knew once it got to the Whitehouse he would definitely get it and sign it .

    That is just too cool !
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,168 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>That is great !

    You must have been blown away to get a call from the WhiteHouse !

    What I am wondering is why anyone would think that his signature would devalue the piece ?

    You took quite a risk there , but it paid off .

    I knew once it got to the Whitehouse he would definitely get it and sign it .

    That is just too cool ! >>



    I don't think the call was from the White House. This call was from the FORMER President Bush's office in Texas.

    Shane

  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭


    << <i> Is it really the case that they can use FedEx and have you pay for it when it arrives? I thought the sender has to do it. >>



    I just gave them my fedex account number so when they ship it, it will just bill to my account. Makes it convenient and easy for both of us.

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs


  • << <i>

    << <i> Is it really the case that they can use FedEx and have you pay for it when it arrives? I thought the sender has to do it. >>



    I just gave them my fedex account number so when they ship it, it will just bill to my account. Makes it convenient and easy for both of us.

    Mike >>



    That's an awesome story. Definitely look forward to a scan after you get it back! image
    Atlanta Braves, Charlotte Hornets, Shawn Kemp, Dale Murphy, and Bobby Engram.
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭


    << <i>That is great !

    You must have been blown away to get a call from the WhiteHouse !

    What I am wondering is why anyone would think that his signature would devalue the piece ?

    You took quite a risk there , but it paid off .

    I knew once it got to the Whitehouse he would definitely get it and sign it .

    That is just too cool ! >>



    This call wasn't from the White House, it was from George H. W. Bush's office in Houston. I have gotten calls from the White House concerning an item I sent up a few years ago to GW to sign, and yes I was blown away on that occasion, the call was from Harriett Meiers (sp?) whom Bush subsequently was going to appoint to the Supreme Court. They were great to work with as well.

    (Political rant on) I could be wrong, but I think the poster that posted about W's signature devaluing the piece was just making an unnecessary political comment about their feelings for our current President. Once I get the piece back from George Sr., it will be on its way to George W. more than likely. I will be honored to have his signature on it as well, just as I am to have Nixon (watergate), Ford (controversial Pardon) , Carter (inflation issues, Iran hostages), Reagan (Iran/Contra scandal, economy woes, S&L), and soon to be George H. W. Bush (read my lips, no new taxes, dessert storm failure to get rid of Saddam). They all have their shortcomings just like you and I and that poster, but I respect the position greatly and have the utmost admiration for the men and women (if Hillary) that choose to fill those shoes. (Political rant off)

    (Now back to our regularly scheduled program)

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • That is an AWESOME piece Mike and I personally LOVE IT. Politics and opinions aside it is an awesome collectible and I can't wait for the updated scans with our current President on it.

    70

    EDIT: THANKS for sharing that piece with us.
    Collecting Interests:
    Ripken, Brooks & Frank Robinson, Old Orioles, Sweet Spot Autos, older Redskins - Riggins, Sonny, Baugh etc and anything that catches my eye. image

    My ghetto sportscard webpage...All Scans - No Lists!!! Stinky Linky
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well stated, Navarro, and congrats on a special piece! It's very nice they called you like that, and shows the class of the man involved to have people like that handling his affairs.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
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