Frank Gasparro's Signature

PTVETTER

Is there a market for this type of stuff?
I have a few and don't know the value?

Treashunt

no market for me.

PTVETTER

Just looking for the information not trying to sell them!

Treashunt

No problem, I was just responding, not looking to buy.

I didn't mean to be demeaning. Sorry if you took it that way.

I know of no market for them, but... I am sure that eBay must have had a few-- they have everything!

JBK

Yes. marker/value might be somewhat limited, as you are really looking for people who bridge two collecting areas, but we are out there. (I bought a FG sig from dealer Harry Forman ten or 15 yeas ago - they were left over from a fundraiser of some kind that FG participated on some years earlier. I think I paid $15.)

PTVETTER

Thanks for the information

BuffaloIronTail

Frank Gasparros' signature is probably only interesting to coin collectors like us. I personally think he was a great engraver.

I would be honored to have his signature.

The worth of it is how YOU feel about it.

Pete

Aegis3

I have a couple of his autographs.

The first one came with the 1964 assay commission medal; this is Mr. 1873's example

The second one is [b]on[/b] the 1976 assay commission medal. This was the late Mark Hatfield's, Senator and Governor of Oregon.

CascadeChris

I believe there was a thread here or on another forum a year or so ago about this subject and some artists sigs are extremely rare and can command nice premiums.

JJSingleton

Frankly (pun intended), I found his work to be quite uninspiring with Susan B Anthony as a crowing achievement.

denga

@JJSingleton said:
Frankly (pun intended), I found his work to be quite uninspiring with Susan B Anthony as a crowing achievement.

The criticism is unwarranted. I once asked him, in his office, why the
portrait was so bad when I knew he could do much better. He said
that the mint director and the family demanded that he use the
photograph that he had been furnished and no deviations were
allowed. He said that he had offered to give Anthony a more pleasant
visage and was told not to ask again.

JBK

@denga said:

@JJSingleton said:
Frankly (pun intended), I found his work to be quite uninspiring with Susan B Anthony as a crowing achievement.

The criticism is unwarranted. I once asked him, in his office, why the
portrait was so bad when I knew he could do much better. He said
that the mint director and the family demanded that he use the
photograph that he had been furnished and no deviations were
allowed. He said that he had offered to give Anthony a more pleasant
visage and was told not to ask again.

Thanks for that great personal anecdote. I hope you tell that story often so that it gets preserved here and there, as it is an important piece of the puzzle as to why some of FGs designs seem uninspiring to some people.

Frank Gasparro definitely had a unique and recognizable style of designing/engraving. I must say that it has grown on me a lot over the years, and dare I say it, I actually like the SBA now.

PTVETTER

Isn't it amazing how some information comes to light.
Thank you
denga for that insight!

ricko

Very interesting information on the SBA..... thank you..... as to autographs, I have several books signed by authors (coins and firearms), but have never been an autograph collector. Years ago, autographs were highly sought...and a large secondary market existed. Just never interested me - except for books I have read and enjoyed - reference books, not fiction. Cheers, RickO

olympicsos

@denga said:

@JJSingleton said:
Frankly (pun intended), I found his work to be quite uninspiring with Susan B Anthony as a crowing achievement.

The criticism is unwarranted. I once asked him, in his office, why the
portrait was so bad when I knew he could do much better. He said
that the mint director and the family demanded that he use the
photograph that he had been furnished and no deviations were
allowed. He said that he had offered to give Anthony a more pleasant
visage and was told not to ask again.

Wasn't he also told to follow instructions on the Ike?