A new item arrived on my desk today.
An exceptionally rare autograph.
Signed by one of the biggest stars of the 20th century.
It's a nice way to start the morning.
So as always, I examined the signature to confirm it was real.
I inspected the piece to appraise the condition.
And then I noticed the date on the item...
And for a moment I was stunned. Genuinely lost for words.
(My colleague said I looked like I'd just seen a ghost!)
Because I realised it was far more than just a great collector's item...
It's a remarkable piece of movie history.
Let me tell you why.
To start with, it's signed by this man. James Dean.
One of Hollywood's greatest icons - and most desirable signatures.
I can't think of another actor whose autograph is more sought-after.
As Humphrey Bogart famously said: "Dean died at just the right time. He left behind a legend. If he had lived, he'd never have been able to live up to his publicity."
He certainly left behind a legend. And three classic, timeless movies.
But he didn't leave behind many autographs.
Because in reality, James Dean was famous for just six months before tragedy struck. That's it. His movie career was over in the blink of an eye.
It ended in a terrible car crash on September 30, 1955.
But when did it begin?
Right here.
On April 7, 1954, James Dean signed his first Hollywood contract.
It was arguably the most significant day of his life.
Warner Bros. offered him a major part in East of Eden – the film that made him a star. And the next day he left New York for Los Angeles to begin shooting.
Everything that followed...
His roles in Rebel Without A Cause and Giant, the critical acclaim, international stardom, his tragic death, and his rebirth as a screen legend...
Started right there.
So this wasn't just an important moment for Dean personally; it was a major moment in cinema history.
The original Warner Bros. contract James Dean signed that day sold at auction in May this year for $23,000.
But it wasn't the only thing he signed during that meeting.
He also signed this.
When Dean agreed to star in East of Eden, there was one problem.
He was flat broke. He couldn't afford the air fare.
And so Warner Bros. offered to loan him $700 in advance to cover his expenses and get him to Los Angeles.
Dean agreed to repay the advance out of his paycheck from the studio, in seven weekly instalments of $100.
Right there and then he signed seven promissory notes dated for each week.
This is one of them.
The note itself measures 7.25 x 4.75 inches, and is double cloth matted to a size of 8 x 5.6 inches.
It bears the location and date “New York, September 7, 1954” at the top. It reads in part:
“On May 19, 1954, I, James Dean, promise to pay to the order of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. One Hundred and 00/100 Dollars.”
And below sits the all-important signature.
It's a very special autograph.
This is a superb example of James Dean's all-too-rare signature.
It's instantly recognisable.
Signed clearly in crisp black ink, without smudges or fading.
A specimen which will sit proudly in your collection.
But the context in which it was signed makes it truly special.
Imagine how Dean was feeling when he signed this note.
The excitement running through him as he put pen to paper.
Literally minutes earlier he'd signed a contract with a Hollywood studio.
He was about to star in a major motion picture.
And he was being paid $10,000 for the role.
It was his breakthrough.
This autograph captures that exact moment in James Dean's life.
It's extraordinary
And it's also heartbreaking.
Because we all know what came next.
East of Eden was James Dean's first film – and the only one he lived to see on the big screen.
It was released in March 1955 to critical acclaim and made him a star overnight.
“He is that rare thing, a young actor who is a great actor,” said the Hollywood Reporter, and suggested Dean would become “a symbol of their generation” for troubled youths.
His performance won him an Oscar nomination. But sadly, it was posthumous.
Just six months later he was dead. Rebel Without A Cause and Giant were both released after his death.
James Dean lived fast, died young, and left a legacy that influenced generations of performers.
As a star he's up there with Marilyn Monroe. The very definition of an icon, whose popularity doesn't fade with time.
That's why the value of his autograph has risen by more than 1000% over the past 20 years.
Buy this superb James Dean autograph now
When you collect autographs, you want to own pieces like this.
Rare signatures in superb condition, with a great story attached.
The best collections are built upon such items.
So make yours one of them.
In today's market James Dean's signature is notoriously hard to acquire in any form.
The demand is simply far greater than the scarce number he signed during his lifetime.
But to discover one like this...
Signed and dated on the most significant day in his life...
At the exact moment his film career began?
It's one of the finest Hollywood autographs you could own.
So don't lose your chance to own this remarkable piece.
Buy it today for only £6,950 ($8,970).
Order in complete confidence
This autograph comes with a Lifetime Moneyback Guarantee, and a Certificate of Authenticity.
And to top it off, delivery is completely free and fully insured.
So you can place your order in complete confidence.
To reserve this James Dean autograph for your collection, or to discuss it further, get in touch today.
