Scarce pairing of vintage circa 1941 fountain pen signatures and inscriptions, “To Jo Jo, Best Wishes, Katharine Hepburn” and “To Jo-Jo—with my best wishes—Sincerely, Spencer Tracy,” on opposing sides of a single light blue 6 x 4.5 album page. In fine condition, with a fingerprint above Hepburn’s inscription and a trivial bit of surface loss to the top edge. Accompanied by a photocopied provenance statement from the original recipient, explaining that his grandfather landed a job as a gatekeeper at MGM via family recommendation—he was the uncle of Margaret Shenberg, the wife of studio head Louis B. Mayer. He acquired these autographs for his grandson, ‘Jo Jo,’ in anticipation of his Bar Mitzvah, and presented him with an album of stars’ autographs as a gift on the occasion. While it is unusual to find these signatures on a single item, what is most remarkable about is that they must date to the very beginning of the romance between Hepburn and Tracy. They did not meet until being cast as co-stars for Woman of the Year, and their enduring relationship began during filming, which lasted from August 1941 through the end of the year—the same period in which these signatures were obtained. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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