Original pencil sketch on the reverse of a 5 x 7 photo, a head-and-shoulders self-portrait as the Little Tramp, captioned and signed, “This is me, Charlie Chaplin.” Beneath his portrait, Chaplin added a pair of his trademark shoes (a key prop that served as his “dinner” in The Gold Rush), adding the notation “Nobody Home” [i.e., the shoes are empty]. The photo itself bears a secretarial signature. Accompanied by a copy of a 1973 letter from the original owner to Chaplin, explaining that he had worked for Chaplin in 1919–1920 (signing Chaplin’s photos, no less!) and mentioning the sketch, which he had obtained during his employment with Chaplin. In fine condition, with a touch of scattered light smudging. LOA PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
