Rare First National Bank of Los Angeles check, 8.25 x 3, filled out and signed by Chaplin, “Chas. Chaplin,” payable to himself, “Chas. Chaplin,” for $50, January 22, 1916. Central vertical fold, expected cancellation holes (slightly affecting the top of his signature in the payee field), and a subtle stain to the upper right, otherwise fine condition. In addition to its very early date, this is the only Chaplin check we have ever offered—his debut in film came in 1914, and 1915 marked his emergence as a cultural phenomenon with the release of The Tramp. His popularity quickly exploded as he became the film industry’s first international star, and his contract with Essanay Studios expired at the end of the year. At the start of 1916 Chaplin was being courted by nearly every film studio, including Universal, Fox, and Vitagraph—soon, money would be no object. Just a month after writing this check, on February 27, 1916, he accepted an offer from the Mutual Film Corporation, guaranteeing him a whopping $670,000 per year to make him one of the highest-paid people in the world. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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