Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas are offering a very rare Dr Martin Luther King Jr signature in their 22nd February Historical Manuscripts Auction.
The signature is on the front cover of a May 1965 copy of Ebony Magazine, where King has written:
"To my Friend Claude Wyatt. With Warm Personal Regards. Martin Luther King Jr."
Claude Wyatt and his wife Reverend Addie L Wyatt were Civil Rights Activists.
Claude founded the Vernon Park Church of God in Chicago, and Addie was President of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America Union.
From 1956 - 1968 they joined Dr King on his civil rights marches across the country.
The May 1965 edition of Ebony Magazine featured the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama, and includes multiple colour photographs of events, showing Dr King on the cover.
The Magazine has been given an estimate of $8,000 - $12,000.
You can follow the sale at Heritage Auctions.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. memorabilia is very rare with few items ever selling at auction.
In September 2016 a small black and white photo of Dr King reclining under an umbrella was sold by RR Auction for $6,250.
Dr King had signed:
“To Henri Smith with best wishes, Martin Luther King, Jr.”
At the time RR commented that this was only the 5th Dr Martin Luther King signed photo that they had ever offered for sale.
Another photo was sold by Profiles in History for $8,000 in 2010.
That had been dedicated: "To Lawrence Spivak, with great respect and admiration, Martin Luther King, Jr.". Spivak being the host of the NBC TV show 'Meet The Press'.
We would estimate there are approx 12-15 Dr Martin Luther King Jr signed photos known to exist.
About your Author:
Adrian Roose has over 30 years’ experience covering all aspects of the rare stamp & memorabilia industry during which he has sold over £50m of unique items, helping build collections for Royalty, household name celebrities and 1,000s of collectors around the world.
Adrian was previously a Director at Stanley Gibbons, a Board Member of Stampex, and Executive Director of Paul Fraser Collectibles, PFC Auctions and JustCollecting, prior to founding The Memorabilia Club.