Description:

London Jack 1876 - 1916 Jack London writes a check to Bergstrom Music Co.. Encapsulated PSA/DNA NM-MT 8!
PSA/DNA Encapsulated signed check. Graded NM-MT 8. Signed "Jack London", drawn on The Bank of Hawaii, Ld., dated "June 6, 1916" and made payable to the "Bergstron Music Co" for "$9.75", also written as "Nine 75/100" Dollars. Measures 6.5" x 2.75". Verso stamped "For deposit with The First National Bank of Hawaii Ltd/ To the Credit of Bergstrom Music Company...". Bergstrom was apparently the largest music dealer in pre-WWII Honolulu, THE place to go for musical instruments, sheet music, radios, and likely record players.


The date of his cancelled check is only 13 years after Jack London saw his first significant success as a writer. However his meteoric rise to fame had an earlier humble beginning fraught with poverty. London had almost abandoned his writing career along the way until his first break, and ultimately in 1903 he sold The Call of the Wild to The Saturday Evening Post for $750, and the book rights to Macmillan for $2,000. Macmillan's promotional campaign propelled it to swift success.

In common with his literary life, London's personal life had its ups and downs. Jack divorced his first wife, remarried and then with his new wife, Charmian Kittredge, ventured on numerous trips to Hawaii. Many of London's stories are based on these visits where he met with Duke Kahanamoku, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, Queen Lili'uokalani and many others, before returning to his ranch in July 1916.

A scarce example of a signed check by Jack London, while from his beloved Hawaii period!

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June 14, 2017 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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