Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 34
Mickey Mouse pens a very rare Autograph Letter Signed!
Description:

Unique ALS "Mickey Mouse"

(WALT DISNEY) Exceedingly rare Autograph Letter Signed "Mickey / Mouse", 1p, 7" x 9.25". [California, 1933] To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Hall, Chicago, Illinois. Penned in black ink on an art card, on a drawn outline of a sheet of paper. At the lower right, Mickey Mouse is holding a pen, dripping ink from a bottle labeled "Silly Symphony / Ink," as he finished signing his name. A disdaining Pluto is drawn seated at the left. "1933" in penciled in the upper right in an unknown hand, possibly by the recipient. Fine condition.

Gilbert and Mary Mack Hall had no children; Mary survived Gilbert. This letter comes from Mary Mack Hall’s family.

To "Mr. and Mrs. / GiLbert HaLL / Chicago, Ill." In full, "Dear Friends Walt has asked told me to write and thank you For the Nice way you treated him while he was visiting in Chicago. He left me at home to Do the work while He galavanted around and took my bows – now he makes me write his ‘thank you’ – letters - P.S. – WhatTA Boss – thank you, For him – Sincerely Mickey Mouse"

Gilbert Phelps Hall (1884-1971) was employed by the Chicago architectural firm Holabird & Roche as a designer and draftsman. A collection of his architectural renderings of projects designed at Holabird & Roche was gifted by Hall in 1934 to the Ryerson Library of The Art Institute of Chicago. Hall’s online Art Institute biography states, "During the Depression, he worked in London as a renderer and illustrator. He then returned to the United States and worked in Hollywood designing and drawing stage sets." He may have been involved in Disney shorts, but, other than Disney, no one is listed in the credits.

While in California, Hall met Miss Mary Mack whom he married in October 1932. Mary Mack had rented space to Walt Disney in the 1920s. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Hall then returned to Chicago. Gilbert Hall remained at Holabird & Root for the rest of his career. In December 1933, The Art Institute of Chicago exhibited 100 drawings by Walt Disney. It is quite probable that Disney went to see his exhibit and, while in Chicago, was visited by Mary and Gilbert Hall.

When asked to sign books, programs, autograph albums, etc., Walt Disney would variously use block letters and cursive in his inscriptions and to sign his name. In this letter, written slowly in a childlike hand as one would expect from Mickey Mouse, the writer, disguising his handwriting, alternated between these two ways of writing, sometimes within the same word. For example, in the word "letters" ‘lett’ and ‘s’ are cursive, ‘ER’ are block letters. Slant sometimes differs within one word. In the word "Chicago," not only did the writer use block and cursive letters, but the "h" and "i" slant to the right, the "g" slants to the left, and the two C’s and the "A" have no slant at all.

An analysis was conducted by a court certified document examiner noting at least 14 points of comparison existing between this letter and known Disney exemplars. Steven A. Slyter, in Chapter 7 of "Forensic Signature Examination" (Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1995), discusses disguise of handwriting in detail. In part, "To mask identity, the writer alters elemental and secondary aspects of the writing to a degree that affects the writing balance. However, once that balance is distorted, the writer of a contrived style sees little need for further changes. The resultant writing does not show the rhythm/form balance that would normally be associated with the author, but closer examination may well reveal that the writing includes all of the elements of the author’s exemplar writings except for one, or perhaps two, key differences."

While we stop just short of positive identification in the spirit of being conservative we feel the author of the letter is "likely" Walt Disney. A similarly excellent example of Disney’s rare ALS recently sold at auction for $247,800.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 21, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000