WATERMAN.
Álbum de autógrafos.
En esta ocasión nos extenderemos un poco más a la hora de presentar este objeto ya que detrás de ello hay una gran tradición y disponible bastante información que resumiremos seguidamente.
Durante seis meses a comienzos de la década de 1930, en concreto desde el 1 de abril al 1 de octubre de 1932, la compañía Waterman lanzó un concurso dirigido a todos los escolares del país. Cada participante debía llenar un álbum de autógrafos editado expresamente por Waterman para la ocasión, con firmas de personajes notables de la época y enviarlo a la compañía para participar en el concurso. Se otorgaron una serie de 333 premios, desde el primer premio que estaba dotado con 1000 dólares, 132 premios en efectivo de cuantía menor detallados más abajo, 100 estilográficas (Lady Patrician para niñas y modelo 94 para niños) y 100 lápices mecánicos Waterman para los últimos clasificados. El concurso, en plena época de la depresión, fue acogido con entusiasmo y de ahí que se hayan conservado tantos ejemplares.
Algunos de estos albúmenes han trascendido, acabando en casas de subasta con valoraciones bastante elevadas, dependiendo de los autógrafos que contuvieran, en ese caso, acompañados de certificados de autenticidad de las firmas. Algunos otros se utilizaron como diarios o para coleccionar objetos como fotos y firmas, suponemos que sin llegar a participar en el concurso.
El álbum de autógrafos está encuadernado en tapa dura con tela marrón oscuro estampada en oro en la portada y mide aproximadamente 18,5x12,5 cm (7,25 x 5 pulgadas) y tiene 25 páginas. Desgraciadamente esta bonita tradición ha sido desplazada por los dichosos selfies.
Este es un modelo de carta remitida al participante.
La información ha sido obtenida de las siguientes fuentes de internet:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1478419_1930-s-waterman-s-autograph-album-signed-by-the-193
https://goldinauctions.com/Waterman_s_Multi_Signed_Autograph_Album_Includes_P-LOT18728.aspx
http://www.booksaboutpens.com/catalog_en/index.asp?category=1&id=2688
Un típico certificado de autentificación de las firmas.
El texto que contiene el álbum es el siguiente, obtenido de
http://www.booksaboutpens.com/catalog_en/index.asp?category=1&id=2688
Donde también se hace referencia a la siguiente bibliografía "The Story of a Waterman's Autograph Book" by Melissa Lowry, "The PENnant" vol. XVI, No.1, Spring 2002.
Texto:
"WATERMAN’S AUTOGRAPH ALBUM”
The Hobby of Collecting A U T O G R A P H S
An autograph is the name of any person written with his own hand-his signature
Collecting autographs is not only one of the most fascinating pastimes but one of the most worth while as well.
A WORTH WHILE HOBBY
In the first place, this great Waterman’s Autograph Contest offers you rich rewards for your efforts – 333 splendid prizes, including a total of $2,500 in cash awards. But besides this fine opportunity to win an immediate reward, there is a chance that the autograph collection you make now may become very valuable in the future. Collections or documents containing names of historic importance have often been sold for many thousands of dollars; some of them are carefully preserved and exhibited in famous museums.
VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR YOU
In addition, the collecting of signatures gives you valuable experience in meeting and writing to well-known people. You may form friendships that will be enduring and very helpful to you in later years. We believe that for many reasons you will always be glad you entered this Waterman’s contest-and if you really apply yourself, and follow out the ideas we suggest below, you will stand a splendid chance of being among the 333 prize winners!
HOW TO START
There are two good ways to get signatures from important people. One is to call in person and ask for their signatures in the album. The other is to write a frank, honest letter to the man or woman whose signature you want, telling why you want it, and asking him to sign his name at the bottom of your letter and mail it back to you. In this case, as a matter of courtesy, you should enclose with your letter a stamped envelope addressed to yourself, in which the signature can be mailed back to you.
HOW TO WRITE LETTERS
Below is a suggestion for the kind of letter you might write.
” My dear Mr. ___________
I have entered the Waterman’s Autograph Contest for boys and girls and am trying to make a collection of the signatures of well-known people.
It would help me toward winning a prize if you would be willing to sign your name at the bottom of this letter and mail it to me in the enclosed stamped and addressed envelope.
Thank you very much for this kindness.
Very truly yours,”
WHAT TO DO WITH SIGNATURES
When received, the signature can then be cut out and pasted neatly in this album. Then write or print under it in ink a few words to tell whose signature it is – such as “Mayor”, “Opera Singer”, etc. The specimen signature of Dan Beard on the first blank page of this album will serve as an example of how to do this. It would be a good idea to call in person on the well-known people in your town or city and to write to those who live farther away. You may find sometimes that ingenuity is needed to locate the addresses of the people you want to write to, but this is all part of the day’s work for a good collector.
Remember, the names of well-known women count just as much as the names of well-known men. Remember, too, that although these people may be famous now, they once were boys and girls just like you. You will find that most of them are kind and courteous, easy to talk to, and glad to be able to help ambitious young people along.
ENTERING THE NAMES IN YOUR ALBUM
Naturally, when you ask someone to sign his or her name in your album, it is a matter of courtesy to offer your fountain pen to sign with. Moreover, it would be both embarrassing and disappointing if you had gone to much trouble to meet some well-known person only to find that neither of you had a pen with you!
For still another reason it is wise to carry your own pen! You want your autograph collection to be clear and lasting – the older it gets the more valuable it becomes. The best way to in. Sure this is to offer your own pen after you have first filled it with Waterman’s smooth flowing, permanent blue-black ink.
GOOD ADVICE!
It is not necessary for you to buy a Waterman’s fountain pen to compete in this contest, but if you don’t already own one, you will find a Waterman’s useful and helpful. In the first place, you’ll be offering the people you approach a pen which they know is the very finest made, a product of the famous L.E. Waterman Company, which has contributed so brilliantly to the progress of the art of writing.
Secondly, you’ll be safeguarding your collection. A scratchy, “blotty” pen point could easily ruin the appearance of your whole album. You can avoid this danger by using a Waterman’s pen, the pen with the perfect point, which glides smoothly and easily over the paper and does not drop blobs of ink or dig into the paper and spatter. Moreover, the neater the letters you write, the more favorable attention they will receive. Any store that sells fountain pens will show you a wide choice of Waterman’s priced at $2.75 to $10.00, and, of course, Waterman’s permanent blue-black ink.
READ THE CONTEST RULES!
Here are the contest rules – they are important
1. Contest is open to any boy or girl not over 16 years of age. No employee of the L.E. Waterman Company will be allowed to compete.
2. Contest is open now. It closes October 1st, 1932; no entries postmarked later will be considered.
3. Autographs included in this contest must be genuine, . . . not copies, . . . and must be secured between the dates of April 1st and October 1st, 1932.
4. Prizes will be awarded on the judges’ opinion as to which are the best and most interesting autograph collections. Any number of signatures may be included in the album, but only one album may be submitted.
5. Under each signature in the album the contestant himself or herself must neatly write, or print, in ink, a word or two which will tell who the person is, such as, “Mayor”, “Chief of Police”, “President of X,Y,Z, Co.” etc.
6. The judges’ decision shall be final. In the event of a tie, the full amount of that prize will be awarded each tying contestant. Naturally, the neater the appearance of your album, the better impression it will make on the judges.
7. The following are the Contest Judges:
DANIEL CARTER BEARD (“DAN” Beard), National Scout Commissioner, Boy Scouts of America.
ALWIN J. SCHEUER, Well Known Collector of Documents, Books and Autographs.
GRIFFITH OGDEN ELLIS, President and Publisher of The American Boy.
JOSEPHINE SCHAIN, National Director, Girl Scouts, Inc.
FRANK PRESBREY, Vice President, Boy Scouts of America.
8. All contestants must sign the statement on the last page of the album.
9. When entries are accompanied by self-addressed and stamped envelopes (bearing 10c. Stamps) L.E. Waterman Company will use every possible care to return albums to contestants, but expressly denies any responsibility for loss or damage to albums submitted, and also reserves the right to retain albums for a time for display purposes.
10. Announcement of winners will be made, and prizes will be awarded, as soon as possible after contest closes.
11. All entries should be addressed to L.E. WATERMAN CO, Autograph Contest, 191 Broadway, New York, N.Y.
YOU HAVE 333 CHANCES TO WIN
Here are the awards, 333 in all:
133 Cash Prizes
1st Grand Prize ..............................................$1,000.00
2nd Grand Prize .............................................. $350.00
3rd Grand Prize .............................................. $100.00
4th to 7th Prizes (4 prizes)............................... $50.00
8th to 13th Prizes (6 prizes) ............................ $25.00
14th to 33rd Prizes (20 prizes)......................... $10.00
34th to 133rd Prizes (100 prizes) ...................... $5.00
200 Other Awards
Next 100 prizes $5 Waterman’s Fountain Pen (Lady Patricia for Girls-Famous and No.94 for Boys).
Next 100 prizes A fine Waterman’s Mechanical Pencil.
Para finalizar, algunas ejemplos de páginas especialmente destacadas.
Saludos.