Rare 1948 Babe Ruth Double-Signed Check w/Two Full-Name Signatures! (PSA)

Auction: Winter Classic 2022

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Rare 1948 Babe Ruth Double-Signed Check w/Two Full-Name Signatures! (PSA)

Check, dated January 30, 1948, signed by Babe Ruth and his wifeClaire Ruth on the front, and endorsed by Babe Ruth on the reverse. PSA hasencapsulated the check and certified the signatures as "Authentic."Checks signed twice by Ruth, are scarce. The fact that this example featurestwo full-name signatures makes it especially significant. Nearly all theRuth checks in the hobby feature his typical "G. H. Ruth" signature.His "George Herman Ruth" signature is usually found only on legaldocuments and All America Baseball Team certificates. This is just thesecond full-name Ruth check we have ever offered and the onlytwice-signed full-name Ruth check we have ever seen. Theoffered check required both Ruth's full-name signature and his wife Claire'ssignature because it was issued on a trust account in both their names. Thecheck, drawn on the Chase National Bank of New York, is made out to"Cash" in the amount of $150.00. Signed in blue fountain pen by"George Herman Ruth" and "Claire Ruth" along the base. Alsoendorsed on the reverse in blue fountain pen by "George Herman Ruth"and in black fountain pen by "H. G. Alexander." A pencil notationbelow the endorsements reads "cashed by Mrs. Ruth."  Thesignatures are all boldly scripted and average 8/10 in grade. This check wassigned and issued by Babe and Claire Ruth "As Trustees Under TrustIndenture Dated July 31, 1947," as noted in print along the top border. It should also be noted that Ruth was quite ill at the time thischeck was signed, and he died less than eight months later. Because he wasphysically weak and in and out of the hospital many times over the course ofthe year, any authentic Ruth signature dating from 1948, let alone a full-nameexample, is scarce. (Ruth's wife and nurses handled nearly all his mail andhonored most of his autograph requests in 1948.) The check (8.5x3.75"),which displays normal bank cancellations (none affecting the signatures), hastwo vertical creases near the center (one heavy, the other light) and isotherwise in Excellent to Mint condition.