FINE COLLECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 9

FINE COLLECTION

YOUNG AUTOGRAPH HUNTER

America's claimant Bto the title of "champion autograph hunter" of tho world lately succeeded after many attempts in annexing the signature of tho most difficult "quarry" in America—Colonel Lindbergh—says the "New Yorker." This makes his total of famous men's autographs over 4000, and tho hunter is only 19 years old. His name is Seymour Halpern. Clemenceau's signature for him was the last thing the famous old '' Tiger ever wrote. Mr. Halpern has a note testifying to this fact from the'statesman's secretary. To get Colonel Lindbergh's autograph Mr. Halpern wrote him sixteen letters,] enclosing a photograph every time. He never got ono back. Finally he tried Colonel Lindbergh's father-in-law, the late Senator Morrow, who said that the hunter might use his name in writing tho seventeenth letter. Mr. Halpern wrote —and got his autograph. Mr. Morrow died a week later. Mr. Halpern's greatest feat was'getting tho signatures of the Pope and Signor Mussolini. The Italian Ducc had ignored several requests, but the Pope complied. with the request in the first letter, and autographed a photograph. After that triumph, Mr. . Halpern wrote to Mussolini again, pointing out that he lagged behind the Pope, and asking what was he going to do about it? Tho Duce complied.