THE CHAMPION OF AUTOGRAPH HUNTERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 December 1935, Page 8

THE CHAMPION OF AUTOGRAPH HUNTERS.

Jack Dempsey—2 s Gel; Harry Roy—6d; Lloyd George—£s ss. This is not an extract from the catalogue of an auction sale of celebrities. It is the value placed on the signatures of these famous people by a man who has spent thirty-six years collecting signatures from all parts of the world. He, is Reginald Bray, known as "The Autograph King.” Recently the adventures of Air. Reginald Hunt, of York, who has collected 10,000 signatures, were described in English papers. Air. Bray claims that his collection surpassed that of Air. Hunt. He has sent over 23,000 letters to famous people and received more than 10,000 replies. Night after night he spends writing letters to world-famous people. No famous person arrives in Britain without finding Air Bray’s card on hi s doorstep. No one can be “in the news” long without getting a request for a signature from him. His “den”’ is surrounded with bulky volumes crammed full of signatures. His walls are decorated with scores of pictures and cards bearing' famous signatures. And every post brings new captures. The collection is making mushroom-like growth. Air. Bray is trying to get Hitler’s signature. He has sent off eight requests to him. .So far they have met with refusal. But he doesn’t give up He has had 13,000 refusals since he started and is used to them now! Air. Bray’s collection is believed to be one of the most valuable in the world. Yet he confessed that it only cost him £125 for postage,, stationery, and printing over the whole 30 years.

“I have never yet bought a signature said Air. Bray. He has adopted many clever ruses to obtain signatures. “I wrot to Pope Pius X several times without getting a reply,” he said. “Then I wrote to him in Latin and he sent his signature back immediately.” This signature is one of Air. Bray’s most valuable possessions. He approached Bernard .Shaw, and asked for his autograph. Shaw has a printed slip he sends to autograph hunters and Air. Bray received this. He didn’t apply again. He values Shaw’s signature at live guineas Many celebrities w’ould be shocked if they looked into a book kept by Air. Bray, in which he enters the value of signatures, lie prices radio stars at Gd each. He is trying to get a complete collection of radio people. He is also seeking the signatures of all the people connected with the Abyssinian dispute. No celebrity escapes the eagle eye of the autograph king. He reads the newspapers every day and listens in to the radio for news of them. As soon as anyone of importance is on his way to England, Air. Bray writes to them. His letter is awaiting the celebrity the moment he steps into the hotel. ‘‘Being on the spot is the secret of success,’ says Air. Bray. One of the most valuable sections of his collection is the military section He has signatures of numbers of the famous people who held high commands during the war —many of whom are now dead —and some of these are rapidly gaining valueAir. Bray believes that in years to come his collection will be worth a fortune.