An autograph book belonging to Captain Charles A Loeffler, a White House doorman, has sold with strong results at Maynard's Fine Art & Antiques on September 18.
 Loeffler's book is unique to the hobby, as he was the only White House doorman during this period and a similar collection would have been near impossible to form |
The book contains the autographs of some of the 19th century's most prominent figures, which Loeffler collected over a period of 40 years and under eight presidents from 1869-1909.
It sold for $24,500, making a 68.6% increase on its $10,000-15,000 valuation.
Despite the autograph collecting hobby being in its infancy at the time, Loeffler became known for asking dignitaries who passed through the White House's door for their addition to his collection.
Included within are signatures from Ulysses S Grant, Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill and Theodore Roosevelt - a who's who of the most influential people of the time.
Loeffler's career and the autograph book are well known to the hobby, and the book has been seen at auction many times in the past 40 years.
One of the finest of its kind, Maynard's Neil McAllister told Vancouver's News1130 prior to the sale: "If you get two or more people interested in it, money is no object."
Paul Fraser Collectibles offers an excellent range of autographs for sale, as well as a superb selection of presidential memorabilia.
