HELEN KELLER & ANNE SULLIVAN * PSA * Scarce AUTOGRAPH Duo Teacher PHOTO Signed
Guaranteed Authentic
SCARCE PHOTOGRAPH OF KELLER AND HER DEVOTED TEACHER SIGNED BY BOTH
American author, disability rights advocate and lecturer HELEN KELLER and her devoted teacher and companion, ANNE SULLIVAN [MACY] rare and uncommon vintage b&w photograph beautifully signed by both. The photograph depicting both women later in life shows Sullivan signing to Keller, and is signed on the mount in pencil by Keller while Sullivan signs in ink.
The image originates and was removed by a previous collector from the front cover of a program for the World Conference on Work for the Blind, held in New York on April 13, 1931, with addresses given by both Keller and Sullivan. Only the front signed image remains of the program.
On May 3, 1905, Sullivan married Harvard University instructor and literary critic John Albert Macy, who had helped Keller with her publications. When she married, Sullivan was already living with Keller as her personal teacher, so Macy moved into the household of both women. Though they later separated, Sullivan never married again.
Keller learned to use block printing, her handwriting was consistently upright like the writing in calligraphy. Her handwriting and signature bears this specific style because of the use of an assistive writing board and a method called "square-hand". People with visual disabilities would place a piece of paper on the writing board which had horizontal grooves in it, creating lines that could be felt as a person's hand moved across the page, keeping their writing straight. Writing within the grooves gave letters a square appearance, hence the term.
The HELEN KELLER and ANNE SULLIVAN MACY autographs have been thoroughly reviewed and CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC BY PSA/DNA EXPERT EXAMINATION. The signed photograph is encapsulated inside PSA/DNA's proprietary sonically-sealed, tamper-evident holder. UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED GENUINE.
Keller was a prolific author, writing 14 books and hundreds of speeches and essays on topics ranging from animals to Mahatma Gandhi. Keller campaigned for those with disabilities and for women's suffrage, labor rights, and world peace. She was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Condition is as shown with overall toning, darker at edges, small stain at top of mount with some damage to the photograph, consistent with age, use, handling, and display. Signed photograph (including mount) measures appx. 6.75" x 9" enclosed in 10" x 13" encapsulate.
A handsome and impressive addition to any autograph collection. An exceptional investment opportunity, and a truly rare and remarkable find.
Sold as is, as shown.