Jack London Boldly Signed Oversized Photograph by H.H. Morris, Likely Taken While he was Serving as a War Correspondent in Mexico!

An oversized sepia-tone photograph of American writer Jack London (1876-1916), boldly signed by him as "Jack London" near the bottom; the huge signature measures approximately 5" x 1.375" alone. The photograph, from the studio of well-known Galveston, Texas photographer Henry Hyams Morris (1869-1956), depicts London smiling and crossing his arms. Embossed "H.H. Morris, / Galveston, Tex." at lower right. The outermost edges of the photograph are deckled and there is a tiny white mark on the lower right edge. Minor mounting traces visible verso, else near fine. The immediate photographic field measures 6" x 9.375" while the overall size (including the two brown borders), is 9.75" x 13.5."

Though undated, we suspect that London had his picture taken at Henry Hyams Morris's studio in Galveston, Texas sometime during the spring of 1914. London had been dispatched to Veracruz, Mexico as a war correspondent to report on the deteriorating situation there. American troops were sent to occupy Veracruz in April 1914 following the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two countries during the ongoing Mexican Revolution. London provided reporting for "Colliers' Magazine."

In the H.H. Morris studio photograph, London is shown wearing a distinctive lapel pin. This same bar-shaped pin can be seen in an archival photo showing London and his wife Charmian aboard the "U.S.S. Kilpatrick" at Galveston, Texas in April 1914 (shown as the last picture of this catalog description as reference.) U.S. troops boarded transport vessels in Galveston like the "U.S.S. Kilpatrick" to undertake the 985-mile journey south to Veracruz. This pin, combined with other circumstantial evidence, suggest a ca. 1914 date.

Jack London was a gifted war correspondent. The quality of his reporting is frequently overshadowed by the fame of his poems, short stories, essays, and novels. Adventure classics like "Call of the Wild" (1903) and "White Fang" (1906) were highlights of a prolific career curtailed by chronic ill-health.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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