The Palm Springs IN-PERSON Autograph Collection from Pat Krause

Rockhurst Auctions is proud to present the first offering from one of the most extensive in-person autograph collections we've ever seen. Each signed item in this collection was obtained IN-PERSON by Palm Springs media member and photographer Pat Krause, with the help of her Husband Herbert Krause. Following is the story of the collection in Pat's own words:

It all began when my husband Herbert and I traveled to California on vacation. We went to a celebrity golf tournament and got some autographs. That started a 25+ year autograph collecting hobby. My first autograph was Arnold Palmer on a pairings sheet. I saw Dinah Shore, Fred McMurray, Gloria DeHaven and Bill Bixby and had them sign a yellow Hormel Company t-shirt. We would get an autograph on ANYTHING available. We decided to move to the Palm Springs area where there were a lot of golf tournaments and other celebrity events--not to mention great golfing weather! I was taking photos and found my they were pretty good.

I went to work for Mature Living Magazine, a free monthly publication. By providing photos for the magazine, I was granted media credentials. That arrangement fostered my passion for photography, and the access the credentials afforded me made it easier to get autographs. Over the years, I worked for many newspapers and magazines. My husband sometimes joined me with a camera for an extra credential to get the autographs. There is a story attached to almost every autograph we collected. Meeting golfers and celebrities that you have followed was a big thrill. I remember one celebrity asking me why I wanted an autograph and WHY so many people wanted one. I think it's the interaction between someone you admire and the ability to actually have SOMETHING from them that is the KEY. Many of my photos are with a celebrity where he has his arm around me. I don't know how much closer you can get for just a photo with someone you admire.

We traveled regularly to California, Arizona and Minnesota for golf tournaments and celebrity events to get more autographs. I never sold any until recently after my husband passed away. Collecting was a passion for both of us, and it kept growing. My husband became very adept at getting past security to get an autograph from people like President Ford and Tiger Woods, as examples. As an autograph hunter, you learn to find out where they are leaving by a back door or where they will be at a given time during an event. You also become good at bringing items to be signed even where it may say "NO memorabilia." Getting a tennis player or celebrity autograph when no one is looking became an exciting part of the pasttime, often at the risk of having our photography credentials permanently removed! Selling my collection is a little like selling part of my life, but it's quite necessary as I am 88 years young. Nearly every signed photo in the collection is a photograph I personally took, and I am particulary proud that one of my photos made it into Celine Dion's book, My Story, My Dream. I am still working as a photographer/writer but I no longer get autographs, UNLESS its someone I admire. The Passion to collect never ends!

PAT KRAUSE