Hollywood’s mysterious star, Greta Garbo, was so successful in her wish to be alone that her autograph is now a treasured rarity. A rare copy of her signature on a cheque that illuminates her secret New York life is for sale at a British collectibles dealers.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is selling the cheque, made out to Gristedes Brothers, a New York supermarket where you might bump into Andy Warhol or Jackie Kennedy.
But, from her point of view, hopefully not into Greta Garbo.
Garbo’s “I want to be alone” wasn’t just a memorable line from her appearance in 1932’s Grand Hotel.
It was also a sincere wish off screen.
She had no interest in the spotlight and retired from acting aged just 36.
She was born, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in Sweden. After being spotted in a Swedish silent film she was whisked to off to booming Hollywood, where she became a star of the pre-talkie era.
She continued to thrive as the “talkies” arrived. Able to pick and choose her roles she had a string of massive hit films – Mata Hari (1931), Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931), Grand Hotel (1932), Queen Christina (1933), and Anna Karenina (1935) – that won her enormous fame and critical praise (though no Oscar until a 1954 honorary award).
Garbo at her height, but she really did want to be alone and didn’t enjoy celebrity one little bit.
And then she gave it all up, to live privately in New York, collecting art that contributed to the $55 million she left in her will.
Paul Fraser, the chairman of Paul Fraser Collectibles, explains: “Garbo spent her entire life avoiding fans and autographs, which makes owning her signature almost impossible. Today she remains a mesmerising figure for collectors.”
Paul Fraser Collectibles are selling a signed cheque drawn on Garbo’s personal account at Chase Manhattan Bank.
She signed it in green ink. And spent it at the famous Upper East Side store close to her apartment.
As Paul Fraser says: “Garbo hated signing her name so much she rarely even signed her personal letters; and when she did she used initials or pseudonyms.
“So for collectors, finding Garbo’s autograph is a major challenge. Signed photographs are virtually non-existent. The only time she signed her full name was when she had to: on contracts, official documents, and bank cheques.”
