How to Sell Your Martin Luther King Jr Signature and Memorabilia
To auction, sell or consign your Martin Luther King Jr signature, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (natedsanders.com).
The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
American Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered for his non-violent approach, influenced by Gandhian philosophy, to overcome racial injustices. Among all his contributions, he organized the Montgomery bus boycott, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the Selma to Montgomery Marches and supported the Memphis sanitation strike of 1968.
Our Top Martin Luther King Jr Autograph Sales:
Signed “Ebony” Magazine From May 1965 – Sold for $78,750
We realized $78,750 for a Martin Luther King, Jr. signed and inscribed “Ebony” magazine from May 1965. This issue covers the Selma to Montgomery march, which is credited for hastening passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This copy of “Ebony” was inscribed to King’s friend Rev. Claude Wyatt who also participated in the Selma to Montgomery march.
Signed Copy of Stride Toward Freedom – Sold for $27,870
“Stride Toward Freedom” was Martin Luther King’s first book and chronicles the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and outlines the state of the city before, during and following the boycott. We realized $27,870 for a first edition copy of the book autographed by King with additional handwritten text “The strong man is the man who can stand up for his rights and not hit back.”
Signed Stride Toward Freedom – Sold for $25,200
We sold for a first edition, first printing of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1958 book “Stride Toward Freedom” for $25,200. King writes “Best Wishes / Martin L. King Jr.” on the front free endpaper. The Anisfield-Wolf Book Award was presented to King in 1959 for this title.
Signed Spingarn Medal Acceptance Speech – Sold for $18,750
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP 1957 for his leadership in the significant Montgomery bus boycott. The award was created in 1914 and other winners include Rosa Parks and Oprah Winfrey. We sold a signed copy of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Spingarn Medal acceptance speech for $18,750.
Signed Record Album of “The Great March on Washington” Speeches – Sold for $17,490
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered at The Great March on Washington on 28 August 1963 in front of a live crowd of about 250,000 people. Other civil rights leaders including A. Philip Randolph and Roy Wilkins also gave speeches at this monumental event. We sold a Martin Luther King, Jr. signed record of the March on Washington speeches for $17,490.
Handwritten Letter, Circa 1960 – Sold for $16,200
We realized $16,200 for a handwritten, unsigned letter by Martin Luther King, Jr regarding his desire to raise funds for the Southern Leadership Conference.
Five page letter in stenographic notebook reads in full: “This is a form letter. But I want you to know that it is as serious and personal as anything I have ever written. It is an appeal for your support for the southern freedom struggle. Therefore, I hope you will read every word of this letter with deep and sympathetic concern. In recent months, three developments have combined to create a civil rights crisis of historic depth and magnitude: First, southern Negro students launched a mass offensive that is cracking the walls of segregation. These courageous young students have given to America a glowing example of disciplined non-violent action. In retaliation, the Southern racists have expelled them from schools, arrested and jailed them, inflicted them with heavy fines, and inflicted violence upon them. Second, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is spearheading a crusade to bring hundreds of thousands of new votes into the 1960 election. The success of this campaign would, we are convinced, be one of the most important steps for winning the Negroes’ equal rights in America. Third, as the student sit-ins and voting crusades struggled on with grim determination, a vicious attack was directed against me personally. With calculation, the state of Alabama indicted me on obviously false charges of perjury. When they moved to aid me, four of my ministerial colleagues were also struck by the state. Their names having appeared on an advertisement in the New York Times appealing for funds on my behalf and the students. Ralph Abernathy, Fred Shuttlesworth, Rev. Joe E. Lowery, and S.S. Seay are being sued by the City Commission of Montgomery and the governor of Alabama for 2 1/2 million dollars for libel. All of these developments have placed upon the shoulders of our young but determined organization tremendous financial responsibilities. We are constantly called upon to assist the students in financing their heroic movement. As you probably know the famous Conference of student leaders held at the University was sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership conference.”
Signed Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? – Sold for $16,106
”Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s final book published in 1967. The book advocates for equality and human writes and King reportedly wrote the book during a long stint of isolation living in Jamaica. We sold a signed and inscribed first edition of ”Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” for $16,106.
Signed Copy of His Nobel Peace Prize Program – Sold for $14,032
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent leadership during the Civil Rights movement. He was the twelfth American to receive the illustrious Nobel Peace Prize and at the time was the youngest recipient. We realized $14,032 for a Martin Luther King, Jr signed program from the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony held in Oslo, Norway.
Signed Strength To Love With Long Inscription – Sold for $13,750
”Strength to Love” (1963) was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s third book and consists of his sermons that focused on a nonviolent approach to end segregation. We realized $13,750 for a first edition copy signed and inscribed to King’s dentist, Gerry Reed, a fellow Atlanta-based Civil Rights activist.
Handwritten Pages For Stride Toward Freedom – Sold for $12,500
The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 is often considered the first nonviolent protest in the United States. The leader of this boycott, Martin Luther King, Jr., penned the memoir ”Stride Toward Freedom” chronicling the events of the momentous boycott. We sold two handwritten draft pages from Chapter 3 of Dr. King’s first book for $12,500.
Handwritten Signed Quote – Sold for $10,000
Love was a prominent theme in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s writings and teachings. One of his most popular sermons was ”Loving Your Enemies” delivered at Washington D.C.’s Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in November 1957. We sold a Martin Luther King, Jr. handwritten and signed quote on love from 1957 for $10,000.
Thanks for visiting our top Martin Luther King Jr signature sales! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to sell your Martin Luther King Jr signature.
FAQ
How do I consign or sell my Martin Luther King Jr autograph?
It’s never been more simple to sell your Martin Luther King Jr signature at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and image of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you promptly with a free appraisal.
This sounds great and I want to move forward. What does the consignment process involve at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.
What factors determine the value of a Martin Luther King Jr autograph?
The value of an autograph can vary based on condition, year signed and the subject matter/content of the signed item.