CATEGORIES
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- Rodolph Valentino
- Very Rare Document Signed
- The promissory note
for a partial alimony payment
- connected with the bigamy
scandal that rocked his career
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- Rodolph Valentino (1895-1926).
Legendary Screen Idol.
His death at age 31 caused a national panic which resulted in
several suicides. Very Rare Document Signed, associated
with the bigamy scandal that rocked his career, being a promissory
note to his first wife for $5,000, dated May 1, 1922, payable
on May 15, 1922, drawn on the Commercial Bank of Los Angeles,
measuring approximately 8 in. by 3.5 in. Boldly signed with his
full rare Italian signature: "Rodolfoh Valentino".
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- Known as the 'Great Lover,'
Valentino was certainly the most widely known, if not most famous
actor of the Silent Screen era. In the process of changing wives,
Valentino managed to get himself arrested for bigamy. An interlocutory
divorce from Jean Acker was granted on March 4, 1922. Acker was
awarded a one time only alimony payment of $12,000. Under California
law, the divorce is set to become final one year later. However,
while vacationing in Palm Springs, Rudolph eloped with Natasha
Rambova. They crossed the border and married in Mexicali, Mexico
on May 13, 1922, before the dissolution of his marriage to Acker
became final. When he returned on May 21, 1922, he was summoned
on charges of bigamy, jailed, and subsequently fined $10,000.
This promissory note, a partial alimony payment to Acker, ironically,
was issued just twelve days before the elopement with Rambova,
but was not payable until two days after his new marriage. Valentino
was paying one wife off while marrying another, and the scandal
rocked his career.
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- Document shows normal aging
and handling, single fold down center, accompanied with an 8
in. by 10 in. black and white portrait of Valentino for framing.
In fine condition. $2,800.00
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