Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
Charles L. Tiffany, founder of the famed jewelry store, Tiffany & Co, originally known as Tiffany & Co. Gold & Silversmiths, beautifully signed and inscribed this 4.5 X 3.5 signature page, “Very Truly, Chas. L Tiffany” in black fountain pen which is accompanied by a rare early twentieth century New York City Police Department Medal of Valor. The hefty 4 X 2.25 silver-tone medal was originally designed by Tiffany & Co. with an interlocking “NY” logo ultimately adopted by the New York Yankees in 1909 (then playing as the New York Highlanders.) Tiffany first designed this medal in 1877 as an award to the first New York City police officer shot in the line of duty. Many historians credit Highlanders team owner William “Big Bill” Devery; himself a former New York City police chief for adopting the “NY” logo to compete with the orange “NY” logo used by the rival New York Giants ball club. The interlocking “NY” Yankees logo has since become the most recognizable logo in the history of major league baseball. Besides Charles’ fame of being credited with the design of the Yankees “NY” logo, his son Louis C. Tiffany became the foremost proponent of the art glass movement in the United States and is renowned for the design and manufacture of "Tiffany" stained glass lamps. This historical perspective only adds to the prestige of owning a Charles L. Tiffany signature together with a unique, historical New York City police artifact.