Postcard, fJ. Masopust, Greetings from Brazil – autograph

Product detailed description

Condition: found, zažloutlé okraje

Provenance: from the family of Josef Masopust

Size: 15 cm x 10.5 cm

Greetings from a Ballon d’Or winner, all the way from Brazil! A colour postcard of São Paulo showing the city centre at night with the Edifício Itália skyscraper, with a handwritten Czech greeting and signature by Josef Masopust on the reverse: many warm greetings from Brazil. The Dukla legend and 1962 World Cup silver medallist scored against Brazil in that final. Brazilian Cz$ 1.00 stamp showing the Pelourinho of Alcântara, overstruck with a cachet of the Ibirapuera Park Hotel. Publisher Edicard, No. 500-106. Not addressed or posted.

Facts at a glance

• Item: postcard with handwritten message and signature, not addressed, not postally used
• Writer: Josef Masopust, 1962 Ballon d’Or winner
• Text (Czech): Mnoho srdečných pozdravů z Brazílie zasílá Josef Masopust (many warm greetings from Brazil), blue ballpoint
• View: São Paulo, Brazil, city centre at night with the Edifício Itália skyscraper
• Publisher: Edicard (Editora Cultural Ltda.), São Paulo, No. 500-106
• Stamp: Brasil Cz$ 1.00, Pelourinho of Alcântara (Maranhão)
• Cancellation: Ibirapuera Park Hotel Ltda. hotel cachet across the stamp
• Dating: stamp denominated in cruzados, Brazil’s currency from 1986 to 1989

Expert note – FAQ

When did Josef Masopust win the Ballon d’Or?
Josef Masopust won the Ballon d’Or in 1962, the first Czechoslovak player ever to do so. In the 1962 World Cup final in Chile he scored the opening goal against Brazil, although Czechoslovakia went on to lose 3–1. He is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his era.

How can I date a postcard without a postmark?
A postcard without a postmark can be dated by its stamp, publisher and image. Brazilian stamps denominated in cruzados, marked Cz$, were only used between 1986 and 1989, when the cruzado was Brazil’s currency. This reliably narrows down when the postcard was produced.

Is an autograph with a handwritten message worth more than a signature alone?
An autograph with a handwritten message is worth more to collectors than a bare signature, as it offers more handwriting for comparison and a personal note. It is even more desirable when the text refers to a specific place, as this greeting from Brazil does. Legibility and condition also matter.