Lot 1753: JOHN PAUL

JOHN PAUL I(1912 - 1978) Pope elected Supreme Pontiff on the second day of the conclave, died only 33 days after assuming the role. Extraordinarily rare S.P. as Pope, 3" x 4 3/4" color, a heavy paperstock Vatican-issued image of John Paul I showing him as Pope from the chest, up, signed with a shaky at bottom: "Joannes Paulus PP I". The verso bears a copy of an earlier handwritten signed prayer by the Pope. Fine condition. From the 57-year collection of Tommy Scullion, the sale of which was featured in England's Daily Express, The Sun, and on the BBC. Scullion took great pains to be assured that his autographs were authentic, and would persist for years to ensure that he obtained the signatures he desired. John Paul I was found dead sitting up in his bed shortly before dawn on September 29, 1978, just 33 days into his papacy. The Vatican reported that the 65-year old Pope most likely died the previous night of a myocardial infarction. However, a degree of uncertainty accompanies this diagnosis since an autopsy was not performed. Debate continues to swirl, with the Vatican maintaining that John Paul I had been in frail health for an extended period of time, which was exacerbated by the rigors of his position and as is evidenced by the shakiness of the late pontiff's signature on our photo. Due to the brevity of his term, any item signed by John Paul I as Pope is excessively rare.