Gertrude Atherton Autographs
Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton (October 30, 1857 – June 14, 1948) was an American writer. Many of her novels are set in her home state of California. Her bestselling novel Black Oxen (1923) was made into a silent movie of the same name. In addition to novels, she wrote short stories, essays, and articles for magazines and newspapers on such issues as feminism, politics, and war.
Gertrude Franklin Horn was born on October 30, 1857, in San Francisco, California, to Thomas Ludovich Horn and his wife, the former Gertrude Franklin. Her father had become a prominent citizen in San Francisco as a tobacco merchant, although he originally hailed from Stonington, Connecticut. Her mother was from New Orleans. Her parents separated in 1860 when she was two years old, and she was raised by her maternal grandfather, Stephen Franklin, a devout Presbyterian and a relative of Benjamin Franklin. Grandfather Franklin insisted she be well read, and this influenced her greatly. She attended St. Mary's Hall high school in Benicia, California, and, briefly, the Sayre School in Lexington, Kentucky.
Gertrude moved back to California to live with her grandfather and mother after her aunt refused to house her any longer because of her rebelliousness. There she met George H.B. Atherton, son of Faxon Atherton, who was courting her mother. He became more interested in daughter Gertrude, and after she accepted his sixth proposal, they eloped on February 15, 1876. She lived with him and his domineering Chilean mother. Gertrude found life in the Atherton mansion in San Francisco and on their Fair Oaks estate, now Atherton, California, stifling. Disappointed with the marriage, she began to develop an independent life. Two tragedies changed her life dramatically: Her son George died of diphtheria, and her husband died at sea. She was left alone with their daughter Muriel and needed to support herself. Her mother in law agreed to raise Muriel and give her the inheritance that would have gone to George.
Read more about Gertrude Atherton on Wikipedia
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Current items with a signature of Gertrude Atherton
These are the most current items with a signature of Gertrude Atherton that were listed on eBay and on other online stores - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | Black Oxen Gertrude Atherton 1923 Number 149 Signed | $0.99 |  |
Traded items with a signature of Gertrude Atherton
The most expensive item with a signature of Gertrude Atherton (Golden Peacock — First Edition — Signed by Gertrude Atherton (1936, Houghton Mif) was sold in February 2026 for $409.95 while the cheapest item (Gertrude Atherton American Writer Authentic Autographed Hand-Written Letter) found a new owner for $0.99 in September 2012. The month with the most items sold (4) was February 2026 with an average selling price of $49.25 for an autographed item of Gertrude Atherton. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in June 2025 with $229.99 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $15.00 was April 2022. In average, an autographed item from Gertrude Atherton is worth $49.98.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Gertrude Atherton were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | 1916 Antique SIGNED WWI Essay Book “Life in the War Zone” Gertrude Atherton | $50.00 |  |
 | Emily Wortis Leider / CALIFORNIA’S DAUGHTER GERTRUDE ATHERTON Signed 1st 1991 | $30.00 | |
 | Gertrude ATHERTON / LIFE IN THE WAR ZONE Signed First Edition 1916 #190513 | $51.75 | |
| Gertrude ATHERTON / LIFE IN THE WAR ZONE Signed First Edition 1916 #190513 | $51.75 | |
| Gertrude Atherton / The Avalanche / Signed First Edition / Stokes Co., 1919 | $87.50 | |
 | Gertrude Atherton / The Conqueror Signed 1st Edition 1902 | $263.95 | |
| Gertrude Atherton / THE SISTERS-IN-LAW A NOVEL OF OUR TIME Signed 1st ed 1921 | $261.00 | |
| Golden Peacock — First Edition — Signed by Gertrude Atherton (1936, Houghton Mif | $409.95 | |
| Signed * California's Daughter : Gertrude Atherton and Her Times by Emily Wortis | $46.75 | |
| Signed * California's Daughter : Gertrude Atherton and Her Times by Emily Wortis | $46.75 | |
| Signed * California's Daughter : Gertrude Atherton and Her Times by Emily Wortis | $46.75 | |
| SIGNED AUTHOR'S COPY Gertrude Atherton REZANOV 1906 John Murray, Scarce 1st ED | $49.95 | |
| SIGNED Gertrude Atherton MRS. PENDLETON'S FOUR-IN-HAND 1903 1ST EDITION | $24.99 | |
| The Conqueror (1st Ed) signed by Gertrude Atherton HC Macmillan 1902 Price119.02 | $119.02 | |
 | The Sisters-in-Law by Gertrude Atherton 1921 First Edition Signed Hardcover | $38.88 | |
