Hudson Maxim Autographs
Hudson Maxim (February 3, 1853 – May 6, 1927), was an American inventor and chemist who invented a variety of explosives, including smokeless gunpowder, Thomas Edison referred to him as "the most versatile man in America". He was the brother of Hiram Maxim, inventor of the Maxim gun and uncle of Hiram Percy Maxim, inventor of the Maxim Silencer.
Maxim started his career in 1881 as the publisher of Real Pen Work - Self Instructor in Penmanship, a book addressing the arts of calligraphy and penmanship, and the sale of special inks, pens, and other supplies related to penmanship. Later he joined his brother Hiram Stevens Maxim's workshop in the United Kingdom, where they both worked on the improvement of smokeless gunpowder. After some disputes, Hudson Maxim returned to the United States and developed a number of stable high explosives, the rights of which were sold to the DuPont company.
Maxim wrote a book, Defenseless America, first issued in 1912, in which he pointed out the inferiority of the American defense system and the vulnerability of the country against attacks of foreign aggressors. At that time, the United States army according to Maxim, had a total strength of 81,000 men of which 29,000 were assigned to man coastal artillery batteries at major ports. This explains the need for the United States to use National Guard troops in its campaign against Mexico in 1916. The book was reissued in 1916 after his good friend, Elbert Hubbard, died on the RMS Lusitania when it was torpedoed by a German submarine. This event fueled his belief that the USA should improve its defenses and join the war against Germany on the side of the Entente.
Read more about Hudson Maxim on Wikipedia
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Traded items with a signature of Hudson Maxim
The most expensive item with a signature of Hudson Maxim (HUDSON MAXIM - SIGNATURE(S)) was sold in August 2025 for $1,138.19 while the cheapest item (Hudson Maxim - 19th Century Inventor of Smokeless Gunpowder - Autographed Card) found a new owner for $15.50 in April 2014. The month with the most items sold (2) was July 2025 with an average selling price of $714.85 for an autographed item of Hudson Maxim. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in August 2025 with $875.52 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $19.99 was May 2020. In average, an autographed item from Hudson Maxim is worth $89.00.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Hudson Maxim were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | GUN SILENCER INVENTOR HUDSON MAXIM TYPED LETTER SIGNED | $49.99 |  |
| HUDSON MAXIM (1853-1927) SIGNED CANCELLED CHECK, CHEMIST, EXPLOSIVES INVENTOR | $20.50 | |
| Hudson Maxim - American Inventor and Chemist - Signed Letter (TLS), 1916 | $89.00 | |
| Hudson Maxim - Autograph Inscription and Signature of the American Inventor | $25.00 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED 09/04/1922 | $714.85 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED 10/15/1913 | $714.85 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - SIGNATURE(S) | $1,138.19 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/19/1917 | $612.85 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/22/1916 | $612.85 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/17/1916 | $512.85 | |
| HUDSON MAXIM CHEMIST INVENTED SMOKELESS GUNPOWDER SIGNED CARD 1923 (RJ1087) | $41.00 | |
| Hudson Maxim Inventor Smokeless Gunpowder & Explosives Signed Autograph Card | $175.00 | |
| Hudson Maxim Inventor Smokeless Gunpowder & Explosives Signed Typed Letter | $175.00 | |
| Hudson Maxim Signed Letter....Invented Explosives, Including Smokeless Gunpowder | $37.88 | |
| Note Signed By Hudson Maxim & Lilian Clifton Johnson Book Advertisement 1927 | $19.99 | |
