Silver Yankee Clipper Serigraph

A limited amount of fine art prints are
available in the Beninati Signature Collection
that are personally signed by the artist only.

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Joe DiMaggio has so carefully guarded his signature over the years, when he does endorse something, it's sure to command top dollar. Take, for instance, this offering:

Three versions of limited edition, "museum-quality" serigraphs individually signed by DiMaggio will go on sale in time for the Yankee Clipper's 80th birthday, Nov. 25.

One serigraph, The 'American Dream', is a color montage of five images of DiMaggio from his 13-season career with the New York Yankees. The key image - just above the all-important signature - pictures DiMaggio at the end of his famous swing, circa 1941, when he was establishing his record 56-game hitting streak. Because there are 1,000 of those available, you can walk away with an American Dream for a mere $2,495.

Or, for the same price, you can get one of the 750 Silver Yankee Clipper serigraphs depicting him in the 1941 pose.

Real fans (and deep-pocketed companies) might spring for the Gold Yankee Clipper. There are only 250 of those.

"I think it takes the sports collectable market to a new level," says a clearly excited Carlo Beninati. "There is no place higher to go."

Beninati, the artist who created the 2,000-piece collection, explains that "serigraphs are individually handmade, one color at a time... First, I drew the images, and then I created each separate color cell. The printing alone took six weeks."

And the signing? "Joe set up in his attorney's office in Hollywood, Fla. We had a whole entourage handing him pens, putting the prints in front of him and taking them away."

"He set up three pillows on his chair and had a pillow for his elbow."

The production line worked. After a warm-up day signing artist's proofs, says Beninati. "The next day he signed all 2,000."