Home |Table of Contents |Arlington National Cemetery | Photos |Shopping |News |EmailFree restored photos—for students & teachers• BBC radio production,Stealing the Glory, a 1/2 hour program in MP3•1932 New York Times interview with Matt Henson•1939 interview with Matt Henson, at his Custom's House job•Links to restored newspaper & magazine articles about Henson, pre WW2• To the North Pole  with Matt & Peary!•2008 Henson Home page (old stuff...)Henson collectibleripoff on eBay?Visit the eBay storefor all things Henson"I expect these to sell fast as my research uncovered that these are museum pieces, highly sought after, and hard to come by! I also found information that these have been "bronzed". I am not an artist and if you are perhaps you know what that means. I beleive it may mean that the plaster cast was dipped in bronze?!?"Offered at $849No...it is NOT a museum piece. No it was NOT dipped in bronze. No, the artist did not "sign" it—that's molded into the cast resin.This high pressure eBay seller wants $850 for one yet I've have never seen these sell for more than $250 in the best condition. The one offered has a lot of dirt lodged in the cracks from being displayed in a home, the label is curling off, etc.The seller claims the artist signed it by scratching her name in the side. Well, yes...on the original  but the signature is part of the mold. That is the equivalent of a photocopy of a signature (has no value).The Henson bust was part of a mass produced promotion by bourbon company Old Taylor after the Civil Rights era when "Black History" became popular.My mother once ordered several—giving me one for Christmas. They only cost $5; which Old Taylor said was "what it costs us." These busts are molded resin, spray painted to look "antique bronze." Yes it is a Henson collectible...but no its not a bronze museum piece signed by the artist...Free download(you may have to right click to "Save target as...") of the 1960s Old Taylor (Whiskey) pamphlet for this Matthew Henson bust.• Larger images of the promotional brochure (rare item)The brochure claims it is "Antique Bronze Cast Stone". It is actually a bronzed appearance (applied patina) to a hard cast material of some sort.I once found one of these offered on eBay as an "Antique Bronze bust". Upon emailing the seller it was revealed he thought it was actually cast bronze. He was also not aware it was not an antique, either (only 40 years old). The base was fitted with a paper label biography of Henson. Few of these survived as the paper rubbed of. Nevertheless the text of the biography can be obtained from the original brochure for this series.The cast material will break apart if the bust is dropped. As a result few of these remain in existence and are thus rarely offered for sale. There were never many to begin with plus many were dropped and smashed.This is a  rare item that deserves to be