Mae West Cancelled Check

Q: I own a cancelled check from Mae West’s personal account at California Bank in Hollywood. The check, in the amount of $25, is signed by West and dated Dec. 24, 1945. How much would it sell for?

A: Mae West, originally named Mary Jane West, was an American actress, screenwriter and playwright. She was born in 1893 in Brooklyn, N.Y. West started her career as a playwright and actress on Broadway. Her plays proved controversial and received mixed critical reception, but they were well-attended. In 1932 she was offered a contract with Paramount Pictures and made her debut in the film “Night after Night” with George Raft. West went on to star in many films, including “I’m No Angel” with Cary Grant. She stayed in show business for decades and has been named by the American Film Institute as the 15th-greatest female star in American cinema history. One of her signed checks drawn on the same bank recently auctioned for $96.