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Nelson Mandela signed Madiba book real?

Hi I'm new here and just recently acquired a book from ebay possibly with Nelson Mandela's signature in it signed with felt tip marker. It's called Madiba: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela A Celebration. It's a look through of his life and the inscription inside says it was presented during a De Beers golf tournament in 1999 to support his Children's fund. However I couldn't find much about this book or the event online. I also read here that ebay and abebooks has sold forged books before. I was wondering if any of you could help me authenticate this or who I should go to. I'm willing to spend some on appraising it. Just don't know where to start. Let me know if i need more pics or info.

Thanks for your time!

kenistod

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Permalink Reply by keni on August 19, 2018 at 11:02am

Hey no worries James thanks for your reply! Do autopens use felt pins as well? I also looked up other Mandela autopens and noticed they pick up at the D and the U is connected but on Mandelas real sigs it picks up on the U and the D is connected. Here is a closer look at the sig. When I put a magnifying glass to it I see a definite single line indention. Is that common on autopens?

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Permalink Reply by goodcat on August 19, 2018 at 2:23pm

Any type of pen can be used in an autopen machine if it fits in the clamps I believe.

I don't know very much about them

But by your new photo, it does have that autopen look with the continuous dark line throughout the signature. Plus its a bit jaggedy and blotchy.

There is one particular member I'd like to see this.
I'll see if he's available to comment

Steve Cyrkin is also familiar with autopens... maybe shoot him a pm to draw his attention. He may not have seen this thread yet.

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Permalink Reply by keni on August 19, 2018 at 2:41pm

Ahh ok. Yeah it is pretty blotchy. Its looking more like autopen to me then. Ive PM Steve and hope to hear back from him. At least I didn't lose too much on this one. I won this at auction for $150. There's one with the same description being signed with felt pen going for $890 on abebooks. Is that just a rip off then you think?

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Permalink Reply by James on August 19, 2018 at 4:20pm

Unfortunately, there are lots of fakes and misrepresented items on Abebooks because it’s just a conduit for sellers to list and sell their books. I’ve noticed that many sellers don’t even provide pics when they’re trying to sell a signed book! Now, of course, some are real. If the Mandela on Abe is real, $890 is probably a fair price, although I don’t know the market for his signatures.

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Permalink Reply by keni on August 19, 2018 at 4:24pm

Good to know thanks James! I just requested a pic from abe to compare.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on August 19, 2018 at 4:57pm

+1.

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Permalink Reply by sling on August 19, 2018 at 5:24am

Another Mandela signature?

Here is a video of a liveaid concert program with possible Mandela signature. If you look at the cover, there is a green illustration of Africa, and someone signed in Green ink within the green African illustration (see 8;15 minutes into video.). Is the signature of Nelson? Could the signature be hidden, in green on green, to get it out of prison?

https://live.autographmagazine.com/video/copy-of-live-aid-usa