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***URGENT UPDATE
Previous update
Some users have uncovered potential autopen use within Bob Dylan's expensive art prints. Please check your prints if you own one and post a picture on this thread if you have any concerns.
here is a link to one of his art prints in question
https://www.castlefineart.com/art/bob-dylan/cactus
*UPDATE - Let this be a warning to ALL publishers and celebrities in the future. We are sick and tired of these autopen releases. Our community has had enough and absolutely will not stand for this practice to continue any longer!!!
I want to point out that Coles Books needs to be commended. They made sure to look out for their customers and refused to ship these out if they came from the same S&S stock, which they did. It was also an easy process to cancel orders beforehand if you wished. Coles. on behalf of everyone, I want to thank you for having integrity and watching out for all of us.
I can NOT say the same about Premiere Collectibles. They refused to honor cancelation requests until it was known these books were in fact autopenned. They advertise themselves claiming they are collectors themselves. This is not true. They are a retailer first and only care about your money. There have been other autopen incidents where they absolutely refused to accept blame, stating items were real when they were clearly deemed autopen by the community. Be careful with future purchases with Premiere Collectibles.
This email came directly from Jonathan Karp at Simon and Schuster. If anyone still wishes to send him a message, here is his email address as well.
jonathan.karp@simonandschuster.com
We apologize for the mistake that was made and are offering a full refund of your purchase. Please keep your copy of The Philosophy of Modern Song at no cost. We hope you will enjoy reading it.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Karp
Here are 51 articles and counting detailing our combined efforts on this forum
New York Post - Screenshot.jpg
New York Times - Screenshot.jpg
Los Angeles Times - Screenshot.jpg
Washington Post - Screenshot.jpg
Rolling Stone - Screenshot.jpg
Rolling Stone pt2 - Screenshot.jpg
Billboard pt2 - Screenshot.jpg
The Daily Beast - Screenshot.jpg
Ultimate Classic Rock - Screenshot.jpg
Poetic Justice - Screenshot.jpg
The Music Universe - Screenshot.jpg
I Heart Radio - Screenshot.jpg
Publishers Lunch - Subscription required
Spiegel - Translated Screenshot.jpg
Far Out Magazine - Screenshot.jpg
American Songwriter - Screenshot.jpg
American Top 40 - Screenshot.jpg
We Got This Covered - Screenshot.jpg
Healthcare Buisness - Screenshot.jpg
Sydney Morning Herald - Screenshot.jpg
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ORIGINAL POST
I am creating this thread as a comprehensive all in 1 link for returns, refunds, chargebacks and claims made regarding the "signed" edition of Bob Dylan - The Philosophy Of Modern Song. Please use this link to email Simon & Schuster, Coles, and Premiere Collectables as 100% proof these were signed using an autopen machine.
I would like to say right off the bat, Coles Books in the UK is handling this professionally and seem to care deeply about their customer base. They have stated that, once they are in hand, If they find evidence of them being autopenned, they will cancel all orders.. Kudos to Coles.. I wish all retailers would follow their lead. If you wish to cancel your order with them immediately instead of waiting, It seems to be an easy process.
This post will be continuously updated with new information over the next few days
Please refer to this article for the time being until more information is added
https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1290-cjbk/news/collectors-quest...
Here is the post I created a few weeks ago with info regarding the Indigo incident.
https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/indigo-bob-dylan-po...
So far, there have been a total of 17 confirmed different templates for the autopen machine used for Bob Dylans signature. I am in the process of creating video comparisons for all 17 sets. Please post full page photos of your item as they are delivered to aid in this process
Here are all 17 templates used by Bob Dylan - I am still looking for full page photos for numbers 8,13 and 15 thru 17 but its still best to post whatever you receive
Be aware when checking against your own copy, it has come to light that they are possibly using 1st and last names interchangeably. Bob in #2 matches perfectly with Bob in #13 while Dylan in both are different
14th variation confirmed
15th variation
16th variation - Seems to be almost an exact combination of #11 and #13 with a different vertical line in his "D"
17th variation
Video and photo comparisons created so far
Video of set 1 Dylan1.mp4 - Photo of set 1 Dylan1.JPG
Video of set 2 Dylan2.mp4 - Photo of set 2 Dylan2.JPG
Video of set 3 Dylan3.mp4 - Photo of set 3 Dylan3.JPG
Video of set 4 Dylan4.mp4 - Photo of set 4 Dylan4.JPG
Video of set 5 Dylan5.mp4 - Photo of set 5 Dylan5.JPG
Video of set 6 Dylan6.mp4 - Photo of set 6 Dylan6.JPG
Video of set 7 Dylan7.mp4 - Photo of set 7 Dylan7.JPG
Video of set 9 Dylan9.mp4 - Photo of set 9 Dylan9.JPG
Video of set 10 Dylan10.mp4 - Photo of set 10 Dylan10.JPG
Video of set 11 Dylan11.mp4 - Photo of set 11 Dylan11.JPG
Video of set 12 Dylan12.mp4 - Photo of set 12 Dylan12.JPG
Video of set 14 Dylan14.mp4 - Photo of set 14 Dylan14.JPG
Here are the COAs stating these books were in fact hand-signed
Suzanne Baboneau for UK - Certificate Of Authenticity UK.jpg
Jonathan Karp for USA - Certificate Of Authenticity USA.JPG
Coles listing before it was removed - Coles Website Listing.jpg
Important emails:
Jonathan Karp US - CEO of Simon & Schuster
jonathan.karp@simonandschuster.com
Duane Ward of Premiere Collectables
duane@premierespeakers.com - Others have tried duane@premierecollectables.com
Suzanne Baboneau, Managing Director
suzanne.baboneau@simonandschuster.co.uk
Ian Chapman, UK - CEO
ian.chapman@simonandschuster.co.uk
Jeff Kramer
OK Management
275 South Beverly Drive
Suite 215
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310-535-1647
Brian Greenbaum
Creative Artists Agency
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: 424-288-2000
Sony/Columbia/CBS Records
550 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-833-7305
Manatt Phelps & Phillips
11355 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-312-4000
Bob Dylan's Twitter
Tweet or privatly message Bob on his verified Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/bobdylan/
Bob Dylan's Facebook
Post or message Bob on his verified Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/bobdylan/
I also found this email associated with Bob Dylans store. Its worth a try
BOBDYLAN@EPICRIGHTS.COM
Media Publications who may be eager to pick up this story - Please email them a link to this post and all related content
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/corp/contactus.html
For story pitches, please send:
News to Jim Milliot and John Maher
Soapbox ideas to Rachel Deahl
Features to features@publishersweekly.com
Related content:
Dolly Parton is also guilty of using multiple autopens in the same fashion with multiple templates over the years but with a slight twist where they manipulate the page as the autopen machine writes her signature. If we are looking to stop all future attempts at autopen usage, she needs to be held accountable just as much as Bob Dylan and S&S. Link to threads below
Here is a great example provided by Eric Keith Longo
Dolly Parton Autopen Example.jpg
http://www.feelnumb.com/2022/03/09/dolly-parton-fake-autograph-song...
https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/dolly-parton-signed...
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Probably due to the fact that if Castle admit to a lot more prints being autopenned it would probably bankrupt them - unless Bob Dylan refunds them sooner, so they can refund the de-frauded customers.
As suggested Bob has stated he probably won't be signing anything else anyway - so his way of thinking is just to let Castle take all the blame, hold off on giving Castle any refunds and let them go bankrupt anyway, as he wouldn't need a gallery if he's not signing anything in the future.. Who knows what he is thinking.
Latest response I got back from Castle yesterday afternoon around my two 2020 Mondo Scripto pieces -
“Thank you for your email.
We fully appreciate the uncertainty the news of Bob Dylan’s using autopen to sign some of his latest editions created for you, as for others who have collected his prints, irrespective of whether the prints purchased were from the Retrospectrum and Sunset Monument Valley editions (which were signed by auto-pen), or not.
We have no reason to believe that any of the other editions, including your two Mondo Scripto prints, were not hand signed by Dylan. We therefore do not consider that there is a basis for you to be entitled for a refund.
We fully understand your wish to have further assurance and to that extent we are dealing with Dylan’s team to provide the required information.
Please bear with us while we seek the relevant information which we anticipate obtaining shortly and we will give you a detailed response in the coming days.
Thank you for your patience and please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused thus far.”
Of course you know what the response will be- something along the lines of ' We have been in contact with Bob Dylan and his management team and they confirm all other prints prior to the 2 that were autopenned in 2022 are indeed hand signed by Bob Dylan' with probably no proof whatsoever.
You may be right but you would hope that Castle Galleries clearly understand that this is essentially their current position and given the serious doubts around the authenticity of the signatures is simply not going to be acceptable to anyone without absolute, irrefutable proof. However it seems this may be hard for them to do as if it was available it could have been produced already but let’s see.
Thanks for the information. 'Absolute, irrefutable proof' will be practically impossible.
The most contentious prints, if I'm right, are now the Asia collection - released February 2021 - and Mondo Scripto - released December 2020. Castle with Dylan would have to somehow prove that they were hand-signed before mid-March 2020 when the US began to go into lockdown. Dylan has already confessed he used autopen through lockdown.
I own The Bridge from the Asia set. The signature has a suspect 'y' with the telltale cross and slants to the right.
I think Castle's reputation will suffer if it tries to defend the indefensible. I hope it doesn't.
Eugene. You are fortunate to have had a response. They have now had two emails from me during the last week . I had one call with an unacceptable response to my first email. I responded immediately with email number 2 . I insisted it was passed to a director. . I have been a customer sine 2007 and dare I say one of their biggest . There is now a wall of silence. So they are either carrying out further investigations or do not want to go into print with me at this stage.
Pretty poor that Castle don’t seem to be handling this very well with you, especially as you look to be a loyal and valued customer and I always think it demostrases how good a business really is when things go wrong. So far although we have a difference of opinion they have at least contacted me directly by phone, responded with updates via e-mail etc which is the minimum you would expect so hopefully you get a similar personal response soon!
As far as I’m concerned it’s clear that unless irrefutable evidence is provided then the authenticity verification process implemented by Castle Galleries has not been fit for purpose and the authenticity of the “hand-signed” signatures on the Mondo Scripto prints cannot be proven or guaranteed!
Michelle. You have mis read the internet. Mark Cass is not connected to this so for goodness sake do not respond to him. Ian Weatherby - Blythe is group MD of Washington Green and castle Fine Art.
hi Jane, got it. I moved this discussion to the Dylan forum Monday but all the links and notifications should be intact. We do this often.
I received the same response regarding my Mondo prints. The only way I will be happy is if Dylan hand signs a COA stating the Mondo Prints are in fact in his hand. I serious doubt that would happen, but to have a "real" live signature to go along with the mondo prints will certainly help.
Mark
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