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Harper Lee Signature Real?

Hi all,

What does everyone think about this Harper Lee signed book?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on November 13, 2023 at 6:09pm

Interesting discussion. In my view, the jury is still out, but the questioned examples seem to have a few traits not typically seen in examples that are generally agreed to be authentic:

The cross stroke of the H goes far to the left with a loop
"ar" looks more like slurred "aw," whereas in unquestioned examples the r tends to be distinct and have a flat top.
The questioned examples seem smoother compared to the authentic examples that have a rougher, jagged feel.

For the record, here are two examples I obtained directly from Harper Lee (through the mail) around 2003. I also have a letter in which I asked about the movie Capote... Ms. Lee tersely answered my questions by annotating my letter, but she did not sign it.

I don't feel comfortable making any definitive statement by what I've seen in this thread, but it does seem to bear further investigation.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 13, 2023 at 6:51pm

Hi Steve,

That is about what I am seeing. Yours are just as I would now expect. Thanks for adding them and your observations.

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Permalink Reply by Justin B. on November 13, 2023 at 7:17pm

Here are three books the seller has. Claims he got them off of a family who was close to the author in Alabama. Seems to good to be true. Didn't have photos of the books until now. Just thought I'd share with the group.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 14, 2023 at 2:22pm

From what I have written and posted, Martin,'s examples and from what Steve Z. wrote here, I am seeing 1 authentic style morphing over time, 1 secretarial, and 1 (currently) variable. A strict interpretation of what has been observed might suggest avoiding the 3 above. As Steve said, more work is necessary.

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Permalink Reply by Justin B. on November 14, 2023 at 2:27pm

Yes, I'm passin. I'll go through a reputable group such as ABBA to purchase one. Will pay a little more but I'll be more confident in its authenticity.

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Permalink Reply by Martin Peters on November 14, 2023 at 2:46pm

I think it would be a pretty obvious mistake for a forger to add that swirl on the "H" which makes me tend to think these are genuine since there are so many facets that look good. Most, if not all, of these "swirly H's" that I have seen are on 40th Anniversary Editions. I don't know if that is significant or not but it seems to be the trend.

A number of those R&R signed books certainly are questionable.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 14, 2023 at 2:56pm

I am looking at the nature of the H curl, the"ar" connection, The "r" itself of course, the post-"r" take off angle, as with the "ee's"...the "L".

I think a secretary/proxy, not a forger. These become very neat and curly at just one period it seems - perhaps late 1990's t0 2005 or so. 2002 surely. Findbooks do not, yours don't have that curly curl, not Steve's or any of the older examples, not Gary's or Gabe's. Or the check.

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Permalink Reply by Martin Peters on November 15, 2023 at 6:42am

Something like this?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 15, 2023 at 7:02am

The hand on that note matches the RR check ("January"), but both signatures (check and note) are quite different to the "possibly secretarial" PSA/book style from the 1990's-2005 shown in the middle below :

The "H" and its slant, the "ar", the neat curly florid smooth look...all the other things mentioned. But more work needs to be done. Is the check smooth and neat? What about the other examples of her hand?

The RR check:

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Permalink Reply by Martin Peters on November 14, 2023 at 4:06pm

There is a 35th Anniversary Edition featuring the "swirly H" currently on Ebay that has been authenticated by PSA.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186056527481?hash=item2b51d54e79:g:msEAAOS...

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 14, 2023 at 4:10pm

Yes, that matches the very first one I showed when I asked if this style is secretarial - that was a PSA exemplar from PSA facts. I do not think it is genuine. The time period is also correct. It contains all the problematic features though.