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Early Beatles Set - Did John Sign On George's Behalf?

Here's a set of Beatles autographs that just appeared on eBay. I believe that the John, Paul and Pete autographs are authentic. According to the description, the card has also been signed by George. However, it appears to me as though John has signed on George's behalf. What do you think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121149682134

Tags: Beatles, Early

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Permalink Reply by spaceman on July 26, 2013 at 1:23am

There are features of Georges autograph the point to John signing it. I would go with John signing it.

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on July 26, 2013 at 1:55am

Ballroom, I think that you might be correct; The 'H' in Harrison is started the same was as other George signatures I've seen that were done by John, downstroke, up at an angle to the right, down then across to left for the bridge. The overall appearance is also the same, plus the fact that they seem to be signed with the same pen.

Seems a bit early for them to be covering for each other but feasible all the same. The John itself is strange, definitely an odd set! I've noticed a few early sets part signed in pencil for sale recently, maybe from the same source/occasion? I'm on my IPhone at work now but will look on a bigger screen when I get home.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Cushman on July 26, 2013 at 1:55am

I dunno...to me...it looks like an early Harrison signature. I know that later on...some Beatles signed for others...

...but I've never heard of that happening in the early days...if one wasn't there...then you didn't get his autograph...

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on July 26, 2013 at 11:39am

Now I've had the time to look at these and compare on a decent sized screen I now believe that the George was actually signed by George and not John. Here is another example that shows the same construction style. This example is owned by a forum member who I hope won't object to me posting it here (I'll PM him)Here's an admittedly later set all done by John for comaprison.

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on July 26, 2013 at 11:58am

Here's another example of George by John that looks closer to the style of the signature in question.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on July 26, 2013 at 12:02pm

Yes, that's one of the exemplars I used for comparison. The George portion looks similar, but the "on" in the signature in question matches George's writing. I think you're correct that it was signed by George and not John.

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Permalink Reply by Beatleworld on July 26, 2013 at 12:02pm

The set that has just appeared on eBay....signed in late 61/early 62 is an authentic full set...all beatles signing for themselves.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on July 26, 2013 at 1:00pm

Yeah, it would have been way too early. It was mainly the "o" in "George" that that made me question it, but it's clearly in George's hand.

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Permalink Reply by Xperttexpert on July 26, 2013 at 6:05pm

these are all signed by john, paul, george, and pete.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on July 26, 2013 at 6:19pm

I agree. Thanks for the replies.

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Permalink Reply by spaceman on July 26, 2013 at 8:36pm

Good discussion. I was still sticking to my original opinon that John could have signed it and started checking out 1962 sets. I found a set that has swayed me. Ballroom, check out FAB4COLLECTABLES- item number AA087.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on July 26, 2013 at 8:56pm

Thanks, spaceman. It is indeed pretty close in appearance to the George signature at the beginning of the discussion. It's a neater signature with a slightly different style "G" and closed "O" in "George". To me, those are the two most unusual letters in the signature at the beginning of the discussion.