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Beware reprinted bookplates

So, I'm browsing eBay for signed bookplates, and I found a seller who's selling inexpensive reprinted autographed bookplates as reprints (with no indication on the item itself for future purchasers/owners), complete with adhesive backing.

frmnprnts1776 if you want to see what I'm talking about.

At least reproduced glossies have a tell... Unless they're low quality, there's not going to be an easy way to distinguish these from the real deal.

I'm starting to think about avoiding the second hand signed book market if reproduced bookplates are a thing now.

(First sentence edited for clarity, as the seller is disclosing they're bookplates, though the item itself bears no such indicator)

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Permalink Reply by Mike White on February 1, 2015 at 3:31pm

I was thinking that myself, as reports from those entities would be the hobby's only recourse.

I thought about bringing this to the attention of those entities, but I figured they'd have better things to do than police reproduction bookplates being sold as reproduction bookplates (no element of fraud at this stage, though we all know what comes next--be it intentional or well meaning accident).

If nothing else, I figured the design of bookplates may fall under copyright, but, again, that's likely a longshot.

PS Not that it really matters, but the GWB is the only publisher bookplate. The others (including the Clinton) are either from the individual's office or their library.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kaminski on February 1, 2015 at 3:31pm

Any chance these are extra autopen bookplates the publisher had?

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Permalink Reply by Ian Baldock on February 1, 2015 at 3:35pm

Its pretty specific that they are reprints. Right down to presidential library Richard Nixon.

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Permalink Reply by Mike White on February 1, 2015 at 3:39pm

Exactly.

The font over the picture even says "Reprint".

Plus, as most of those individuals are deceased & have been for years, there'd be a market for autopens sold as autopens. There also wouldn't be a great many extras, as the machines wouldn't have run since the individual passed.

I also checked out the signatures hoping this individual at least reproduced APs, but no such luck that I could see.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Viola on February 2, 2015 at 6:14am

Which reminds me. On the first GW Bush book, you were able to write into an address, just supply postage and they would send you a signed bookplate for free. I did, and affixed it to my book. Anyone else have a thought on these? I hope they are real. They look it, but I never saw another one in person to compare it to.