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An Elvis for sale by Graceland --but not real?

I was browsing on Ebay yesterday, looking around the upcoming Elvis memorabilia auction being conducted by Graceland under the auspices of their "Graceland Authenticated" appraisal service, and found this:

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The inscription is on a 1975 tour promotional photo.

Here's the full listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elvis-Presley-Signed-and-Inscribed-1975-Sou...

It's a good example of an Elvis signature --but not by Presley himself. It has numerous features indicative of a secretarial proxy signature... The smoother flow, the separation of the "P" from the "s", and the glaringly obvious large, loopy "y" at the end that almost appears like a fat, cursive "g".

Examples of proxies like this show up all the time, and are usually the result of an item that had been mailed to Graceland by a fan in hopes that Elvis could sign it, which he only periodically did, while the bulk of the requests were filled by his secretarial staff...This is more than clearly one of them. (Side note-- these items are not coming from Graceland's own collection, rather they're from private collectors who have arranged their listings to be part of the auction) And unfortunately, as years go by and these make it to market, it's also obvious many of the owners who obtained them have gone all this time actually thinking they got back a true Presley signature.

What I'm really puzzled by is how this slipped by the estate's own authenticators, especially given the fact that in this same auction there are numerous genuine samples that show how starkly different this one is; even a non-expert could pick this out ...yet here it is, being offered with a start bid of $1,500 and their estimate of value at $3,000 - $5,000.

Just putting this out there for thoughts, and to see if anyone knows who Graceland commissions to do their evaluations --it likely isn't Mr. Epperson or Mr. Consola --they'd laugh this off, I'm sure.

How sad is it that the people responsible for conserving Elvis' own estate would allow an error this clear to take place?

Tags: Ebay, Elvis, Graceland, autograph

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Permalink Reply by Richard Booth on August 5, 2015 at 2:27am

I saw that in the auction catalogue and thought exactly the same!

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on August 5, 2015 at 5:34am

no doubt secretarial

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Permalink Reply by Steve Viola on August 5, 2015 at 5:34am

I went thru the auction and saw several bogus autographs. How sad.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 5, 2015 at 7:50am

I saw the auction on Graceland's website. Most of the Elvis autographs in the sale are really great, genuine examples...some quite special. But there are a number that concern me. This Million Dollar Quartet guitar that looks like something Antiquities would sell is one example:

http://auction.graceland.com/Million_Dollar_Quartet_Signed_Guitar_w...

I think they're trying to sell only genuine memorabilia, but they may not realize how hard it can be to authenticate autographs.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 5, 2015 at 8:46am

Those signatures look brand new. I'd love to hear their story on the history of the piece. And you're right, it does look like an Antiquities display.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 10, 2015 at 2:19pm

The quartet guitar is up to 15.000 thousand. I don't believe it's real after seeing the one here in Australia exactly the same. I'm sure theres more around as well.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Booth on August 5, 2015 at 8:18am

It is a real shame isn't it Steve. A lot of people who may not be famiilar with his signature will trust Gracelands as it is being auctioned by them.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 5, 2015 at 8:31am

Few people or businesses enter the autograph hobby with an appreciation of how bad the forgery problem is, and how to protect themselves or their customers from being defrauded. I haven't contacted Graceland before, but I'll see if I can reach someone later today, and let them know about our concerns.