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Permalink Reply by Eddy on January 17, 2024 at 11:25am

This would be the right person to ask about these photos.   She was an assistant to Bette from 1979 on:

https://www.amazon.com/Miss-Me-Invincible-Bette-Davis/dp/0316507849

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 17, 2024 at 11:30am

Indeed. They did a few interviews together as I recall.

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on January 17, 2024 at 3:09pm

Thanks for all your help.

I don’t really see much variation between the passport signature and most of these 1980s photo signatures. I am trying to figure out why it is thought by some that these 1980s photos are mostly secretarial? What should I be looking for? Is the Beckett example I found one of the few authentic exceptions or is that also probably secretarial? Trying to learn. Thanks. 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 17, 2024 at 3:25pm

Well, to me, look at the "B's" (the starting hook in the OP is really odd), the way the two "e's" lay against each other, their shapes overall and the negative spaces, it is not in the passport but sometimes there is a subdued "v" shape between the two "t's", the size of the "s" in relation...Eddy will have more to say. I'm speaking off the cuff here.  There are examples where there are dedications with inscriptions and those would be easier to pin down I expect ("from" and "for" etc.). I have not done so. When I collected her it was in vintage form from 1950. The basics are there. Click for full image:

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on January 17, 2024 at 3:27pm

Thanks. Definitely helpful advice. 

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on January 17, 2024 at 3:39pm

Here's one that I like a lot from the the time period of the 80s:

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on January 17, 2024 at 3:43pm

Thanks. That’s extremely helpful and a good example from the 1980s to use for reference.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on January 17, 2024 at 3:45pm

Bette with co-stars from HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE

(She gets top billing even here):

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on January 17, 2024 at 3:48pm

Now I can see the differences. I wonder when she signed authentic ttm, if it was randomly or only special requests. 

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on January 17, 2024 at 3:57pm

I really can't say.  It might be safer to try to acquire something that has been inscribed, as Eric mentioned.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on January 17, 2024 at 3:51pm

This is an excellent example. The "snub nose B", the "avis", the handwriting, all of it. 

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on January 17, 2024 at 4:36pm

Thanks for all your help.

I only bought the Bette Davis because it was cheap ($30 total after shipping and fees). I can understand why it was cheap now. I think I will just keep it with my preprint/fake autograph collection (yes, I kind of collect “fake” autographs as long as they were originally obtained ttm. I still see it as something official from them and keep it as a separate form of memorabilia). 

If I can get an authentic Bette Davis for around $25 total then I would be interested but otherwise I have other autographs I want way more. 

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