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Bob Dylan AUTOPEN Info To Help With Returns / Refunds - Simon & Schuster, Premiere, and Coles

***URGENT UPDATE

Three Articles Published by Chris Willman at Variety
 
 
 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A message posted by Bob Dylan to his Facebook account
 
To my fans and followers,
 
I’ve been made aware that there’s some controversy about signatures on some of my recent artwork prints and on a limited-edition of Philosophy Of Modern Song. I’ve hand-signed each and every art print over the years, and there’s never been a problem.
However, in 2019 I had a bad case of vertigo and it continued into the pandemic years. It takes a crew of five working in close quarters with me to help enable these signing sessions, and we could not find a safe and workable way to complete what I needed to do while the virus was raging. So, during the pandemic, it was impossible to sign anything and the vertigo didn’t help. With contractual deadlines looming, the idea of using an auto-pen was suggested to me, along with the assurance that this kind of thing is done ‘all the time’ in the art and literary worlds.
Using a machine was an error in judgment and I want to rectify it immediately. I’m working with Simon & Schuster and my gallery partners to do just that.
 
With my deepest regrets,
Bob Dylan

 

Previous update 
Some users have uncovered potential autopen use within Bob Dylan's expensive art prints. Please check your prints if you own one and post a picture on this thread if you have any concerns.

here is a link to one of his art prints in question

https://www.castlefineart.com/art/bob-dylan/cactus

*UPDATE -  Let this be a warning to ALL publishers and celebrities in the future. We are sick and tired of these autopen releases. Our community has had enough and absolutely will not stand for this practice to continue any longer!!! 

I want to point out that Coles Books needs to be commended. They made sure to look out for their customers and refused to ship these out if they came from the same S&S stock, which they did. It was also an easy process to cancel orders beforehand if you wished. Coles. on behalf of everyone, I want to thank you for having integrity and watching out for all of us.

I can NOT say the same about Premiere Collectibles. They refused to honor cancelation requests until it was known these books were in fact autopenned. They advertise themselves claiming they are collectors themselves. This is not true. They are a retailer first and only care about your money. There have been other autopen incidents where they absolutely refused to accept blame, stating items were real when they were clearly deemed autopen by the community. Be careful with future purchases with Premiere Collectibles.

This email came directly from Jonathan Karp at Simon and Schuster. If anyone still wishes to send him a message, here is his email address as well.

jonathan.karp@simonandschuster.com

We apologize for the mistake that was made and are offering a full refund of your purchase.  Please keep your copy of The Philosophy of Modern Song at no cost. We hope you will enjoy reading it.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Karp

Here are 51 articles and counting detailing our combined efforts on this forum

New York Post - Screenshot.jpg

New York Times - Screenshot.jpg

Los Angeles Times - Screenshot.jpg

Washington Post - Screenshot.jpg

Rolling Stone - Screenshot.jpg

Rolling Stone pt2 - Screenshot.jpg

Billboard - Screenshot.jpg

Billboard pt2 - Screenshot.jpg

Variety - Screenshot.jpg

Variety pt2 - Screenshot.jpg

Variety pt3 - Screenshot.jpg

USA Today - Screenshot.jpg

The Daily Beast - Screenshot.jpg

People - Screenshot.jpg

Daily Mail - Screenshot.jpg

Ultimate Classic Rock - Screenshot.jpg

Yahoo - Screenshot.jpg

Inside Hook - Screenshot.jpg

Poetic Justice - Screenshot.jpg

Exclaim - Screenshot.jpg

The Music Universe - Screenshot.jpg

Literary Hub - Screenshot.jpg

Stereogum - Screenshot.jpg

Esquire - Screenshot.jpg

Boing Boing - Screenshot.jpg

NME pt1 - Screenshot.jpg

NME pt2 - Screenshot.jpg

I Heart Radio - Screenshot.jpg

Publishers Lunch - Subscription required

Spiegel - Translated Screenshot.jpg

Boston 25 - Screenshot.jpg

Spin - Screenshot.jpg

Uproxx - Screenshot.jpg

Newser - Screenshot.jpg

Vigour Times - Screenshot.jpg

Pitchfork - Screenshot.jpg

UPI pt1 - Screenshot.jpg

UPI pt2 - Screenshot.jpg

Daily Caller - Screenshot.jpg

Far Out Magazine - Screenshot.jpg

Gulf News - Screenshot.jpg

Breitbart - Screenshot.jpg

American Songwriter - Screenshot.jpg

American Top 40 - Screenshot.jpg

We Got This Covered - Screenshot.jpg

Healthcare Buisness - Screenshot.jpg

Music News - Screenshot.jpg

Music Times - Screenshot.jpg

Happy Mag - Screenshot.jpg

Sydney Morning Herald - Screenshot.jpg

The Guardian - Screenshot.jpg

--------------------------------------------

ORIGINAL POST

I am creating this thread as a comprehensive all in 1 link for returns, refunds, chargebacks and claims made regarding the "signed" edition of Bob Dylan - The Philosophy Of Modern Song. Please use this link to email Simon & Schuster, Coles, and Premiere Collectables as 100% proof these were signed using an autopen machine. 

I would like to say right off the bat, Coles Books in the UK is handling this professionally and seem to care deeply about their customer base. They have stated that, once they are in hand, If they find evidence of them being autopenned, they will cancel all orders.. Kudos to Coles.. I wish all retailers would follow their lead. If you wish to cancel your order with them immediately instead of waiting, It seems to be an easy process.

This post will be continuously updated with new information over the next few days

Please refer to this article for the time being until more information is added

https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1290-cjbk/news/collectors-quest...

Here is the post I created a few weeks ago with info regarding the Indigo incident.

https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/indigo-bob-dylan-po...

So far, there have been a total of 17 confirmed different templates for the autopen machine used for Bob Dylans signature. I am in the process of creating video comparisons for all 17 sets. Please post full page photos of your item as they are delivered to aid in this process 

Here are all 17 templates used by Bob Dylan - I am still looking for full page photos for numbers 8,13 and 15 thru 17 but its still best to post whatever you receive

Be aware when checking against your own copy, it has come to light that they are possibly using 1st and last names interchangeably. Bob in #2 matches perfectly with Bob in #13 while Dylan in both are different

14th variation confirmed

15th variation

16th variation - Seems to be almost an exact combination of #11 and #13 with a different vertical line in his "D" 

17th variation

Video and photo comparisons created so far

Video of set 1 Dylan1.mp4  - Photo of set 1 Dylan1.JPG

Video of set 2 Dylan2.mp4  - Photo of set 2 Dylan2.JPG

Video of set 3 Dylan3.mp4  - Photo of set 3 Dylan3.JPG

Video of set 4 Dylan4.mp4  - Photo of set 4 Dylan4.JPG

Video of set 5 Dylan5.mp4  - Photo of set 5 Dylan5.JPG

Video of set 6 Dylan6.mp4  - Photo of set 6 Dylan6.JPG

Video of set 7 Dylan7.mp4  - Photo of set 7 Dylan7.JPG

Video of set 9 Dylan9.mp4  - Photo of set 9 Dylan9.JPG

Video of set 10 Dylan10.mp4 - Photo of set 10 Dylan10.JPG

Video of set 11 Dylan11.mp4 - Photo of set 11 Dylan11.JPG

Video of set 12 Dylan12.mp4 - Photo of set 12 Dylan12.JPG

Video of set 14 Dylan14.mp4 - Photo of set 14 Dylan14.JPG

Here are the COAs stating these books were in fact hand-signed

Suzanne Baboneau for UK - Certificate Of Authenticity UK.jpg

Jonathan Karp for USA - Certificate Of Authenticity USA.JPG

Coles listing before it was removed - Coles Website Listing.jpg

Important emails:

Jonathan Karp US - CEO of Simon & Schuster
jonathan.karp@simonandschuster.com

Duane Ward of Premiere Collectables
duane@premierespeakers.com  - Others have tried duane@premierecollectables.com

Suzanne Baboneau, Managing Director
suzanne.baboneau@simonandschuster.co.uk

Ian Chapman, UK - CEO
ian.chapman@simonandschuster.co.uk

Bob Dylan's Manager

Jeff Kramer
OK Management
275 South Beverly Drive
Suite 215
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310-535-1647


Bob Dylan's Agent

Brian Greenbaum
Creative Artists Agency
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: 424-288-2000


Bob Dylan's Production Agent

Sony/Columbia/CBS Records
550 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-833-7305


Bob Dylan's Law Firm

Manatt Phelps & Phillips
11355 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-312-4000

Bob Dylan's Twitter

Tweet or privatly message Bob on his verified Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/bobdylan/

Bob Dylan's Facebook

Post or message Bob on his verified Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/bobdylan/

I also found this email associated with Bob Dylans store. Its worth a try

BOBDYLAN@EPICRIGHTS.COM

Media Publications who may be eager to pick up this story - Please email them a link to this post and all related content

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/corp/contactus.html

For story pitches, please send:
News to Jim Milliot and John Maher
Soapbox ideas to Rachel Deahl
Features to features@publishersweekly.com

Related content:

Dolly Parton is also guilty of using multiple autopens in the same fashion with multiple templates over the years but with a slight twist where they manipulate the page as the autopen machine writes her signature. If we are looking to stop all future attempts at autopen usage, she needs to be held accountable just as much as Bob Dylan and S&S. Link to threads below

Here is a great example provided by Eric Keith Longo

Dolly Parton Autopen Example.jpg

http://www.feelnumb.com/2022/03/09/dolly-parton-fake-autograph-song...

https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/dolly-parton-signed...

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Replies to This Discussion

Yes, as far as i'm aware, you had to return the original Certificate of Authenticity only - and are allowed to keep the print and Castle would send you a full refund and a replacement COA stating an autopenned signature was used. 

Understood, thanks for clearing that up. I thought that only applied to the philosophy of modern bullzhit.

So the guy made money? Well, good for him 

I bet he returned old coa and printed a copy of the same one to try to sell on ebay. 

Take a look at this piece written by Castle Fine Art advising why a hand signature is so important, and how it can increase the value of an artwork by ten fold....

https://www.castlefineart.com/blog/5-reasons-why-an-artists-signatu...

That's hilarious especially when they're still selling autopens for the same price. Someone should screenshot that before they take it down. That would be good evidence for a lawsuit. Lol

Credit where credit's due... I received refunds into my bank account today from Castle for Retrospectrum prints. The thread title is concerned with 'returns-refunds'. I've got them. Castle has been as good as its word after I had forms and certificates collected for Castle just before Christmas. I haven't received any replacement Certificates of  Autopen Authenticity/Handsigned Inauthenticity (or whatever they'll be called). I'm not looking to sell these prints yet - I still like the artwork. 

I'm still shocked that Castle doesn't seem to have any proof of Dylan signing any/many prints. The most likely contenders for legal action against Castle would surely be concerning the four Asia prints released in 2021 and the six Mondo released in 2020. Both during lockdown. Eugene Monaghan is/was seeking further legal advice over Mondo.

I am aware that to win a civil case the claimer(s) would need to establish the burden of proof - or balance of probabilities - lies in their favour. That is pretty much prove Dylan did not sign them. I'm highly suspicious of the Asia signatures, but also know for now I wouldn't be confident of establishing burden of proof. I've seen no conclusive evidence yet from signature experts (i.e. Jason) who know far more than me.

Guys, just to give an update on the latest position. I issued a formal ‘Letter before court’ to Washington Green / Castle Galleries on the 03rd January with a request for a response within 14 days. I subsequently arranged a call with Ian Weatherby-Blythe last Thursday and had an open and positive discussion. Essentially Ian has requested some extra time to try to get together the necessary proof required to validate the provenance of the CoA and the signature. This is expected this week but I agreed to give some space before progressing any action and have another call the 1st week of February to assess position, next steps and if necessary any mutual agreed remedy options before going to court.

I have had some outline detail on the evidence that has been shared so far but will wait until I get the formal response, and any supporting information supplied before I post a full update.

Thank you and good luck.

Good luck again. Your polite, reasonable approach will hopefully pay off. I'm intrigued if he is just trying to get some proof to show just your own Mondo print has Dylan's real signature or is trying to prove the whole 2020 Mondo set does. Or more sets. I'm still sceptical about proof because it shouldn't take long to reveal it if it's already there. Look forward to the update. 

Update from Ian Weatherby-Blythe reference the formal pre court letter request for proof to support the provenance for the Mondo Scripto 2020 series CoA’s issued by Washington Green / Castle Galleries:

“I refer to our correspondence and recent phone call on the matter and confirm we have obtained from Black Buffalo ( Bob Dylan’s Art company ) the information you requested in relation to the Dylan prints you own.

The details are as follows:

  • It Ain’t Me Babe (Mondo Scripto 2020)
  • I Want You (Mondo Scripto 2020)
  1. Both prints Signed by Bob Dylan between August 26, 2019 and September 6, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.
  2. Signed in the presence of Jeff Rosen (Black Buffalo Artworks), Esther Light (printmaker), Galia Gev (art handler), Callie Gladman (Black Buffalo Artworks).
  3. Delivered to Castle Galleries Ltd in Birmingham, UK in September 2020
  4. Released for sale by Castle Galleries during October 2020.

Please note that the time windows for the signing process relate to the fact that not all prints would be signed by Mr Dylan in one sitting on the same day, but this would often take place over several days or weeks depending on his schedule, that of those in attendance and the number of prints to be signed. 

I trust the information provided sufficiently responds to your requests for information and satisfies your concerns and I hope you can now fully enjoy the great Dylan art you own. As always, we are at your service should you need anything else.”

Update also received and shared by Ian from Black Buffalo on the question and uncertainty raised by the marked change in style of Bob Dylan’s signature on artwork from around 2018 and the Mondo Scripto series:

“Dear Ian,

We understand that you have received a few specific inquiries regarding Bob Dylan's varying signature styles from your clients. As Bob Dylan's art company, I am sharing a response Mr. Dylan recently sent to a particular inquiry about differentiations in his signatures over the last few years and through the decades.

"Thank you for your inquiry. Let me explain that my signature has changed a lot over the years you go back to my record albums which have my signature, beginning in 1963 ar thereabouts, you'll see many different variations, depending on the hour, the mood, and the situation of when they were signed. Also, you may or may not know that for a number of years was more interesting for me to sign with my left hand, just to keep the whole experience from becoming stagnant. A performer has many things thrust in front of him to sign and every signature cannot be perfect. That's why mine has changed so many times, especially through the process of signing tens-of-thousands of prints.

There was a big change in my handwriting beginning in the Mondo Scripto' years. After signing my name so many times, it became necessary to come up with a signature that looked good to my eye as well as hanging on a wall as a piece of art. So for a number of years that's been the signature you'll see a lot on any artwork unless of course it changes again."

We trust this fully explains and clarifies the matter.”

Essentially some more information and detail, but no verifiable, independent proof that Castle Galleries can provide, and they have admitted that the signings have not been witnessed and the CoA’s have been issued purely on a trust basis!

Thanks for info. Ian W-B has tried pretty hard for you - and Castle's good name - and probably got as much information as can or will be forthcoming. The underlying Dylan-team case for the 2020 Mondos is that Dylan signed them at a California home just before vertigo hit him.

'No verifiable, independent proof ...' Would Jeff Rosen, Esther Light and so on sign legal statements saying they witnessed him signing any?

So my point above (4 January) about 'burden of proof' is still valid.  In the UK, it obviously relates to the 79 Sale of Goods Act. I suspect an individual claim about potential loss of value for, say, on a £3,500 print (£2,500 lost?) might be viable. I don't know.

Last point: what comes across to me as really unexpected is Dylan's statement that he signed with his left hand for some years 'just to keep the whole experience from becoming stagnant.'  Thus, variations.

 

Dylan signing ambidextrous has been brought up around 10 years ago. Ill look for the link but I did post the link somewhere way back in December on here. Its not a total surprise to me and its one aspect I was suspecting.. I honestly am waiting for him to sign every style on video as proof ( that would be the easiest way) not likely to happen. I have ran into a dead end on my end. Was going to make another write up on the situation but at this point, it will still end with unanswered questions along with my overall opinion currently on authenticity and no one needs that. We need examples as 100% proof. Maybe one day

Great job Eugene, im glad this is still progressing with new info

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