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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

Nichole, dear, you are lucky to be an attractive lady. Dylan is especially nice to the attractive, young ladies. Strange, eh?

Thx for the compliment. Beauty fades and eventually I won’t look so good. What I am as a person is more important but I do like when people think I look nice I must say. 
thanks so much <3

ps that’s my other most favorite person on the planet in that photo with me…. Ry Cooder

Now there’s a nice man, well he’s nice to me anyway. I adore him for his kindness… truly (and his slide guitar playing of course)

I know people who know him, and they say the same thing about Rye Cooder. A very nice guy.....

 Nichole.    I am very upset too. We have followed him on tour around the world . I have over £100k worth of his art .   Hard earned cash and that goes for anyone whether they have one piece of art or a number of pieces.  Castle will have taken a big percentage of that.  He was and still is their biggest asset and they have been milking it whilst he is still with us. Dylan has put out his statement.  Castle need to be more convincing and provide absolute unequivocal evidence  why releases in 2019 , 2020 and 2021 which are included within Dylan’s statement timeline are not included in the miss selling redress exercise they are currently carrying out baring in mind that the signatures on 2019 : 2020 and 2021 are not all consistent with previous releases and the signature on the charity item he signed on the 22nd November 2022. 

100% agree. Dylan’s and Castle’s timelines aren’t matching.

Last email from Castle said “We have been assured that the autopen signature was only used on very specific editions, namely Retrospectrum and Sunset Monument Valley, and that all other editions are hand signed by Dylan.

We are currently working with Bob Dylan’s team to obtain additional reassurance to put your mind fully at rest. As soon as we have this we will be in touch.”

We’ll see what they come with lol…they need to go ahead and acknowledge that starting around 2018, the sigs started looking weird/different, they didn’t ask any questions apparently and they never have represented to me that they witnessed the 2018 Mondos being signed. All those are going to need to be refunded period. 

It Wouldn't be hard to release proof now.. just get him on video signing in every style he has ever supposedly had. Or are they stalling so he can practice 1st and get his signature to match the new style before releasing "evidence" lol

Absolutely agree Matt.   Let’s see what happens next and when we hear from them again .  Their evidence must stand up to intensive scrutiny.  It’s interesting though what they have now written to you.  The  narrative appears to have slightly changed.  My point has always been that Bob only mentioned years in his timeline and not releases . So how can Castle now say they have been assured that it was only specific releases when he was not specific about releases in his statement .  Who is doing the assuring? Is that Bob to Castle or Castles directors to their staff? Also do not forget that Castle have told at least two of us on this forum that Bob was signing releases years in advance which I for one  do not believe.  It feels like cracks in their  first line of defence could possibly be appearing.  Keep the pressure on as I am doing and keep talking. 

Same here, I think we’re on the same page. I’m not backing down but trying to be nice/patient at moment.

It’s weird, I asked them directly in my email to them “please confirm whether Castle had a representative present to confirm the 2018 Mondo Scripto prints were hand-signed by Bob Dylan. If no, please outline your basis for the position that the prints were hand-signed.” 

They did not answer and only stated in their response about being assured. That’s not good enough in light of the surrounding fraud. 

I have a 2018 mondo. I told them look you can’t expect people to trust the words guaranteed. Your autopen was guaranteed and look what happened. Show me how you know these were hand signed. Don’t tell me someone was there. Show me someone was there. 

My stomach just dropped for you. Holy smokes. 
have we ever met? Or do we know each other at all? 
I have 2 Joshua trees

one has the crossed y. One doesn’t. 

idk. Let me do some more digging. It takes me time. Proper timing.  

Nicole, since you appear to have the biggest stake in this matter, have you consulted with an attorney? Seems like there might be a good case for a class action lawsuit. There is evidence of intent (multiple autopen signatures = attempt to conceal = knowledge of guilt). That is big. He has deep pockets. He deserves to pay.....you don't get fairly compensated for your suffering by refunds! That is total BS.

As a fan like her, tell me if im wrong but I believe that would be the very last thing she would want to do. It brings to mind an interview I watched years ago where Ann Wilson talked about Hearts fanbase and how there were certain fans who attended every concert and would Follow them around the world. Ann said she could easily spot these people in the crowd. These people will stand behind them through every circumstance.

I'm surprised Nichole is as level headed as she is. I dont believe fans of her magnitude would be this much in tune with the reality of this matter so im really impressed with how she has handled everything and understand completely why she reacts certain ways. I cant say enough how big a help you were Nichole, especially at 1st with providing photos to include in the autopen comparisons. After it came to light how huge of a fan you are, it says a lot for you to be here with us all trying to figure this mess out. Thank you so much for that. This has to be extremely difficult for you

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