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Authenticity is Everything
DEAR JOHN...a study of John Belushi's autograph and a personal search!
John Belushi shone bright and burned out in only 33 short years on this Earth. He is rightly considered an American comedy icon and so his autographs are highly sought after items. The trouble is that the man who lived a wild and fast life also had a wildly signing style. Now I’m only an amateur collector, and I’ve tried doing my research, and although there are characteristics to his signature, he can be very tricky to give a definitive on. Obviously taking into consideration the changes in signing over his years of fame, quick signings, documents and checks, he’s still a tricky one.
The following is my tale to discover if I have a genuine Belushi or not.
First of all, let’s have a look at some (what I would consider to be) 99.9% genuine Belushi signings.
Firstly some signed documents:
Here is a very confident and quite complex signature; an all in one movement for ‘John’ continuing into an ‘A’ for his middle name ‘Adam’ (which appears in earlier examples of his signings and official documents) Then his surname is another all in one movement, this time rounded with lots of swirls. The ‘B’ starts with the straight line downwards, then twists back up to the top veering left and then he continues into the two front loops of the ‘B’ and then back again and into the ‘e’ and a nice loop for the ‘L’ a tight swirl for the ‘u’ and ‘s’, another loop for the ‘h and then finishes with the dot of the ‘I’ that floats out to the right hand side of the signature.
Another contract signed faster, The ‘J’ a bit more pointed in this example, still with the ‘A’ for Adam, and the Belushi is stretched and less flourished, probably to fit into this document. Still that dot over the ‘I’ out to the right. And both names written in single, deliberate movements.
Next up is a nice example of a check from 1972. A little looser, back to the more rounded style, still with the middle ‘A’ but the ‘Belushi’ is leaning to the right a little. There is a break after the ‘s’, which seldom occurs and the dot once more.
This group signing from SNL cast in 1977 features a much simpler signing style, he’s dropped the ‘A’ and this time there’s less of a lean to the left on the ‘J’ of John and the trademark ‘I’ dot still floating off the very end.(in the middle of the document)
This check from the same year and the lean to the left is back and that dot over the ‘I’ as a little dash to the right.
This dot/ dash I believe is an important trait in spotting a genuine Belushi (isn’t it the same with Stan Laurel, where a genuine one always has a dot after the signature? Something that forgers often missed.)
Then there’s this hastily signed membership card, yet there’s that ’A’ and of course the dot again!
Another card:
Now a couple of more informal versions of his signing styles. A signed receipt with a much simpler ‘John’ but it still has a twist in the ‘o’:
And this in-person from a respected document specialist, this time with the John above the Belushi and with a flamboyant swirl underneath.
So there you have it, lots of variation, but a few stand out features;
A lean to the left
Both ‘John’ and ‘Belushi’ written in one movement.
The bottom of the ‘B’ twisting back and sweeping into the rounded ‘e’
The twisting ‘s’
And that tell tale ‘dot’ over the ‘I’ at the end.
Now onto the obvious fakes to compare to:
This site ‘Memorabilia Autographs’ are hawking a large number of these forgeries, from 200 to 400 dollars. This is the most common forgery of his signature out there.
This one on Ebay is currently passing this one off. Not a bad attempt to copy his movement, but not right
This pick guard is pretty shameless:
Now onto my own purchase, I bought this on Ebay back in 2005. And I am under no allusions that it could be a fake, but it has always bugged me, as just when I write it off, I see something that makes me think it could be genuine.
Firstly it seems like a very elaborate fake, now, I’m not stupid enough to think that forgers won’t go to great lengths to cheat us collectors, but still. Why fake these three names in particular; Bill Murray, John Belushi and Gilda Radner (whom the autograph hunter wasn't sure who it was, hence the question mark after her name). Surely Dan Aykroyd would serve you better to forge alongside Belushi? More bucks for sure.
And the confidence in which the Belushi signature is executed has always made me wonder, a forger could certainly have gone for a simpler version of his signature and there is no hesitation at all in the line, it has that lean to the left and has that all important dot over the ‘I’.
I sent the item to John Hickey at Heritage Auctions, who was very helpful and ran it by Steve Grad at PSA/DNA at no extra cost and I was simply told ‘all no good.’ Now I have the utmost respect for their work, but it continued to bug me and nine years later it still does! Particularly as PSA Autograph facts have this one posted as a genuine example.
Here are two studies I’ve done on my own autograph. One shows all three SNL cast comparisons.
And finally another look alongside two genuine and similar in style Belushi’s.
So, there you have it, what do you guys think? Am I chasing a dream and need to save up and buy another, or could I have a genuine Belushi in my collection? I’d love to know what you think? And no need to spare my feelings, I’m still getting over that Jackie Gleason secretarial I have hanging on my wall!!
And at the very least, anyone looking to buy a Belushi have a little resource here on site.
Tags: Belushi, Bill, Gilda, John, Live, Murray, Night, Radner, SNL, Saturday
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bam Miller on
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Guys, just to give you a heads up, that Autographed Continental Divide Lobby Card on Ebay has been removed by the seller per my request. He has informed me that he will be getting the opinion of two UACC registered dealers to authenticate it for him and will share the info with me when they get back to him. If he relists it again without sending me the details then negative feedback will be left for him. His ebay username is (doctort 2). He also informs me that he has had to do this three other times on this item so dfinitley questionable. In my personal opinion, whether or not the two dealers authenticate this makes no difference because John never signed his signature like that EVER. It was always the same style on his cheques, bank cards or even his Wheaton High School yearbook. Even those Neighbors signed lobby cards currently on ioffer match this lobby card. Why have I not seen the lobby card signatures on any other item except these?. I bet this dealer who runs his dealings in three different retail shops has done this. UACC are well known for messing up their examinations on things they authenticate but are known to be fake. There were 7 watchers on that item, surprised it hasn't been snapped up because if there are people willing to pay up to 8500 dollars on other signed John Belushi signature then why not this? Have to always be wary of the dealer whether they are registered or not, post any John Belushi signature on this site to get other opinions first before you choose to purchase.
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Also, that signed Blues Brothers LP has been removed. I have tried to contact the dealer multiple times but he has not replied, he has been using his ebay page after these messages were sent. If I see it again then negative feedback will be left because he has not contacted me. Asked to see the COA he claims to have, questioned the authenticity... he must know that its a fake.
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Recently posted by Ebay seller doorsy1967 is this signed 8×10 photo of John Belushi in his largely forgotten film role of Eric Katz in the 1978 box office failure, 'Old Boyfriends' the photo itself is rather grainy. It is signed in what appears to be blue marker on an old photo, "Belushi", there is no John added and the style of "Belushi" is a hideously embarrassing cock up of a signature. It is an obvious, shameful forgery posted at §250 starting price or §500 to buy. The seller offers no COA, no UACC credentials, not even a refund. I only discovered this half an hour ago, already the item has been reported, the seller has been messaged stating that he has three days to contact me with sufficent evidence that this is genuine otherwise he will loose his 100% feedback stating he is knowingly selling fakes or he can remove the item in question from his listings. Third one this week, disgusting! Just a heads up to the collectors out there
In the description, the seller states, "The signature is very nice" yeah good one
He assumes all responsibility for this itemhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Belushi-autographed-8X10-photo-picture...
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Permalink Reply by Max Rickardsson on
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Too bad it already have a bid now :(
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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on
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I love the fact that you are so passionate about exposing these problem pieces on ebay, but how exactly are you planning to leave feedback or threaten their 100% ratings?Are you buying these items?Seeing as this is the only way to leave feedback....I am a bit confused.
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That was my mistake I admit, I only realized that little problemwhen you said that, I had read somewhere that it was possible to do such a thing until the policy was changed :( very very annoying but I'm hoping that this will frighten the seller to get in contact quicker unless he already knows that, I have sent him a link to this page that exposes this listing so it's possible that seeing this may remove. The other two sellers had removed their listings when I told them the same thing to be honest
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I was really hoping you had some secret handshake or "in" at ebay .....some way that we can take matters into our own hands and wipe out the junk.
I admire your willingness to try, and after two different people asking me to report Star Wars items, both people ended up quitting ther posts.
I admit ....I just gave up on trying.
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I wish had some sort of secret handshake with Ebay, I'd love to eliminate the fakes. Being an avid collector myself, I would be devastated at discovering one of mine were fake or forged. Ebay has sadly become a shabbles this last load of years due to all these so called leitimate dealers. Believe me, I couldn't give up because someone has to make these dealers aware of what they are doing and thst we are on to them, I'm glad to be one of the ones who warns them. Especially anything John Belushi, I Idolize the guy, I have three currently in my collection and looking to add one of his cheques into it to complete a satisfying collection, but when I see these fakes being pushed into circulation by the likes of Doorsy1967, it annoys me because I would be very distraught that the signatures I have of the man I Idolize turn out to be fake, so I feel for anybody stung by a fake John Belushi and it just pushes me more to continue warning these sellers of their dirty dealings. Look at that UACC dealer with that lobby card, I said the same thing to him as I did Doorsy1967 and he had it taken off with full cooperation, the awful LP forgerie was simply removed with no word back. I mean if this page wasn't here to show all these differemt signatures of John Belushi then who knows who would be stung by a clever fake or obvious forgery.
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The listing I recently posted has been removed by the seller!! :D
there were no bids so obviously the first private bidder was the seller after all
he had not got in contact but I'm pleased to anounce that on the same day it was listed, the fake John Belushi signature is gone, good work to anyone who reported the item!!
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Permalink Reply by Micko on
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Hey man, Again well played. That Neighbours photo is a new low. I hadn't seen one like it before, so great that you spotted it and took the seller to task. Great work!
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Here we go again Boys, another Belushi signature added with two bidders at a low starting price, VERY low. Seller mistakenly lists it as JIM Belushi and not John which is an obvious difference. I'll say no more on this but I think you may find it interesting, check out the link. I have an idea on the authenticity too.......
Seller's Ebay name is antic8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JIM-BELUSHI-Comedian-ACTOR-Musician-THE-BLU...
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scarce-orignal-vintage-JOHN-BELUSHI-autogra...
And another from Ebay seller beekayabq at 1,300 dollars plus almost 300 dollars import plus postage... its framed, something tricky about the signature, seller claims his girlfriend got him it 20 years ago... any opinions?
the seller offers refund if found to be not authentic plus a COA included, possibly not his doing but something off about the signature. looks pretty modern on that picture...
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