Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 14, 2021 at 9:41pm

I love dedications and inscriptions but many say it hurts resale value. I like it but it will be hard to mat unless you have similar colored paper behind the lost corner - otherwise you won't be able to do a square mat without losing something. It is a very nice example.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on February 15, 2021 at 12:22pm

Thanks for your reply, Eric.  I also like dedications but certainly appreciate one without. Without having the Hitchcock in front of me, I've been trying to decide what writing instrument was used.  The JSA letter says felt tip...but that doesn't look right to me. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 15, 2021 at 1:22pm

Dying fountain pen?

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Permalink Reply by David Lewis on February 15, 2021 at 3:41pm

Etienne, A nice caricature and a real autograph in my humble opinion. Like Eric said, to mat and frame would be a challenge.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on February 15, 2021 at 4:00pm

Thanks, David. Just doing a Google search and looking at results on auction sites, it looks like there are tons of sketches out there purporting to be from Hitchcock.  A lot of them look canned and carefully drawn by forgers...and the signatures as well. I started comparing signatures that accompany sketches with his signatures on legal documents and correspondence....and very little of it seems to match up.

I've also noticed that when he was using ballpoint on paper like signing a document, some of his signatures have a lighter hand and it could be quite scratchy. Felt tip much heavier, of course.  I have a Dell paperback from 1973 that he signed on the title page in blue ballpoint (no sketch...just his name). Between the quality of the thick pulp stock paper and how it absorbed the ink and the small space he signed in between the title and his attribution as Editor, it's rather scratchy...but I still like it as it doesn't look canned.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on February 16, 2021 at 8:42am

Thanks again to David and Eric for your responses above on this Hitchcock.

I submitted the images of it to Beckett's Signature Review which is their version of a Quick Opinion. As mentioned above, it comes with a JSA LOA.  Here is the response from Beckett:

Thank you for submitting ALFRED HITCHCOCK signed Self Caricature sketch for a Signature Review from Beckett Authentication Services.

After our review, it is our opinion that the item is: Unlikely to Pass Full Authentication BY BECKETT AUTHENTICATION SERVICES Not sure what to think of Beckett's in relation to yours (which I value) and JSA's.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 16, 2021 at 9:28am

I was speaking to the sketch and presentation. I do not have much experience with his signature. I thought it looked good. Are these normally dedicated/inscribed?

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on February 16, 2021 at 9:51am

I'm not sure about the dedications, Eric. Maybe others with more experience can speak to that? I'd really be interested in having more input on that question and the look of this one from members here.

I certainly agree with you on the sketch and presentation being nice on it.

What really makes me scratch my head is how Beckett and JSA differ in their opinions on it.....although granted the Beckett one is not a full in person examination.

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Permalink Reply by Mikex on February 16, 2021 at 10:16am

Becket's quick opinion is a complete waste of time, imo. I tested them in the past and failed each time. 

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Permalink Reply by KARL on February 17, 2021 at 7:05am

I have issues with authication companies because they often give conflicting opinions. They are a good guide but not always 100 percent.  I still tend to study the signature myself regardless of who authenticated it. You might want to just get some online opinions from your fellow collectors. 

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Permalink Reply by KARL on February 17, 2021 at 7:10am

One thing that I noticed, the paper is old and the pen strokes are sharp.If it were a forgery, the new ink on old dry paper would feather. My two cents says it is good.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on February 17, 2021 at 7:47am

The JSA letter identifies the writing instrument used as a felt tip pen. I asked the seller whether that seems to be true as it does not look like felt tip to me. They said weren't sure.  It looks like an fountain pen signature or possibly even old india ink?

I have found that you really do not get a good sense of something like this without having it before you to physically examine. In this case, the seller states they do not accept returns so it may be a gamble.

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