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Just recently joined this great site after being a long time visitor and hate to start off with a controversial observation. 

There has been widespread UK media coverage of Julien's Live auction (Nov 4th 2017) - a set of handwritten lyrics purporting to be written by David Bowie as a work in progress for "Starman" and authenticated by Perry Cox. As a 40 year collector of Bowie autographs which includes some handwritten letters, this in my opinion is NOT genuine.

Its far too neat for starters and whilst it has some of his traits, is inconsistent particularly towards the end when the person who wrote these lyrics flows back to their "not trying" hand style, it is a poor attempt copy of the original which appeared at the Bowie Is exhibition (also attached)...

Sadly, this will achieve many, many thousand of dollars based on the genuine Jean Genie handwritten lyrics recent sale. 

Other learned Bowie watchers/collectors thoughts welcome.

https://www.julienslive.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/234/lot/960...

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forgers are getting better and bolder-not just faking a 2 word signature, but stanza after stanza-hundreds of words needing to be faked...

Agreed Sling - the more they put down on paper, the more difficult it is for them just as it is difficult to copy a famous piece of art BUT so many have been duped because they want to believe they are real, even if there is doubt.

you are right, painters can fake so many great artists and handwriting forgers are starting to catch up encouraged by the higher prices hand writing is getting today-witness bowie $80,000!

...and Erik, I will put some genuine '66 - 77 examples on here for you when I get the time, you have always been really helpful.

Cheers Mark

Just heard that the Bowie estate's lawyer - Paddy Grafton Green has made Bowie's business manager aware of these lyrics and Bill Zysblat is in the process of contacting Julien's regarding them. I'm also aware that Julien's have been contacted by several people regarding their doubts as to authenticity. Lets hope that sense and justice prevails in the next 5 days...

Excellent! Good news MarkG.

Another 77 for you Eric...

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Thank you Mark! :)

Couple more from 77 Eric - the recipient is Pascall 

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Hi Mark,

I was looking at these exemplars you posted. Thank you. I noticed on the book signature scan "bo77" above there is another more recent Bowie signature visible, fully dated and with terminal period. Neat - a twice signed book. I pulled the signature out with Photoshop and flipped it for viewing:

Hi Eric - well spotted - it was also signed in 2002 on the opposite page (ie the inside front book cover) and has partly bled onto the original 77 autograph. Have attached the full scan and also a paper plate signed in 77...

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Thanks Mark! Those are excellent - that paper plate '77 is perhaps the earliest cleanest of its type I have seen. 

I have left you a message on your "wall" re a 1979 photograph.

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