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Michael Jackson Signing Styles in Julien's Tompkins and Bush Sale

On December 2, Julien's Auctions is selling The Collection of Tompkins and Bush. The collection contains 465 lots of Michael Jackson memorabilia, 287 of them autographed.

Michael Bush and the late Dennis Tompkins were Michael Jackson's costume designers for 25 years, during Jackson's most successful period. They were the consignors of the signed Thriller jacket that Julien's sold for $1,800,000 in June 2011.

Almost all of the autographs in the Tompkins and Bush sale are a variation I'm not familiar with. I've only been looking at Jackson's autograph for a few years, though, and we have members here who have collected him for decades, so I'd appreciate your input and exemplars.

If you know Michael Jackson's autograph well, please look at a few images below from the auction and let me know what you think. Even better, browse the auction and upload any similar examples you have: http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/77/

Julien's is the world's premier auction house for Michael Jackson memorabilia, so they would know his autograph better than most of us. I'm just surprised I haven't seen this style before.

Thanks for your help.

Tags: 2012, Julien's, auction, michael jackson, tompkins and bush

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 15, 2013 at 1:04am

I don't want to give an opinion on those without better images. And even if I did have them, I think these require an expert's opinion. They're not obvious to me like the two Tompkins & Bush styles, even tho they look close to the cleaner ones. It would be unfair to the owner to call something fake we're not sure of. That's something to keep in mind.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on January 13, 2013 at 1:29pm

But what is interesting is that REAL MJ sigs on shoes go in a certain place. Michael tended to sign similar items in the same place, respecting the item. So as above you see real MJ sigs, as well as these:

and the identified "odd" MJ T&B signatures are all over the place, sometimes even off the shoe!

What does this mean? I don't know, just verbalizing what I noticed.

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Permalink Reply by TeamMichael777 on January 13, 2013 at 1:45pm

Michelle what is the item number of the ones with the white band over the top, 2nd up from bottom, plz

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on January 13, 2013 at 1:56pm

This is from October 2010

https://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/8/lot/1745/

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Permalink Reply by TeamMichael777 on January 13, 2013 at 2:35pm

Thank you Michelle :-)

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 15, 2013 at 1:03am

Another of the Thriller style...

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 13, 2013 at 7:50pm

Michelle,

On the ones you uploaded, I think the first and third shoes may be genuine, although better images are needed. I don't think the second one is.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on January 13, 2013 at 9:15pm

The premier props one you mean?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 13, 2013 at 9:29pm

Hi Michelle,

Yes, I'm concerned about that one. I like Premier Props, but they're best known for selling props direct from the studios. I don't know how well they know rare memorabilia. They have definitely sold MJ stuff I liked, though.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 15, 2013 at 1:03am

Good point Michelle. Michael was very adept at placing his signature proportionally and in an aesthetically pleasing way onto whatever surface he was signing.. the more challenging the better! Look at the Gardner Elem. School chalkboard.

btw, I love the first example of genuine MJ you uploaded, the "Billie Jean" shoes. I'd like to have those. :)

The last "odd" T&B example you uploaded,, the "lean this way" eye sores: That photo is in Bush's book. He fills his book with both of the two "odd" T&B signature styles. Apparently he's proud of the chicken scratch.

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Permalink Reply by Charlotte Stanley on January 15, 2013 at 9:51am

These are Smooth Criminal Lean shoes. The heel goes in the notches. Michael invented these so they could do the lean on stage. The pegs come up out of the floor at the right time.