Authenticity is Everything
The Lugosi SPc I sold now with a different photo attached?. **Disturbing pastiche warning.** Originality & context cast aside, or is it entirely fake?
This makes me sick. To think someone would do this...to those that know it also looks ridiculous because this photograph was never used for these later cards! Now it is a modern pastiche with a challenged signature. But is it as challenged before? Nothing disclosed by the seller about that. :-(
There is one less original vintage unmolested Lugosi in the world. Now I wish I gave it to a young collector.
The original as held and signed by Bela Lugosi:
The modern pastiche/altered/"custom" card...is the signature "restored" as well? Altered and smudged is not a good combination I think. Originality over eye appeal any day of the week.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on
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Does it look like other things called "cuts"?
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I no longer have the address of "Brian" or whoever at PSA I was writing about the Gleason's or I'd send him the thread.
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This seller now has a Karloff of the same - well, have a look, Same "cut" designation. Also a Donald Sutherland "cut" with image from Halloween. I post the Karloff. Like the Dracula, an ideal image.
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This seller has several cards like these, all listed as "custom made fan cards" or the like, with the designation "cut" on the slab. If one can just glue any authentic signature to a blank card with any photo...did they always slab these sorts of mix and match pastiche items?
What else might be going on here? The Lugosi is clearly some sort of problem...these?
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At least no one bought this thing yet. Seller had a rare PSA 8x10 for the same money...
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Permalink Reply by eddy on
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Eric -
I couldn't agree with you more on the points you have been making throughout this thread. I do remember when you were offering the Lugosi signed piece months ago and, like you, wish it was still in it's native condition.
Regarding the current look of the signature, I wonder if it wasn't airbrushed by a paper restorer similar to what is often done with vintage film posters when they are deacidified & linen or paper backed? Stains and toning are removed in this process with posters. This may be what happened to the original smudging effect but it also looks like the ink overall has a "bleached" look.
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p.s. The Karloff, with the script of his name, looks like it's a cut from one of those stage programs from ARSENIC or another production.
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Good eye - I was wondering about that. I think having the name printed out as well adds to the deception/perception of eye appeal.
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Thank you Eddy. Yes, it has a washed out look and nowhere near as crisp as it once was. Not sure what was done, but not a fan obviously. And the addition of that photo...
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I'm really leaning toward Bela's sig. having been "washed" via "restoration".
As far as the addition of the photo in the PSA holder, of course we don't like that! Still, if you go on some of the sites like the historical autographs group on Facebook, you can find all kinds of collectors who get excited about encapsulated pieces that have had custom artwork added in an encapsulation to "enhance" the presentation of a vintage piece. Sadly, this seems to take that a step beyond that.
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Yes, and unfortunately that step is going to land on the newer collector who can't distinguish "Photo" from "Cut" in the slab or identify an older signature with a later photo etc. True quality vintage signed portraits and still will only become more desirable, if only to some collectors.
Regarding "washing" and "restored" - if it is getting like coins with the TPG's, "Conservation" often results in a higher grade and higher eye appeal. I don't recall if mention was made about the work on the coin slab but I doubt it. At least PSA is not charging and carrying out the work like the coin TPG's.
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Some major auction houses who have a specialty in vintage film paper will sometimes give at least a cursory report of pre-restoration condition issues, which is helpful. They'll then use terminology like "...the poster now presents as VG". This Lugosi piece could use that kind of description for the sake of transparency!
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