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Three Stooges PSA'd, BUT is it Real ??

I noticed this Three Stooges photo with all three sigs on it in a current Iconic auction. The PSA COA was for a Mastronet auction back in 2005. I am leery about two signatures, both Curly and Larry. In particular, Larry's signature appears not even close and the Curly, I would also stay away from. What do you guys think? Might the Curly and Larry be "Moe secretarials".. ?

http://www.iconicmemorabilia.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=47490

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on October 5, 2013 at 6:16pm

The Moe is real, the Larry is not, and the Curly could go either way. Its close.

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 5, 2013 at 6:58pm

Terrier,

my exact impression....

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 5, 2013 at 7:42pm

William,

I'll do a comparative analysis and post it tomorrow..

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 6, 2013 at 5:02pm

I did this brief analysis of Larry Fine signatures. At the top is the autograph in question on the above photo in the Iconic auction that was PSA certified in 2005 for Mastronet. The Moe is genuine. But, the question is did Moe sign for Larry? Or another secretarial?

Below is an image of the iconic signature and three unquestionable genuine Larry signatures :
1). An in person signature from a man who visited Larry a few times at the Motion Picture Country Home in the early 70s.
2). From the check William posted
3). From an in person PSA certified set of Stooges autographs from 1938.
Interestingly, Larry's signature stayed remarkably consistent throughout his adult life or over this 40 year period anyway.

The first thing that stands out is the "L". Note how the Iconic Larry is dramatically different in many ways, such as:
1). Lacks the right slant of his known genuine examples. Whereas the iconic example almost has the opposite, left tilt.
2). The iconic L is missing the consistent bottom loop that goes far left while the top of the L loop comes far outward and down, the opposite of how the genuine L is formed. It's just not even close to the others. Also, most of Larry's "L"s connected (or very close to) to the following "a".
3). The "r"s are completely inconsistent, as I have never seen them before, as one has a drop in the hood while the other is rounded at the top..?? Look how the genuine "r" s are pointy and right slanted and same height.
4). The "y" again the only thing consistent is the inconsistency. Does not resemble a genuine Larry. Note how all the genuine Larry "y"s finish with a sharp right angle which leaves the bottom of the Y directly beneath the last "r". The iconic comes strait down and never comes close. A rather crude forgery or secretarial..

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on October 6, 2013 at 5:10pm

Kevin, thanks for posting this. I was going to respond but I was playing in a baseball tournament all weekend. the Larrys that you posted are exactly what I am familiar with, and the L formation, and slant of the PSA item are way off. there is no doubt that Larry Fine did not sign that photo.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on October 6, 2013 at 5:13pm

The Larry almost looks more like Curly signed it, instead of Moe.

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 6, 2013 at 5:23pm

Possibly Terrier, but I'm still not comfortably convinced on the Curly...

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on October 6, 2013 at 5:57pm

neither am I, Kevin. If I were pressed to make an opinion on it, I would say no at this point.

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 6, 2013 at 6:15pm

It's a shame. I have a customer that has been "begging" me to find him this exact photo image signed for the past 3-4 years. I wish ONLY Moe had signed it. But, the questionable two sigs pretty much make it a "dead photo" for many collectors.

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Permalink Reply by kevin conway on October 6, 2013 at 6:36pm

William.

Really? I guess everyone has their own opinion but I cannot see where there are ANY similarities in the "L" between the iconic sig and the other three, at all.... from my end, it's not even close..