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Odd Harrison QE 2 menu on eBay

While we're on the subject of George, how about this oddity currently on eBay with a start price of $1,500.

If it were genuine it would be great but I have pretty major doubts. It seems to be trying a bit too hard and there some very odd flowery bits. Parts of the inscription actually look more like Ringo's work (e.g. the "To"). Another big problem is that George was probably not on the ship on the menu date (2 September 1971). According to a blog I saw (that may be wrong of course) he boarded the ship on 22 September. If the dates are right, I hardly think George would have been asked to sign a three week old menu.

Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Jim Cushman on August 14, 2017 at 4:10pm

As long as the autograph is legit...too much time is being wasted...time to move on to another subject...

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on August 14, 2017 at 4:12pm

I spoke about dates, another went the whole forgery routine. Don't tell me what to discuss, thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on August 15, 2017 at 12:04am

Karl,

Aren't we ultimately on the same side?

Eric

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on August 15, 2017 at 2:02am

Of course we are on the same side, just different outlooks on this item, there was nothing personal about it.

I'm pretty free with my opinions but like to think I have some experience to offer when it comes to The Beatles. The way I see it is that I'm not worried about making a 'wrong' call as to an item's authenticity in an egoistic sense so long as I don't think I might encourage somebody to make a mistake. I think the fact that there are many knowledgeable people on this forum reduces this possibility because you tend to get a range of useful feedback. I've got no professional reputation to protect so if I think something might be authentic or fake I'll just say so regardless of what the consensus is...and sometimes I am wrong.

That's how you learn and I've come to the conclusion that sometimes it really does just come down to opinions with some being more respected than others.

You have some insight into the cruise ship industry and wanted to share it whereas I thought the signature should have been the main focus, just differing outlooks that combined added value to the discussion.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 14, 2017 at 4:51pm

It's twice the size of George's regular signature, so a real one is going to look a bit different than normal. There are things that concern me besides the date, but it has so many free-flowing Harrison characteristics that I think he signed it.

That said, it would always have a question mark on it, most of all from Eric's keen study of the date, so I wouldn't suggest paying market value for it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on August 14, 2017 at 6:44pm

Thank you Steve.

I just want to say two things and I am done:

1) I do not believe I have expressed an opinion on this signature one way or another.

2) I must wonder though - why did George not sign the menu in front of him? Steve is correct - that cloud will always hang.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Cushman on August 15, 2017 at 8:46am

People want to "why" on a ship's menu? Because if you were lucky enough to run into any of The Beatles...you'd have them sign whatever was around...in this case...a menu. Could have been a check stub...a napkin...etc. It's not as 'sexy" as a photo or an album cover....but people don't run around with photos and album covers!!!

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Permalink Reply by Woody2Shoes on August 15, 2017 at 2:50pm

In my estimation the same hand inscribed and signed the menu. Pressure, pen angle and slant, ink, all appear synergistic.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 15, 2017 at 2:52pm

Someone pay epperson for an opinion.

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on August 15, 2017 at 3:54pm

Speaking for myself Paul, at the end of the day the day I am happy with my own opinion that it's genuine so can't see the point in splashing out $15 on an item I never considered buying myself just to satisfy my ego or otherwise.

If I was considering actually buying it I'd probably see it as a wise investment.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on August 15, 2017 at 8:26pm

I believe its authentic, ugly though. Wouldn't buy it.

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on August 25, 2017 at 1:26pm

Almost afraid to open up this can of worms again but the item discussed above has now been relisted on ebay with a slightly lower start price (now £1,400) and a bit more background. The background doesn't help a great deal re the date issue.

The ebay link is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/George-Harrison-signed-QE2-menu-1971-Orig...

The new text is "

A little extra info

I have included in the pictures (not part of the sale) a picture of John Barnett The steward on the QE2 who got the menu signed / dedicated to his sister Joan Cook.

John Barnett joined the QE2 in 1970, he was a steward in first class and trained in Gravesend.