Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Josh Board on June 18, 2011 at 10:46pm

Juha -- those look VERY GOOD.

 

Another example of why everybody need to keep a few things in mind --

 

REAL AUTOGRAPHS from the 60s/70s...even going back to the 50s -- a few things:

 

They used ballpoint pens usually, not sharpies. They were signed on scraps of paper. They often ended up cut up, or taped to a wall.

 

They weren't on albums, that ANYBODY can go buy in used record stores for a few dollars -- and perfect a forged signature on.

 

Doesn't mean signed albums aren't out there, but you aren't likely to find one. Or find one at a price you can afford.

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Permalink Reply by James R. Altmann on June 19, 2011 at 2:20am

Juha: The first two are genuine. The cut signature by four with the black matting is not authentic.

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Permalink Reply by roger epperson on June 19, 2011 at 5:48am

Rick Barrett has had many authentic signed Zep items over the years.  It looks like these three albums of Stephen's slipped by him.  I know of a couple of authentic signed albums that he has sold for sure.  I am unaware of there being many albums showing up over and over from him.  He certainly meant well as he is a great guy, I'm sure he will refund you on these.

 

The first album is without question not authentic.  The Bonham postcard and signed card by three are authentic, the one below that is a bit suspect.  I'm at home and do not have my files in front of me but the Bonham and Page "best wishes" looks like they are in the same hand.  If in fact it is a forgery it is one of the best I have seen.  I will chime back in tomorrow when I can look at my exemplars and update my statement.  

 

Zep are one of the most forged autographs there are.  Not many know what their early signatures looked like and evolved like.  I have studied these very closely over the years and even wrote a lengthy study for "Autograph Magazine" about their signatures and writing.  What normally happens is the forgers use current signatures (as that's all they really know) of Plant, Jones and Page and throw in a Bonham that is a forgery of a forgery.  They almost always use "Best wishes" with the Bonham signature as that's the way forgers have done it for years and that is all the new forgers have seen.  That was quite uncommon for him to do also.  He did use salutations now and then but not normally and usually if it was for someone he knew or he donated to a charity.  Bonham was known for donating signed items to his sons motorcycle club for fund raising in the late 70's.

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Permalink Reply by Juha Kakkuri on June 19, 2011 at 6:14am

 

 

Here is a link to a Led Zeppelin/Jimmy Page autograph webpage:

http://www.jimmypage.co.uk/autographs.htm

One of the Page autographs is signed "Best Wishes".

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board on June 19, 2011 at 12:22pm

Stephen: That was nice of Roger to chime in.

 

Now, get your money back from Rick. If he's as nice a guy as everybody says -- that shouldn't be a problem.

 

Roger -- any reason you can see as to WHY Rick wouldn't want to have told me how he acquired a Zep album I was interested in buying?

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board on June 20, 2011 at 1:14am

Stephen: I have to know...with Roger chiming in -- why in the world would you still want to keep albums you spent thousands for, that are going to be worthless when you try to sell them, or when you pass away and your family as them? Why not get the money back now -- and perhaps use that to buy a real Zep when it comes up in auction or something.

 

I'm curious to hear your logic on that.

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Permalink Reply by roger epperson on June 20, 2011 at 3:09am

Josh,

Probably because if you knew this person he have thought you may go around him to get it.  I can't speak for him but that would be my guess.  I don't think it was for any deceitful reason.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board on June 21, 2011 at 9:49pm

Roger,

 

At the time (I was 16), I thought the exact same thing.

 

But I sent him a follow up question (or phone call, can't remember now...it was waaaay before computers), and I simply said "Every month, you have a new signed Zep album. Bonham died 5 years ago, so...I'm just wondering how this happens."

 

It wouldn't have been hard for him to say "I have 25 signed albums, I got from a source. I can't reveal the source, because he's in the music industry, and it would hurt him to have his name come out -- since he still works with these bands."

 

Now that we see THREE of the albums he sold to Stephen are bogus -- I wonder -- how many more are out there like that? I also wonder -- how in the world Stephen would even go about getting his money back from something so long ago. I mean, what if Rick doesn't just have $5,000 to give him for those. It's all so weird...

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Permalink Reply by roger epperson on June 22, 2011 at 2:50pm

I looked at the last page signed by the 4 and it too in my expert opinion is not authentic.  I have not seen this persons work in some time but have a few exemplars on file of his (or her) work.

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Permalink Reply by Greig on June 23, 2011 at 12:09am

Roger, Could you post scans of the other work done by these people?

 

I was sent this scan about 3 weeks ago and at first I had my doubts but after studying these with other early examples they all look correct to me. All signatures are from the same period as the styles of the signatures etc. The Best Wishes from Page is correct to others I have seen.

 

Only two points I couldn't clamp down was the Wishes from Bonham and the b in Robert appears to be a capital.

 

Thanks

 

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board on June 23, 2011 at 12:01am

Roger: Uh...that last set you said isn't authentic. Guess what?

 

Also sold by Rick Barrett. So now...we have 3 albums, and one page, ALL PURCHASED FROM RB. Boy...I'm sure glad he didn't want to tell me his "source" back in the 80s, and I refrained from buying from him.

 

You guys can say he's the nicest person on the planet -- but I better hear about some refunds being offered up REAL QUICK. And Stephen...still wonder why you haven't chimed in. I'm curious as to what you'll do. There's a reason I'm curious.

 

I've noticed among collectors (myself included), we almost convince ourself they are real. We figure they "might be" or we "spent to much to not at least enjoy it on some level."

 

And having something like that is a cancer in your collection. You can die in a car accident, and if your family tries to sell it -- a few bogus pieces, will make big auction houses stay away. Get your money back now -- and make a nice, sweet autograph purchase with that dough

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Permalink Reply by roger epperson on June 23, 2011 at 8:43am

Greig,

Jimmy Page stopped signing like that in the late 60's and this is an attempt at mid 70's autographs.  Note the complete Bonham which he did not do in the late 60's.  You are correct on the Plant making what appears to be a capitol "b" but look at the best wishes on both of these, they are done by the same person.  I will email some examples to look at.  When you see them you will understand.  This person would cut around signatures and glue them down to make them look more authentic. 

 

Josh, this is a really great forgery.  I know Greig knows his stuff as we email each other quite often and it fooled him.  I believe Rick will give him a refund if that is what his policy is.

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