Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TheThinWhiteDuke on February 20, 2019 at 11:07am

i dont know what to think.. wait for Eric, he's the man!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 20, 2019 at 11:23am

It is an atypical but not unknown style from 1999. It is very slick, the numerals seem a bit odd. Another set of eyes like MarkG would be good right now. For me, on this "Mona Lisa" of LP covers, I would pass for a more typical signature. YMMV.

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Permalink Reply by bryant spears on February 20, 2019 at 11:30am

Thank you both for your opinions! Hopefully some others will chime in.

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Permalink Reply by SaraPolanska on February 20, 2019 at 12:28pm

I do not like it for some reason. The "B" looks untypicall and little weird as well as continuation from "o". Hope MarkG would tell you more.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 20, 2019 at 1:34pm

Hi Sara,

Yes, it does appear a bit odd there. I have seen just two others with this construction/form and thses features - both at Andy's site and both 1999 - posted below with the OP. This is not the sort of Bowie I would buy, sell or recommend. There is something about this one that makes me feel a bit nervous - perhaps the hard starting angle, or the numerals/their length/their relationship to the "B" vertical and/or placement, maybe the overall slickness, or the "o" going so low - something. Perhaps it was done by a right handed person. Perhaps it is too smooth to me - it does not look scratchy enough. Perhaps I should stick with pre 1980! Mark?

Click for full images:

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Permalink Reply by SaraPolanska on February 20, 2019 at 1:46pm

Hi Eric!

They look pretty similiar but in the same way so different from others 1999 samples. Makes me little nervous too, but you, Mark and Andy knows more. Just curious what Mark will say.

Thanks for your samples. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 20, 2019 at 2:10pm

You are welcome. Yes, this is Mark's territory, these later years. I tend to be over-cautious. 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 20, 2019 at 2:32pm

Looking more I can see this as good but await Mark's opinion.

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Permalink Reply by MarkG on February 21, 2019 at 6:36am

Good discussion.

This is a really tough one.

Bowie signed a boat load of items in 1999 due to heavy promotion of Hours, small venue tours, artwork and many personal appearances.

Next to 1983, it was probably his most prolific signing year which is why so many different styles come up.

There is no question it is identical to the first example from Andy's site in almost every aspect.

But like Eric, I am concerned at a couple of aspects, namely (1) the sharp start of the B, (2) the sharp formation and non looping of the bottom of the B, (3) the o being formed fully below the bottom of the B instead of merging with it as it so often does and (4) the formation and shape of the 99 numbers - particularly the first one.

I will drop a link to Andy and ask him why he was confident on marking the first one up (in Eric's pic) as genuine and report back.

Sorry not to be more conclusive but the bottom of that be and the o concerns me when so many other examples from that year had a more open looped formation this example harks back to how he signed in 1989.

Attachments: No photo uploads here

• PU.JPG, 36 KB

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Permalink Reply by SaraPolanska on February 21, 2019 at 7:30am

In my eyes all 3 samples from one hand. On the first number 9 from Pin Ups I would say its typical angle for right-handed... Really do not know, agree with Eric - I would not buy it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 21, 2019 at 8:05am

Hi Mark,

We see the exact same things - that tells me something!

Best wishes and thanks for the images/words,

Eric 

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 21, 2019 at 8:50am

Hi Bryant,

I am curious what you think of the LP signature?

Best,

Eric

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