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Authenticity is Everything
Bob Marley signed LP census - 1
Earlier today I started a discussion about a Bob Marley signed «Uprising» LP that I bought recently – see link below:
Bob Marley signed Uprising LP - opinions welcome - Autograph Live (...
Before and after buying the album I did a lot of internet digging and discovered that there are very few Marley signed LPs around. Given the relatively low numbers and to make better use of my many hours of research, I thought it would be good to start a Bob Marley signed LP census, similar to the Beatles’ one already on this site. I have called it "census - 1" as I'm not sure if it is possible to revise the text of an original post once it is posted and new threads may be needed for updates.
In getting the ball rolling, my methodology has been pretty simple. I have been through the published sales records of as many trustworthy auction houses as I could think of. As all have had at least one signed LP all the auction houses I looked at are mentioned below.
In the census I have not included a «Babylon By Bus» LP that was signed on the inner sleeve such that the signature was not visible through the bus window cut-outs. I also excluded a Marley-signed reggae compliation LP that only included some Marley tracks.
My results are set out below. Details of the relevant auction houses and sale dates/prices are given for reference purposes and to avoid possible double-counting if other LPs are proposed for inclusion. The prices are as listed by the auction houses; presumably the round figure £ amounts do not include buyer’s premium, whereas the $ amounts do. If an LP has been sold more than once it is listed under the most recent seller's name:
Catch A Fire: 2
RR Auction: 11/2020 $18,308.
Omega: 11/2020 £4,500 (back cover and formerly Bonhams 4/2003 £2,820).
Exodus: 3
Sworder’s: 10/2020 £3,900.
Julien’s: 6/2020 $18,750.
Christie’s: 7/2008 £2125.
Kaya: 8
RR Auction: a) 3/2019 $12,484, b) 4/2018 $6,488.
Christie’s: a) 12/2013 £5,250, b) 9/2000 £764.
Heritage: a) 8/2020 $4,500, b) 10/2007 $2,629.
Iconic: a) 8/2020 $13,678, b) 4/2018 $5,797.
Survival: 2
RR Auction: 2/2016 (back cover) $5,525.
Iconic: 7/2017 $4,790 (formerly RR Auction 8/2016 $3,371).
Uprising: 4
RR Auction: a) 10/2019 $10,625, b) 7/2018 $12,384 (formerly RR Auction 2/2015 $4,083 and Christie’s 5/2006 £1,920), c) 11/2014 $8,266.
Christie’s: 6/2013 £2,000.
Babylon By Bus: 4
RR Auction: a) 5/2016 $2,972 (plain reverse of LP back cover seen through cut-out, formerly Iconic 8/2015 $5,781), b) 9/2013 $8,460 (inner sleeve but visible through bus window), c) 3/2013 $6,355.
Fraser’s: 4/2013 £2,000.
Live: 1
RR Auction: 6/2020 $8,060.
The total number of signed albums found was 24, excluding my recent acquisition and a «signed album» sold by Sotheby’s in their sale of 12 June 1999 (no further details available). It could be argued either way as to whether the window-signed «Babylon By Bus» LPs truly count as signed LP covers.
Even if some of the signed LPs are forgeries, and I have my suspicions in a few cases, it seems certain that there are more than 20 signed LPs, contrary to the «less than 20» that Iconic Auctions refer to in their listings.
It is interesting is that:
- The list contains no signed copies of half of the fourteen LPs released during Marley’s lifetime (assuming Wkipedia’s listing of LPs is correct).
- In 2020 there has been a flurry of activity for "Catch A Fire", "Exodus" and "Kaya". Indeed, both signed copies of "Catch A Fire" were sold this month (11/2020). I wonder if this activity has to do with the pubilicity surrounding Bob's 75th anniversary.
- There has obviously been an upward trend in prices but auction results have also been erratic. As well as auctioning half the LPs found, RR Auction has achieved by far the best prices overall.
Given the relatively low number of signed LPs it would not be a mammoth task to include images of them. I could do this at a later date if desired.
Do members have or know of other likely genuine signed Marley LPs that have been sold at auction or privately? Please provide as many details as possible (e.g. auction house, sale date and price).
Tags: Bob Marley, census, reggae, signed LP
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on
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Sounds great! It is probably easiest if you just upload the images (second button from the left on the top row of symbols when you add a reply) beneath the other Survival LPs shown above or simply at the bottom of the thread.
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Permalink Reply by Mistytdog on
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This is a great thread and probably should become a webpage if possible. Check out the census at “Floyd authentic” for some good ideas...
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Thank you Mistydog - for the "Survival" images and your kind words. It took me some time to put the thread together but I didn't need much encouragement after finding my "Redemption" LP. Where did you come across your "Survival"? Looks like it was signed sitting down.
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Funny you mention that.. i got it at a local record store but supposedly bob did a local meet and greet when he played in town on the survival tour. Being that it was a meet and greet he probably was sitting down when he signed it.
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Thanks Paul. I found the Recordmecca LP. If Roger Steffens has seen it I guess it must be OK. Any idea what it fetched?
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This US-pressing Uprising LP has just surfaced on eBay for a Buy-It-Now price of $11,000. Thought to have been signed at a gig in September 1980. The date of signing would tie-up with this being a US LP as Bob was playing in the US at the time. It has an Epperson authentication and I would think it is real. Do others agree?
Link to Ebay listing:
BOB MARLEY SIGNED ORIGINAL UPRISING ALBUM LP! REAL LOA, AUTHENTIC A...
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Permalink Reply by Johnlow on
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I really like the look. I'm just afraid of two things lately that I have noticed and tell me if you have. That most of the fakes now all read "All the Best" The T in "the" is a little suspect to me. Is there details of where and when it was signed if there is Let me know I will see if the dates are true. He was doing so much media in 1980 in NYC and very few public appearances. Not like the 1979 Survival tour since that album didn't sell well so he did a ton of signings at record stores. This record was getting Major airplay and he just shattered all the records in Europe for crowds. This was going to be his huge hit in America and but as we know his cancer came back and he only played 4 shows.
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Hi John,
I think you have made some very good points.
The whole "the" looks atypical (the "th" especially) and normally the letters in "all the" are not of such a uniform size. I also agree that there are a number of signed Uprising LPs that look very similar - light blue ball point and "all the best" inscriptions.
I don't think the seller will be able to narrow down the provenance further as he did not buy it from the person who supposedly got it signed at a gig in September 1980.
Even if the autograph is real I would be reluctant to part with $11,000 for it given the heavy pen skipping.
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