Marlene Dietrich

Anybody know her signature well enough to offer some insight into this one? Any help appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on June 2, 2021 at 12:03am

The pen used indicates a later signature. Do you have exemplars from the later portion of her life?

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Permalink Reply by alitoseeker on June 2, 2021 at 8:27am

Thanks for the input Keith. I can’t find any exemplars to compare it to, but I believe you are correct, that this signature was done in the late 80s-early 90s, possibly ttm.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on June 2, 2021 at 9:03am

You could send a scan to ACOA for review by their team. It's $10 well spent IMO.

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Permalink Reply by alitoseeker on June 2, 2021 at 9:50am

That sounds reasonable, and I think that's the route I will take. Thanks so for the advice. Very much appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on June 2, 2021 at 9:55am

Most welcome :)

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on June 2, 2021 at 2:58pm

Just chiming in from some experience with Dietrich (having actually made some mistakes when looking for her).

This looks like it was done with either a felt tip pen or even a paint pen? Can you tell which? Hard to tell from the scan. She did use that both instruments later in life. Dietrich was the "ultimate star" and she relished that reality until the very end. She was tremendous with her fans and, not only obliging, but very much willing to sign.

Having said that, there are tons and tons of "signed" Dietrich photos out there...many of them outright forgeries. I think a good parallel to her being forged is James Stewart. Both of them have been forged heavily over the years with what appears to be later in life signatures. Another one that comes to mind being forged like this is Paul Newman. I think perhaps it may be because they lived long lives and a market was created as each of them deceased and collectors were looking for autographs of them.