We're an eBay affiliate and may be compensated on purchases made through clicks.

Is my George Best Autograph genuine?

Recently received a signed George Best autobiography which I bought from Ebay. Would be grateful to know what others think of the authenticity of it. It has a 'Signed Copy' sticker on the cover. Would a book with a dedicated signing have a 'signed copy' sticker?

Many thanks

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Findbooks on September 7, 2023 at 5:00am

That looks real - that is to say it compares well with the Signed Limited Edition example which - frankly - is the only one I would refer to for comparison purposes. One of the most forged signatures.

Good question about the sticker though. I can't think how to explain it in the context of a book-signing event, e.g. Surely the shop in question would not put these stickers on prior to the books being signed at an event. I have never seen that, You normally have to buy the book before you take your place in the queue to get it signed so why would it be pre-stickered in this way? Makes no sense.

Books with these stickers you would expect to find on the shelf or table of a shop, or issued by the publisher, already signed.

Did you ask the seller for information about date/place of signing? Is their name Paul or did they find the book like this in a charity shop or similar? It definitely seems a bit off and needs explanation.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stewart Murphy on September 7, 2023 at 11:28am

Thanks for your reply. The seller bought it himself from eBay, no idea who Paul is.

The sticker worries me a bit. As you say, a book seller would only put a 'signed copy' sticker on the cover after a signing session, but this has a dedication. I've bought many books from the shelves of stores with these stickers on but never seen one from a superstar like Best and they're never with a dedication.

I did buy it thinking there was a decent chance it wasn't genuine and can return it.

Thanks again.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 7, 2023 at 12:00pm

The dedication appears, to me anyway, a bit darker and more even - maybe dedicated later? Perhaps the book was purchased signed with the sticker and dedicated after the fact? That would explain things. Even the ink application appears a bit different on the vertical of the last letter, "l". The signature seems to be from a "dryer" marker.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 7, 2023 at 12:29pm

This image shows 2 different markers IMO. One for the dedication (black) and one for the signature ("light black"). I don't think it is speed alone:

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stewart Murphy on September 7, 2023 at 1:55pm

Thanks for your help Eric. Hopefully the signature is genuine, if not the dedication.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 7, 2023 at 2:02pm

Hello Stewart,

While I claim no knowledge of this signature, I do see enough to think both are by the same hand from looking at a few different examples. Others will know better. I'll wager you did OK!