Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Findbooks on November 22, 2023 at 11:55am

That's not a great image for soliciting opinions - can you improve it?

What I would say is that

1. he is obviously a great target for forgers

2. he has recently completed a European book-tour and I cannot find a single example of that signed book for sale online. That is remarkable, really remarkable, and suggests to me that the vast majority of his genuine admirers/fans are not willing to part with - at this time - a real autographed item.

Kind of raises doubts (in my mind, anyway) about the authenticity of much of the merchandise currently for sale. Just be careful is all I'm sayin'!

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Permalink Reply by Justin B. on November 22, 2023 at 12:05pm

Yes, this is as good as I can get. 

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board NEW & Improved on November 23, 2023 at 10:10am

I don't like it, but...he has such a sloppy signature. I got him recently, and it wasn't rushed. He and I standing there talking and -- the autograph is a disaster! Just some lines and squiggles. So ANYBODY that purchases a QT signature is nuts. When someone signs like that, it's really not worth the risk. Luckily, I got it for myself, so I don't care, but...

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Permalink Reply by Josh Board NEW & Improved on November 23, 2023 at 10:11am

Oh, and another thing. Why does EVERYONE think it's a "reliable source"? When we get the story out of people that say that, about 90% of the time, the stories are laughably unbelievable. It's always odd to me, what others think a "reliable source" is.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on November 23, 2023 at 11:30am

I don't want to speak for Justin but maybe he meant "trusted" source as opposed to "reliable".

I have colleagues whom I "trust" in respect of signed books, e.g. That does not mean that I believe they are infallible in respect of their own acquisitions and that  I do not conduct my own subsequent analysis. It just means that I believe that they would not knowingly pass on an autograph that they know to be dodgy.

I have said it before and I will say it again - always assess the autograph before the source. This is how you acquire enough experience to make good choices - so we agree there. But if I refer to someone as a trusted source then I don't expect that opinion to be disrespected.

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Permalink Reply by Justin B. on November 23, 2023 at 1:59pm

Yes, that's what I meant. It's someone who wouldn't knowingly sell forgeries. He is an upstanding member of the RACC.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on November 23, 2023 at 3:26pm

"Upstanding Member" of this or that organisation does not actually cut that much ice with me, Justin, and I would urge just a little bit caution about being over-impressed with letters after someone's name - if you are new to this game.

Some of these organisations you can basically buy membership of. I don't know if it's true of RAAC - they appear to me eminently respectable and trustworthy - but if you send £200 to this or that organization in....Europe, shall we say, you are in - pretty much.

Do not rely on the seller exclusively - ever - unless you are looking at a brand new product at source (and sadly, we can no longer be too confident about these anymore - which is why you must stay tuned in on this station, lol).' Have a look at the Bob Dylan thread if this does not strike a chord.

Obviously if you are an old hand who has simply just joined the site recently I am preaching to the converted, so ignore.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 23, 2023 at 11:09am

Obviously, no source has been revealed. "Street signatures" are suspect to me. 

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