Creating new "vintage" autographs

We've been having an interesting discussion about these on the Autograph Hounds page and thought I would share them here as well.

These items have sold recently on eBay and they're apparently fake. They appear to be the work of a forger who has blended combinations of various online scans of autographs to make cobbled together "new" ones on older paper.

The "cordially" and "Carole Lombard" are from different sources.

"Peter" and "Lorre" also are from different sources.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 7, 2024 at 9:32am

Here are what I think is the source of the Lombard "signature" part of the new item:

and the "Peter" part of the other:

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 7, 2024 at 9:39am

This has been done with Hendrix, Beatles, Morrison etc. which is why Ballroom's memory is so valued by me and others. Thanks for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 7, 2024 at 11:27am

Those are expensive names and I've seen/followed the discussions which have been interesting to see unfold over time. This phenomenon is kind of new to me showing up in an area of interest that I'm more experienced with. I personally have not been much aware of this kind of cobbling digital images together into something new in the vintage film autograph market. A longtime dealer/collector friend in our group doesn't seem to have either.

I was only tipped off to the "Lombard" because a member was considering purchasing it and asked my opinion. We've been able to do some good analysis (and, hopefully, a helpful warning!).

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on November 7, 2024 at 9:51am

Very good to know. I saw this recently on eBay and it looked too good to be true despite it being authenticated by JSA. Perhaps this is a newly created vintage item?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186753598120?_skw=carole+landis+signed&...

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 7, 2024 at 10:27am

That Landis looks more convincing to me. The ink seems ok....just well preserved. The inscription looks like her.

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Permalink Reply by JMS1223 on November 7, 2024 at 10:51am

I thought so too originally but what is strange is the price seems too low and there was another signed album page in worse condition that sold for twice as much as this one is asking.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 7, 2024 at 12:52pm

It is a low price, for sure. The JSA cert and sticker look legit and the number matches up in their database. It looks good to me and is beautifully preserved. There appears to be some settled show through of the fountain ink on the verso. Nice surviving rarity.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on November 7, 2024 at 10:32am

A dealer member on Autograph Hounds has done a thorough in hand examination and report regarding the newly created "Peter Lorre" along with hi-def scans of the item. It makes for interesting reading. No question that it's a forgery.

Here's a "Boris Karloff" from the same eBay source (as well as a generic copy, of a copy, of a copy "LOA" that accompanied the "Karloff" eBay sale). We haven't had a chance to track down their digital template for it yet like the Lombard and Lorre pieces.