Authenticity is Everything
Question Re: Linda McCartney book - to cut or not to cut?
Hello, all! Since I greatly value the opinions of those in this forum, I was curious about everyone's opinion on this.
I just bought a signed Linda McCartney signed cookbook. I am sending along a picture of the signed book page here. I have a binder of pages with a collection of Beatles-related autographs and my first instinct is to cut this page out of the book to add to my binder. It could cut nicely to just about 8 x 10 size, which would include all the text on this page. The dustcover of the book is also not in mint condition.
My questions is, what do folks prefer in a case like this? Keeping the book in tact? Or cutting the autograph out to put in with the rest of a collection of photos and printed materials?
Thanks for your opinions!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Thomas Green
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good point. thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin
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Thomas is asking for opinions on removing the entire page from the book rather than just the autograph. I think that Eric and JK didn't realize that.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo
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Doesn't change my opinion. It is still subtractive and less is simply less in my book.
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That is correct. Thank you, Steve!
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Permalink Reply by JK
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Yes, I understood that, but he'd be left with what is clearly a book page without the book.
It seems to me that it would be the worst of both worlds. Book collectors would have no interest and cut/autograph collectors would probably see it as impaired because the signature and inscription can't be neatly cut away from the printed text.
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Permalink Reply by Jason H
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In my case this isn't true. Almost any signature can be a cut if you are creative.
This isn't mine but here is an example of what I sometimes do with cuts.
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I really don't get these. There was post about these ideas. Not for me. YMMV:
"...You’ve probably found the most grotesque example of custom cards out there with the Carter and Bush,,," - Doug
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As you pointed out in the past, this can be accomplished without cutting anything. I am thinking of the Sinbad photo.
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You make a good point but that applies to flats.
The Sinbad photo was a unique case where I cut an unautographed portion of a photo that was autographed in a different area to add a cut signature from a Schwarzenegger book. I basically destroyed an autographed Sinbad photo for no reason when I could have used a regular photo in place to "mat" both items. This would have left the Sinbad photo intact but the Schwarzenegger book still had the "tip in" page cut out.
The problem here is there is no way to display an autograph located inside a book. Unless you build a shadow box large enough and deep enough to mat an open book.... Thinking about this more, I may contemplate attempting this with an item I've been on the fence on just to see how it turns out. I'd still be left with bulk which I'd be creating more of with a giant frame, but for one or 2 special items, it may be worth attempting.
I've tried to make high quality copies of autographs to frame or roughly mat to place in a binder. Personally, to me they are just not satisfying. It's like flipping through a strangers vacation photos instead of actually being there. I get no joy from them. In reality, making a copy for display purposes would be the best way as long as the collector doesn't feel the same as I do about it.
Edit: here's the link to my Sinbad post
https://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/my-newest-creation-...
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I have many books about Hiroshima by author, potter and peace activist Kiyoshi Kikkawa (1913-1987) that are signed in Japanese (sumi) and in English (sometimes fountain) and also stamped in vermillion, with his chop mark, C. 1951-55. If anyone asks, I just say "those are signed." If someone wants to see his signature they can look at a signed postcard that is displayed just for that purpose. I also have an original photograph of him signing the book - his autobiography.
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If there is a right answer to this question then I would suggest it is along the lines of ”do what pleases you best”.
Cutting the page from the book will certainly devalue ITS commercial value but if you are not a dealer why worry?
As far as I remember, Moses did not descend the mountain with any specific commands about signature cuts. It’s just a matter of personal taste, really.
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Permalink Reply by Bjorkwind
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apart from " Thou shall not make for yourself a Billy Idol graven image".....
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