Authenticity is Everything
Billie Holiday Autograph
I purchased this 78 vinyl record purportedly signed by Billie Holiday from an RACC trusted seller. I recently submitted the item to JSA for authentication, and unfortunately it did not pass.
I originally submitted it in person at a show here in CA a few weeks ago, and I was disappointed by how carelessly the item was handled during intake. When I received it back, there were fingerprints all over it. I contacted JSA immediately to report the condition, and they did expedite the review process.
Yesterday I received their letter confirming that the autograph did not pass authentication. I’m extremely disappointed and unsure what my next step should be, or if anyone here might be able to offer advice.
Prior to purchasing the item, I did my research and examined the signature characteristics—such as the looping of “Billie” and the shape of the “H” in “Holiday.” However, upon further inspection, the signature appears to have been written in ballpoint pen. Additionally, the Blue Ace label is known to be a bootleg label, and this particular pressing seems to have been released slightly before the time of her passing.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Wolfson
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I did see it
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo
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"IF"...We have all seen things passed by this or that that should not have been. All have made mistakes. Will this item have a cloud over it? Considering the way you were treated by RACC and their choices in response it makes me wonder when time comes to sell what can be said of provenance. I'd wan't another two opinions. If JSA failed it and Roger who is full time JSA passed it to me those cancel each other out.
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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva
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I would agree with you Eric. In addition, Roger should explain why he does not agree with the detailed rejection rationale provided by his colleagues at JSA. Hopefully he was not directly involved in JSA's authentication process for this particular autograph but as the full-time JSA music authenticator you would think he would have been in some way or other.
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+1
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Roger was very to the point and extremely brief in our conversation. I was hoping for more detailed feedback, but he believes it’s authentic, and I don’t feel in a position to question his expertise. Early on, I mentioned that JSA did not pass the autograph, and he simply responded that they don’t know. I also told him that some people were questioning the authenticity due to exaggerated loops and what appear to be pen pauses on a couple of letters, and he replied, “Please don’t send me amateur opinions.”
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Roger seems to have a very low opinion of the company he works for as their full-time music authenticator. Even if his site is out-of-date and he no longer works for them he must have done at some time. As I recall, JSA mentioned the exaggerated loops, not just some "amateurs" on this site.
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But his view was that it’s authentic, what would he elaborate on?
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Was the Strange Fruit record sleeve she signed authenticated?
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"Early on, I mentioned that JSA did not pass the autograph, and he simply responded that they don’t know. But he is "the full time music autograph authenticator for JSA since November 2006-Present"?
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The Strange Fruit was authenticated by Jeff Gold/RecordMecca. It was a few years ago but there was a handwritten letter passed /certed by both RecordMecca and Roger that was supposedly penned by Freddie Mercury. It had School's, dates and other detailed available information incorrect. It was not authentic according the the "amateurs" here after a simple reading. Both authenticators reversed opinions. Refunds were issued etc. I am sure.
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Here is a link to the Mercury letter thread. The thread was started by our own Innuendo.
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If you are in a reading mood this might be of interest.
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