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 a pug called eva
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Ryan, I can understand why you feel that your autograph has been rather too closely analysed by Eric and me and you are right that neither of us are professional authenticators, in any shape or form. That said, we are very used to comparing autographs to certified or "believed genuine" exemplars and I don't think authenticators do anything very different (but see my question to Steve). Hopefully professional authenticators would have more experience and tools to do this comparison work but I daresay we "amateurs" have more time, and probably more enthusiasm.
I don't think Eric and I have been comparing your autograph to any particular exemplars from any particular time period. In my own case, I am much more concerned about the overall flow of the autograph, as was at least one of the other contributors apart from Eric. The fact that the seller had sold it so cheaply, that JSA had rejected it and that the seller had not responded to your communications did not inspire confidence either.
Looking back at your posts I can see that you didn't specifically mention returning the item but I cannot see what else you would have wanted from the seller had he responded, particularly as you tried to reverse your payment.
As I said before, opinions differ and that's fine. With Roger's LOA I'm sure you could make a tidy profit on it should you ever want to sell, regardless of what I, JSA or anyone else thinks.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Wolfson
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Before he authenticated it, I walked him through all the concerns that had been raised, and he told me not to send him amateur opinions—that was Roger, not me. I’m confident he has more experience than anyone at JSA who reviewed it, especially Billie.
I reached out to the seller to reverse the payment solely because it didn’t pass JSA, and he guaranteed it would pass any TPA. At a certain point, you have to reevaluate, take a closer look, and recognize this as an authentic signature on an atypical surface. Do you always sign your name exactly the same way?
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That is a class item if ever I saw one. Obviously the content is out of this world but it is also interesting to see two examples of Billie's more restrained autograph and how these still share the characteristics of her looser in-person ones.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo
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Superb. Again, the same letters oppose - "o" and "da."YMMV.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin
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Wow. Yes, that's it. Thank you. Where did you find it?
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IT must be thrilling to see it again. There is a website about her contracts and personal correspondence by recipient but I did not see it there. Wonderful letter!
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Permalink Reply by Findbooks
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Wow, just WOW! That is an incredible document. Priceless, I would have thought.
As far as this discussion goes, I am reminded of the lyric by the late, great, Johnny Nash:
"the more I find out the less I know".
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"Still confused but at a higher level" also comes to mind as regards the discussion....
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Sorry for not responding sooner... been super busy.
The letter came up for sale in 2018.
When you wrote about it, I thought it had to be the same one I saw offered for sale (auction) years ago. I did not buy it, but wish I did.
It's always the ones that slip through your fingers that you never forget about. Lol.
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WHuffman,
Thanks for pointing it out! Heritage sold it in the same frame I saw it in back in 1999.
Here's the link: https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/music-memorabilia/autographs-and-s...
Heritage sold it on April 15, 2018 for $6,875.My losing bid back in 1999 was $10,000-$12,000, so I don't feel as bad losing out.
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$6,875 including fees sounds like an absolute bargain assuming everything can be safely removed from that oppressively-dark frame. I was expecting something over $20,000 (like the letter RR sold in 2024), which would have been more in line with the 1999 result. I often think that letters in general are rather undervalued, even when they have such great content. I suppose they don't "present as well" as signed photographs or even signed album pages.
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