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Michael Jackson Signing Styles in Julien's Tompkins and Bush Sale

On December 2, Julien's Auctions is selling The Collection of Tompkins and Bush. The collection contains 465 lots of Michael Jackson memorabilia, 287 of them autographed.

Michael Bush and the late Dennis Tompkins were Michael Jackson's costume designers for 25 years, during Jackson's most successful period. They were the consignors of the signed Thriller jacket that Julien's sold for $1,800,000 in June 2011.

Almost all of the autographs in the Tompkins and Bush sale are a variation I'm not familiar with. I've only been looking at Jackson's autograph for a few years, though, and we have members here who have collected him for decades, so I'd appreciate your input and exemplars.

If you know Michael Jackson's autograph well, please look at a few images below from the auction and let me know what you think. Even better, browse the auction and upload any similar examples you have: http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/77/

Julien's is the world's premier auction house for Michael Jackson memorabilia, so they would know his autograph better than most of us. I'm just surprised I haven't seen this style before.

Thanks for your help.

Tags: 2012, Julien's, auction, michael jackson, tompkins and bush

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Charlotte Stanley on December 4, 2012 at 9:32am

I agree and they should certainly be able to answer this.

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Permalink Reply by MJ-fan-1965 on December 4, 2012 at 9:59am

Since Bravado is licensed to sell MJ items thru Triumph/Estate/Branca, do you really think they would put anything in writing without asking Branca? I mean - their business deal with Triumph is an ongoing multi-$ dollar deal. I do believe someone here also contacted them and they said it was postmortem, however not in writing.

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Permalink Reply by Charlotte Stanley on December 4, 2012 at 10:03am

They should be able to answer without knowing why they are being asked. Unless they and the estate are involved in the whole scam, hardly likely in my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Helen on December 4, 2012 at 9:00am

The people who run the estate are actually very controversial among the fans and they are well known to be inconsistent in what they call. In this case they claim it's basically none of their business because (they say) the stuff was Bush's to do with as he pleased.

I've kept out of the ins and outs of this, it's too messy, but I'm sure some of the people in this forum can tell you a very detailed tale about their decisions over the years. All I'm going to say is, there seems to be an understanding between him and the estate (Branca wrote the foreword to Bush's book), and as long as the pressure about the authenticity of the autographs doesn't get very loud and public I doubt there will be any action.

As you say, they have to come to a point where they have concerns about the "brand" and so far they don't seem to have spotted the danger. Don't forget that up to this point Bush was considered to be one of the "good guys", a long time loyal friend.

Whatever their reasons, the inaction of the estate is NO indication that the signatures are real, if that's what you mean.

Oh, and you bet the fans were upset when those medical records went on sale.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on December 4, 2012 at 9:47am

Fantastic info. I appreciate the deeper concepts and an open mind approach. I did not take the "silence" on the estate's part as being a confirmation. Still, until they speak, it's all guesswork.

I am glad that the fans were upset over the release of the medical records. Each state has its own laws regarding such information. It's really a mess. it's an ethical issue for me that such material should not be in public hands unless the patient directed it to be. I 1000% defend Michael when it comes to this.

In my opinion, Medical records shouldn't be handled in the same manner as arrest reports or other public records. No matter if the person is living or deceased.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on December 4, 2012 at 8:52am

Songwriter, record producer Rodney Jerkins just tweeted this letter from MJ with MJ's genuine signature affixed to it. Think Jerkins may be making a statement here?

https://twitter.com/RodneyJerkins

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Permalink Reply by roger epperson on December 4, 2012 at 9:18am

And that my friends is a genuine Michael Jackson signature!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 4, 2012 at 9:18am

Now that's a classic MJ autograph.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on December 4, 2012 at 10:28am

Yes to both Steve and Roger. :)

It dawns on me, wonder if Bush can show ONE letter from MJ in which Michael relays a "gifting" of ANY item in that auction to MLB.

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Permalink Reply by BreakOfDawn on December 4, 2012 at 11:42am

Okay I just spoke to Felix at Bravado.
I was probably not the best person to do that because I'm easily steam rolled on the phone because I get nervous...but didn't sound like anyone else was focusing on this.

He was very aware of it and has said he has gotten about 50 emails from 50 different people and they are looking into it, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ESTATE.
When I mentioned about the concern of the fan community regarding the estates involvement and John Btanca wrote foreword to Bush's book, etc... he said the estate is aware of what is going on and will fully support truth whatever that may be.
He seemed slightly rushed and annoyed at having to discuss this with some random person that called him.

He would not commit to a date of when the standee was made but did agree it was 2009.

Omg random, I'm at lunch in Penn Station in a little deli and Michael's song The Girl Is Mine JUST came on...

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Permalink Reply by Michelle on December 4, 2012 at 11:53am

Sandy,

Thank you for calling him and following up. Did you get anything in writing as well? I believe as head of licensing at Bravado and his sworn testimony for the Estate in the Heal the World proceedings regarding merchandising and Bravado meeting with Michael, he is in a good place to say YES OR NO as to whether or not there was a possibility that Michael Jackson could have had access to this exact retail model as presented in the auction -- with licensing info fully displayed prior to June 25, 2009 -- to keep in his possession thus gift to Bush and autograph.