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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 Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 4, 2013 at 11:52pm

No, but MJ was an artist and it looks great there, so if he signed it I could see him doing that.

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Permalink Reply by Helen on January 5, 2013 at 12:04am

I don't like the way the "rays" are placed, they don't form a nice star pattern. I don't recall an authentic one with a sloppy star - but always prepared to be educated.

Even if real it's highly misleading to have MJ sign in the same ink and call it "MJ hand drawn". It's like with the AMA for Billie Jean - the kind of "if you don't read the small print you get what you deserve" attitude of people selling fake MJ stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Charlotte Stanley on January 5, 2013 at 2:25am

I have never seen that. It seems it says it is drawn by Michael- it says Hand drawn by Michael Jackson on the text. I agree it may be a fake attempt. Michael did work with artist Lee Tomkins I believe his name is and if it genuinely comes from him then it may be genuine.

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Permalink Reply by Prashant Kaushik on January 5, 2013 at 5:39am

Chad,

If you don't plan on buying it, could you message me? I am interested in that sketch.

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 5, 2013 at 7:54pm

The more I look at this, the more familiar it is to me.. I've seen this somewhere before, where have I seen this? I suppose it could be Michael's style of sketch work from the mid-80's. Still not sure on that. The flow and slant of the signature seems alright for a later style MJ signature - if signed at a later date.

Prashant, you like this one? :)

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 4, 2013 at 10:58pm

Juliens Music Icons auction - June 25, 2011 -

More autopens sold by Julien.

Lot 506 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED LITHOGRAPH. Sold for $2,240.

"A limited edition metallic print of Michael Jackson by photographer Matthew Rolston with impression stamp in the margin reading "NPA Lithographs." The image is dedicated and signed in gold marker "Adam Michael Jackson." 13 1/4 by 13 1/4 inches"

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/26/lot/7488/

Lot 516 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. Sold for $2,240.

"A framed black and white glossy publicity photograph of Michael Jackson from his 1988 film Moonwalker signed in red pen "Michael Jackson." 7 by 9 inches, sight"

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/26/lot/7498/

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 4, 2013 at 11:13pm

I think the gold ones are letterpress signatures, not Autopens, but they're made from the same template.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 5, 2013 at 12:22am

How are the individual name inscriptions such as: Adam, Lisa, etc. being added? Since they are in a different style writing, they look to be written in by hand.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 5, 2013 at 2:43am

Yes, they're personalized by hand.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 4, 2013 at 11:06pm

Please keep this discussion Julien's Auctions Michael Jacksons unless you have exemplars we need for this discussion. You can place others elsewhere. Otherwise it will become a mess. I've removed everything else, sorry.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 5, 2013 at 12:10am

Additional secretarial signed with loop after the J.

Juliens Music Icons auction - June 25, 2011 -

Lot 507 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. Sold for $3,520.

"A vintage black and white publicity photograph of Jackson as he performed during the 1987 - 1989 Bad World Tour, signed in black marker "Love Michael Jackson." 8 by 9 3/4 inches"

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/26/lot/7489/

Lot 543 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. Sold for $1,664.

"A color publicity photograph of Michael Jackson used as the cover image for the 1992 - 1993 Dangerous World Tour program, inscribed in black marker to industry promoter and producer Ben Morgan "To Ben Love Michael Jackson." 10 by 8 inches"

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/26/lot/7525/

Juliens Music Icons auction - Music Icons June 24, 2010 -

Lot 414 - MICHAEL JACKSON DRAWING. Sold for $5,625. (A secretarial sketch???)

"Michael Jackson drawing in red pencil signed in upper left corner, showing a face in profile. Michael began drawing as a young child, without training, and continued drawing throughout his life. 8 5/8 by 6 1/2 inches"

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/3/lot/414/

Juliens Music Icons auction - Legends auction October 8, 2010 -

Lot 418 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED FEDORA. Sold for $50,000.

"A cream felt fedora with black grosgrain ribbon hat band. The interior hat band has "Michael Jackson" printed in gold, and the underside of the brim is signed "All my Love Michael Jackson 1998."

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/8/lot/2018/

Juliens Music Icons auction - Icons and Idols December 3, 2010 -

Lot 617 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH. Sold for $6,562.50.

"Featuring an image of Michael Jackson wearing the Pharoah costume from the 1992 "Remember the Time" video. The photograph is inscribed "Thanx F & H Plating/Love Michael Jackson" and is accompanied by two metal gold tone discs which are extra replacement pieces for the costume."

http://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/11/lot/2392/

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Christine on January 5, 2013 at 8:21pm

Oops! You can see I was getting tired last night. In the above last two examples - the fedora (Lot 418) and the Remember The Time photo (Lot 617), I listed two different auction dates. Sorry ;)

Lot 418 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED FEDORA is from the October 8, 2010 - Legends auction.

Lot 617 - MICHAEL JACKSON SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH is from the December 3, 2010 - Icons and Idols auction.