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Charlton Heston Secretarial Signature Study

Hi:

At Steve Cyrkin's invitation, I'd like to call your attention to a signature study I've posted on my blog, Charlton Heston signature study by Steve Zarelli.

I believe I have identified the "tell" in Charlton Heston secretarial signatures, and if I am correct, the news is not good for most collectors. It appears that most Heston signed photos are secretarially signed.

Here is a synopsis:

The Theory
Photographs and other memorabilia sent to Mr. Heston's office were signed by a secretary. However, Mr. Heston did authentically sign books through-the-mail.

Real vs. Secretary
In authentic signatures, the R in "Charlton" is distinctly a lowercase "r" and less than half the height of the L. The first four letters are clearly "Char."

In secretarial signatures, the R looks much more like a lowercase "l" and is about the same height as the L. So, the first four letters appear to be "Chall."

I have attached two images to give you a small sampling.

For more details and images, please visit my blog at the link below.

I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this. I fully anticipate some resistance to the theory, because denial is always the first step. In fact, I would love to be proved wrong, because that would mean I wasn't sitting on a bunch of secretary signed photos!

By way of introduction, I have been collecting since the early 90s and I am the UACC Ethics Director.

I look forward to the discussion.

The Collecting Obsession

Regards,

Steve Zarelli

Tags: Charlton, Forgery, Heston, Secretary, authenticating, autograph, secretarial

2 members like this

Attachments: No photo uploads here

Figure 1.jpg, 60 KB
Secretary 1.jpg, 37 KB

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Shinn on March 13, 2011 at 12:10pm

ebay store '" THE AUTOGRAPH HOUSE OF TENNESSEE"" rzimm777 had this to say to me

"You do know that this has been certified authentic by PSA/DNA right?"

"Well, they are the #1 authenticator in the world.

I'm not interested in reading any web sites or listening to anybody's opinion. I

If it's not his signature, then you need to convience them."

rzimm777

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Permalink Reply by Bob Shinn on March 13, 2011 at 12:15pm

However another ebay autograph store dealer

PJsCollectiblesPlus was appreciative of the info and promptly removed

the listing from ebay store.

A credit to ebay and the Autograph Community for taking the time to due their own investigation and due diligence in this matter..

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on March 13, 2011 at 12:38pm

Sadly it's no surprise some sellers will stick their head in the sand and hide behind a third party authenticator -- no matter what the evidence.

The answer above (THE AUTOGRAPH HOUSE OF TENNESSEE"" rzimm777) is patently absurd. Does he really think that even if PSA/DNA was convinced they'd be issuing a recall? At this juncture it's up to the dealer to do the right thing.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 13, 2011 at 1:26pm

I agree--a responsible dealer would hold it back until they knew what was up.

I do think that if PSA/DNA agrees that they're secretarial (I'd be very surprised if they didn't) they should do something because of the sheer volume of these. JSA and other authenticators, too.

I think that re-examining submitted images of certified Hestons for free, and then issuing, say, a free authentication credit for ones the owners return the sticker and LOAs/COAs of would be fair. They definitely should be cleaned out of the market as much as possible.

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 13, 2011 at 2:33pm

a recall, from PSA/DNA - ha! We will update our exemplars... and isn't that what JSA said they would do. That's okay as it stems the future but addressing what has been done, not close.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on March 13, 2011 at 1:48pm

Great! Leave it to a fellow Tennesseean to cause problems :( I'd like to note I was born in NC LOL!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 13, 2011 at 2:03pm

Really? Economan was born in NC. He spent millions with Jerry Gladstone for collectible investments for his investment fund. He's not eligible for parole until 2029.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/29039268/Economan_Superthief_Slideshow?slide=1

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on March 13, 2011 at 3:05pm

Ahhh, but he ended up in SC LOL Sadly too close to where I summer in Hilton Head :(

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 13, 2011 at 2:31pm

Brandon, that's why I suggest someone make Gonzales know since he is back at the helm on Fraud and Safety. Not that it will help but at least worth saying "he was notified" as in did you see my post on Hendrix. Seems that one ended up sold.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on March 13, 2011 at 3:03pm

I know that he knows about this study already. The Hendrix was under review by some of the other experts. Just because it sold doesn't mean case closed. They may in fact be in contact with the seller and/or buyer.

Like Steve said, ebay will take time to clear out as the market moves with this new info. It's rather major when you think of the quantity of items. I'm sure they will appreciate PSA and JSA asking them to remove the secretarials though once things really get in motion.

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Permalink Reply by john reznikoff on March 13, 2011 at 3:39pm

I was asked by a few to opine on this study. I think it is fabulous, so much so that I would love to see more of the same for different personalities ... Man cannot live on Heston alone!

As far as what JSA or PSA will do, I do not know. I am sure they will rectify it going forward but have no clue as to the past. While I sign for both, I have no power to dictate any policy nor would I ever impose that on either.

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 13, 2011 at 3:45pm

Rez, good show. BTW, have you ever opined on a Heston just so it is clear befor the heel nipping begins?

If so, what exemplars were you using or for that matter what exemplars are being used and why aren't they being reviewed ... if Rolf and The Zip can find these then what seems to be missing from R&D on these places (then again it presumes there are R&Ds)

Right now it appears the Shinn is doing yeomen's work, as best he can, by alerting EBAy sellers.