Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Timothy Jolly on December 5, 2014 at 3:50pm

Good to see after checking it that the Elvis is genuine...

It really is a double edged sword about authenticity... Do you like the Bruce Lee page have a website which helps spot fakes. When in actuality it might help the forgers get a better template?

Permalink Reply by Chad B on November 24, 2014 at 8:04am

Just what the hobby needs, perfect looking fakes. At least with the forgers things can be spotted. With a great copy of a real signature we may be in trouble.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Timothy Jolly on December 4, 2014 at 11:19am

My correspondence with IAA....

As I had stated before, Bruce Lee autographs don’t come along very often… And certainly not in clean clear signatures at all.

So, anyway….

In my research to find ‘similar examples’, I was getting quite confident that it was indeed genuine. Due to the style of the signature seemed perfectly correct. However….

In my mind I believe that the one being offered has been directly TRACED… without the dedication included.

So my opinion on why it’s fake is based upon quite a few points.

1. The signature in your auction is 100% identical from this well known examples of real and fake Bruce Lee autographs

2. There of course can be similarity with a signature and handwriting with signatures, but to have the exact positioning and distance between the letters and symbols, and even the date (written by the books owner) is exactly the same distance. I’d say almost impossible. Something would be different. 

3. Whilst I haven’t seen the autograph in person, the paper on the well known example is on usual autograph paper from an autograph book, with sticky tape and crucially you can see other signatures on the back. Certainly this was often the case as no one would ever think to always leave the side of the paper blank on one side.

4. The majority of ‘the best to you' Bruce Lee’s’ are dedicated.

5. THIS is the point which I’m most concerned about, IF say for a moment it was a GENUINE and the date was written differently, then maybe just maybe Bruce Lee signed two autographs on the same day exactly the same way and size. HOWEVER, the date which clearly Bruce did not write is IDENTICAL, right down to the clear ink error on the date. 

So, in my mind I believe this is enough details to sway towards an element of it being not authentic.

I hasten to add that my findings are in no way an accusation on the seller. Indeed, my belief is since this ‘signature’ is based upon a genuine one. It is indeed possible that this may have passed many hands before being put up for auction with yourselves.

For my mind I’m bitterly disappointed, and I would have bid a large amount to secure this. Which facilitated my in depth research as this is worth ££££

I’ve been collecting autographs for about 30 years now and will also continue to buy items from yourself. 

It’s just I felt compelled to write all of this as if you share my concern I wouldn’t want someone to buy something which isn’t the real mcCoy.

If you could let me know what you think or would do about this it would be much appreciated.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Timothy Jolly on December 4, 2014 at 11:22am

And his reply...

Thank you for your very detailed and well researched email.

I just wanted to let you know that I am in agreement with you concerning the Bruce Lee signature and can confirm that I will be withdrawing it from the auction on Saturday.

So a huge thanks to Glen for highlighting the tracing in the first place... and it's nice to see that someone listens to you. It's clearly an uphill battle in removing fakes (eBay is almost impossible) but nice to know that you CAN be listened to.

:)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Rickardsson on December 4, 2014 at 11:27am

Good job!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by George on December 6, 2014 at 5:53am

My pleasure, pleased I could be of some kind of help to a fellow collector.

Thank, Glen

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on December 4, 2014 at 11:50am

While I agree the signatures are identical, I don't think it has been traced. In my opinion, tracing would have some wobble or a hint of hesitation as the forger carefully followed the template signature.

My sense is it is a high resolution laser print. That is, someone used the original as a template and laser printed it onto the new album page.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on November 17, 2015 at 3:14pm

Agree strongly. No human can reproduce exactly the loops curves and oddities exactly..But laser printer can. A light box tracing would not be exact and would display hesitation as Steve points out.

Eric

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Greig on August 18, 2016 at 5:30am

Another stinker sold by IAA

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page