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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 Rolf Ramseier on March 21, 2011 at 1:57am

Mike S. many thanks for sharing your stories and all the images.

This should now convince also the last skeptics !

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Permalink Reply by Michael Barrucci on March 20, 2011 at 8:58am

Mike Sibley - thanks so much for presenting all your autographed photos and memories. This confirms for me my own findings (I got 3 in-person "Char" autographs and 7 TTM "Chall's" ) -- and there is NO DOUBT IN MY MIND whatsoever now about the fakeness of the secretarial "Chall" signatures.

Whatever one's beliefs may be here, one thing is fairly safe -- if you wish to buy an "authentic" Heston signature, go for a "Char" and avoid any "Chall" autographs like the plague!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 20, 2011 at 10:41am

There are probably 10,000 more secretarials where those came from.

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Permalink Reply by E.B.G. on March 20, 2011 at 4:55pm

I'd agree with that statement.

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Permalink Reply by J.Seah on March 20, 2011 at 10:20am

Here is a Charlton Heston signature on a Ten Commandments screenplay that is being offer for sale.

Any expert opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Attachments: No photo uploads here

Charleston Heston.jpg, 3 KB

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sibley on March 20, 2011 at 10:31am

Hi, this is a 100% genuine Charlton Heston signature. Although the Heston part isn't the neatest you'll see ( and I have a few like that) this one I wouldn't hesitate to purchase - snap it up. Mike.

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Permalink Reply by J.Seah on March 20, 2011 at 11:00am

Thanks Mike for the prompt reply. I am not familiar with Charlton Heston autograph market value. What is a realistic price for a Charlton Heston signed Ten Commnadments screenplay?? Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sibley on March 20, 2011 at 12:27pm

It's difficult to put a price on such an item as it differs from the usual standard signed photo which is generally easier to value. A lot of things come into the equation. For example, a Ten Commandments screenplay - signed - will be worth more than one signed of Mr Heston's lesser known movies. Although I have bought many of his signatures in the past, I am no expert when it comes to valuing autographs and it would be wrong of me to pretend to be so. There are, I'm sure, many much more experienced guys who read these pages who can help you. I've been lucky in the past as I have bought items at quite good prices, but I suspect such items will be out there for higher prices after the word spreads. I'm interested to know how much they are asking for it? But, if it's something you can afford then why not treat yourself - enjoy. Mike

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 20, 2011 at 12:36pm

Good advice, Mike.

J, whether it's an actual working script or a reproduction would make a big difference.

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Permalink Reply by J.Seah on March 20, 2011 at 12:39pm

Thanks again Mike for your reply. It is a reproduction Ten Commandments screenplay signed by Charlton Heston many years ago.

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Permalink Reply by Grant Davis on March 20, 2011 at 4:38pm

Well, with great interest have i followed the last few weeks comments re Heston and like all who have follwed or made comments are a firm believer in the 'ar' over the 'all' - would appear to be fairly obvious and the comments have led me to Rolfs site re Lewis and Martin and now i have a better idea re those two so i would like to thanks all who have contributed to the discussion and made me ( and i am sure) a few others slightly more enlightened re heston and maybe some others

Can such other studies be conducted and if so on such a site as this or can i be pointed in the right direction for existing signature studies?

Have included a couple of heston that maybe people could comment on as i am unsure of the authenticiity

Thanks to all

Attachments: No photo uploads here

Heston doubts.doc, 59 KB

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Permalink Reply by Markus Brandes on March 21, 2011 at 12:03am

Dear Grant Davis. At www.isitreal.com more than 1000 "offical forgeries" like pre-prints, Autopens and sercretarial signatures are already published. Please take a look.

Of course we are looking for any further references and findings and will be glad to publish them with your reference which could be a good advertisment as well....

Please help the autograph communicate and share knowledge !