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Beware: Jimi Hendrix Experience Signed 1968 Liz Shaw Datebook

In June of 2011, a major auction house sold a 1968/69 datebook containing multiple signatures, including several from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Individual signatures and signature sets from this book were subsequently offered through various autograph dealers and auction houses. The majority of the Jimi Hendrix Experience signatures and inscriptions appear rushed and loose, but bear an overall resemblance to authentic exemplars. The cover of the book is adorned with detailed artwork credited to a Liz Shaw, giving the appearance that it was once owned by a devoted fan. However, setting these things aside and taking a closer look at the signatures together with another person has revealed a number of issues. First and foremost, authentic signatures and inscriptions closely resembling those in the book appear to have been used as templates. In addition, the signatures and inscriptions contained in the datebook show a number of inconsistencies including incorrect letter formations, stops and starts, letter separation issues, uncrossed “T”s, undotted “I”s, a lack of detail in areas, sharp angles, and one instance of a signature that appears to contain an attempt at correcting a mistake.

In 2013, another major auction house previewed a similarly signed University of Exeter diary dated 1966/67, which was withdrawn prior to the time of the auction. That book contained signatures and signature sets that clearly duplicate some of those contained in the 1968/69 datebook. Some of those signatures avoid apparent mistakes present in the datebook signatures, while others duplicate them.

This one appears to have been used twice, with one set including the "Best Wishes" inscription and the other the instrument names and "Jimi Hendrix Experience" inscription.

The set on the left appears to have missed the "N" in "Hendrix", which is written directly over the "D". The set on the right shows incorrect pen lifts between the "EN" and "DR" in "Hendrix." The pen is slightly shifted and the signature continues. I don't believe I've ever seen a clearly uncrossed "T" in "Mitch" outside of this datebook, which contains two.

Here are closer pics:

This page appears to contain a number of errors as follows:

Incorrect formation of the "O" in a clockwise direction.

A "V" that is too sharp and angular.

A pen lift and shift while forming the first "A" in "Always."

An incorrect formation of the second "A" in "Always." It appears that the formation of the top portion of this "A" was misinterpreted, and was mistakenly written in a counterclockwise direction.

A lack of letter separation between the "AN" in "And."

A stutter of the pen between the "IM" in "Jimi."

The heart is incorrectly formed.

This one appears to contain additional letter separation issues along with a change in direction during the formation of the "N" in "And." In addition, the formation of the "A" in "Stay" is incorrect.

The "A" should be formed in a single motion. Here you can see that the lower portion of the "A" has been drawn separately.

Note: The purpose of this discussion is to provide information to buyers and sellers of Jimi Hendrix Experience autographs. Please keep the scope of the discussion limited to the two books and their contents. Thanks!

Tags: 1968, Calendar, Datebook, Ewbank's, Exeter, Experience, Forgery, Hendrix, Jimi, Liz, More…

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Permalink Reply by Full Time Flipper on June 15, 2015 at 10:40am

NIce detailed work, i mentioned these diary pages in a previous Hendrix discussion i remember some of them being withdrawn and i never liked them the Hendrix on the aug 68 page is unlike any ive seen before that is until a recent Axis lp auctioned and sold for a lot of euros in Ireland i believe 5000 euros it is very similar ill add a photo of it later tonight th signature looks so slowly and awkwardly signed i dont know if its genuine or not at that price you would think so it must have had the thumbs up from someone but i dont like it at all

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Permalink Reply by Full Time Flipper on June 15, 2015 at 10:42am

image of axis lp

Attachments: No photo uploads here

440_2.jpg, 2 MB

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on June 15, 2015 at 10:57am

Thanks, and good call. I don’t like the signed Axis LP either. I can’t believe that it sold for that much.

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Permalink Reply by Full Time Flipper on June 15, 2015 at 11:11am

4800 euros to be precise ,i dont like calling anything out these days as im usually wrong but it is horrible

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Permalink Reply by Gratefulphish on June 15, 2015 at 12:57pm

That Axis LP is not close IMO. All sorts of problems with the handwriting in the inscription and the signature is even worse. It looks like it took a half hour of slow movement to do that signature.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on June 15, 2015 at 11:28pm

This is on ebay looks like a poor attempt.

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Permalink Reply by Full Time Flipper on June 16, 2015 at 3:17am

Yes ive seen this one i didnt want to drift too far from ballrooms original thread but do you think the same guys are doing these as they are all similar ( bad) if so they are turning over 1000s of $ ,i believe thay are also faking rolling stones signatures as i see a trend in mainly UK auction houses all recently offering the same stuff from the same vendor all of which fail psa and rogers quick opinions i believe i may know know who it is they gain the trust of the auction houses by offering lower value genuine items for a while and then stiff them with big item fakes ive seen a trend recently with at least 5 auction houses and some big item Hendrix and Stones ,im going to research a bit more to be certain and start a new conversation later as i dont want to hijack ballrooms excellent piece