Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James on July 20, 2019 at 2:57pm

I used to own a Buster Keaton autograph.  I’d say this is close, BUT I’m no expert.  As for the seller, don’t be fooled by 100% positive feedback.  All that really means is that he delivered the item as described in a timely manner.  People often receive their item, and then quickly leave positive feedback only to find out later that the item is fake.  100% positive feedback really doesn’t mean the seller is honest.  He indeed may be honest, but it’s no guarantee.  

Hope you get some opinions soon.

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on July 20, 2019 at 11:29pm

I still own a "later years" BK signed photograph which I'll try to take an image of today.

I'd say this stands a chance but I'd steer clear until other opinions roll in.  He usually signed with more of an upward slope and somehow the overall apperance is rather laboured and deliberate. Having said that you would think that a forger would choose something to sign that could command a higher price.

I don't think $90 is crazily cheap for a clipped "later years" pencil signature.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 21, 2019 at 12:06am

Hi Sarah,

This Buster Keaton is definitely not real in my opinion. One thing to look for are signs of ageing. The paper and signature look like they could have been signed this year.  The autograph itself has the basic look of Keaton's autograph but it's off on almost all of the details.

I'm glad you asked before you bought it!

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on July 21, 2019 at 2:47am

I must confess that Steve's very definite reply has put the fear of God into me about my own Buster. The dealer I bought mine from told me that Buster had signed the photo very late on in life, which - along with the skippy gloss surface and dodgy biro - hopefully explains the somewhat shaky letters and odd untypical trait (e.g. the form of the "K"). I know Buster was only 70 when he died but illness may have affected his handwriting.

To be honest, it was the wonderful "Go West" still that interested me more than the autograph when I bought it but obviously I would not really want a fake signature on it.

As an aside, the guy who sold it to me thought that the sweet lady might be Colleen Moore. I didn't bother to check and went on to build up a very large Colleen collection based around having this still. After sepnding thousands of dollars on Colleen posters, stills and personal correspondence to a UK fan I found out the lady is actually Kathleen Myers! I don't regret building up the collection by the way - Colleen was a very interesting lady.

Anyway her goes with the still..

and a close-up of the signature

Be gentle with me Steve!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 21, 2019 at 8:21am

Eva, your Buster Keaton autograph contains quite a few traits that are different than the one in the original post.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 21, 2019 at 10:11am

Oh jeez, Pug. To be perfectly frank, I think yours is real.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 21, 2019 at 10:16am

It's not necessarily a later in life autograph. Sometimes even in his prime he signed a little roughly like yours, although he tended to sign more smoothly and flowing. I don't have a doubt that yours is real. Very nice SP period. 

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on July 21, 2019 at 11:13am

Hi Steve and Mike,

Thanks for your feedback - quite a relief to get your positive opinion Steve.

I bought this around 25 years ago (I remember buying an Elizabeth Taylor from Markus Brandes at the same Christmas general collectors' fair) and had never really compared it carefully to other exemplars until today. It does seem a little different to most that come up with Google search, though it does have a similar "general feel" to the ones offered by reputable auctioneers and sellers..

The guy I bought it from was a Swiss dealer who was getting on in years, a good combination when it comes to likely honesty, especially back then. Doesn't rule out ignorance of course. You never see autograph dealers at the Zurich general collectors' fairs anymore - easier to do business on the internet I guess.

I am a very keen collector of vintage stills and this one really appealed. I've never seen it reproduced.

By the way, I did realise my Colleen/Kathleen mix-up after my first Colleen purchase (the correspondence) but carried on collecting Colleen regardless.. 

Thanks again and greetings from sunny Switzerland!

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