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Is my Hendrix a dud?

I purchased this 25-30 years ago. Probably paid around $500. I was just excited to get it. Now after more "experience" in what to look for, I see many stops & starts in the flow that should not be there. I can accept the pressure points at the start or end of some letters, but the loop in the E in "Be", the Y in "Groovy" , the tail end of the J in "Jimi" and the E in "Hendrix are flags for me. Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 29, 2024 at 7:41am

I don't like it, looks slow, odd letters sizes/shapes, "imi" height declension...the "e" looks the wrong shape, not near the "H"...the "n", the "d" on to the"x"...and the ink looks strange too when enlarged. "Be groovy" looks odd. Paper seems odd too. Ballroom?

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on February 29, 2024 at 7:49am

I don't believe for a moment that Jimi Hendrix (or few people from that era) would have written such an inane message. I do believe, however, that some moronic forger might have been very pleased with himself for coming up with the idea for this "cool" salutation.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 29, 2024 at 7:55am

There are his common salutations - "Be groovy" is there, but it just looks very odd, and perhaps missing a dedication.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on February 29, 2024 at 8:05am

"Be Cool" I could live with...but if he had written that for me I would probably have handed it back and said something like, "...maybe another time Jimi."

Just kidding!

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on February 29, 2024 at 8:13am

What I would say about the inscription - which one presumes is meant to be IP - is that it is extremely deliberate and clear. Even the signature appears to me to be sculpted and not natural. Talking really in general terms, however. I am only casually observing as I always do with Jimi because he's out of my price range.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on February 29, 2024 at 10:47am

Here it is between two similar examples. The first one is from RR Auction. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 29, 2024 at 11:08am

Well, I like the top and bottom...copy in the middle? A lot of similarity with the bottom example. I note the connection between the "i" and "H" on the RR and other - that connection seems to be on many, or some variation of it. I like the "e" on the top one. Also, OP doesn't have the speed of the other two. It seems awkward somehow?

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on February 29, 2024 at 11:45am

I see some plusses and some negatives but the most striking disparity i.m.h.o. is the weight of the impression of the ink on paper and somehow I associate Jimi with that lighter touch.

That could be explained, e.g. by a better quality pen but it is definitely a contrast which would rule it out for me without cast-iron provenance which the OP has not mentioned.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on February 29, 2024 at 1:36pm

I doubt that it’s a copy of the bottom example because of the way the respective “R”s in “Groovy” differ, and the shape and formation of the “D”. I don’t think the lack of the “I” and “H” connection is an issue.

It looks like the other two examples have some fading.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on February 29, 2024 at 1:41pm

So what are we looking at? Authentic? It presents a bit odd, no? I am all ears.

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Permalink Reply by a pug called eva on February 29, 2024 at 10:26pm

When I first looked at the OP I thought this was an "open and shut case" and there would be a steam of "no goods", "no chance" posts but looking at Ballroom's comparatives I'm not so sure. I agree with Eric that it looks a bit "stiff" and deliberate at the start of each word/name. I'm particularly surprised that the "Jimi" and "Hendrix" are so separate with no obvious flow from one to the other. The form of the "imi" is also odd somehow.

All that said, I am certainly not a world authority on Hendrix and it would pay to have it looked at by someone who is. Maybe first a quick $15 email opinion from Roger Epperson and then a proper "in hand" one from him or another authenticator.

By the way, I also have a Hendrix that I bought around 25 years ago for about £1,000. I've always been reluctant to post it, mainly because I bought it at an auction house that sold me a couple of (with hindsight) highly questionable Beatles items at around the same time. Maybe I'll pluck up courage one day....