Autograph questions

[RedRumCLTNC]

I've collected King books for years, but recently wanted to get an autographed one. Since he doesn't seem to come to NC (except to write an episode of UNDER THE DOME ) for book signings, I thought I'd turn to ebay and other sources. Have two I am curious about and was wondering if the experts might give a yay or nay as to the odds of authenticity. (Of course, because it's on the internet and it says it is authentic, means it has to be )

Feedback is very appreciated!

 

[Dana Jean]

Hey Red, I will tag Marsha, Moderator, so she can take a look and maybe be able to give you some insight into the autograph.

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

Thanks Dana!

 

[kingricefan]

Hey Red, I will tag Marsha, Moderator, so she can take a look and maybe be able to give you some insight into the autograph.

Oooooooo, she's back at work tomorrow, isn't she??

 

[kingricefan]

The siggy look legit to me.

 

[Neesy]

The siggy look legit to me.

I wonder why the one on the left looks slightly different?

This is unrelated but apparently true:

Stephen King
A Crappy Autograph Story

Stephen King, whose horror novels have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide, is no stranger to autograph seekers. But one of the first autographs he ever gave remains his most memorable. In his mid-twenties, King was in Pittsburgh doing a promotional book tour for his novel The Shining. After a day of television and radio interviews, King attended a dinner at a fancy restaurant overlooking the Steel City. Apparently, Pittsburgh’s food didn’t sit too well with King, and he had to excuse himself for an emergency visit to the men’s room.

The washroom was decked out with columns and marble finishings, and had its own attendant—a thin, bald man, whom King remembers looking 108 years old. The only things the swank restroom was missing were doors on the stalls. So there was King, sitting on the john, thinking things couldn’t get any worse, when—yup, you guessed it—along came the washroom attendant with a pad and a pen. King recalls: “For the first time in my life someone said: ‘Aren’t you Stephen King? I saw you on AM Pittsburgh. Can I have your autograph?’ ” And so, America’s “King of Horror” gave an autograph while sitting on the toilet.

10 Marvelous Moments In The History Of Celebrity Autographs - Listverse

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

Experts please let me know as soon as possible as I am running out of time to bid

 

[GNTLGNT]

...they look like signatures made by a man pooping his guts out....

 

[Moderator]

I've collected King books for years, but recently wanted to get an autographed one. Since he doesn't seem to come to NC (except to write an episode of UNDER THE DOME ) for book signings, I thought I'd turn to ebay and other sources. Have two I am curious about and was wondering if the experts might give a yay or nay as to the odds of authenticity. (Of course, because it's on the internet and it says it is authentic, means it has to be )

Feedback is very appreciated!

Neither one looks legit to me--some anomalies on different letters in each one that I don't recognize having seen in his signatures.

 

[Moderator]

I've collected King books for years, but recently wanted to get an autographed one. Since he doesn't seem to come to NC (except to write an episode of UNDER THE DOME ) for book signings, I thought I'd turn to ebay and other sources. Have two I am curious about and was wondering if the experts might give a yay or nay as to the odds of authenticity. (Of course, because it's on the internet and it says it is authentic, means it has to be )

Feedback is very appreciated!

Would suggest trying a legit bookseller such as Betts Books instead of Ebay. You may pay a little more but you can pretty much be assured the signature will be authentic.

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

I've Googled the heck out of King signatures and the one on right looks line it. The one on the left with the line on the side also looks like some. It's very confusing.

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

Hate to sound conspiratorial but how does Betts know the signatures he's receiving are authentic? I vowed I'd never get a signature that was not in person, but seems like the master may not be coming to my state anytime soon for a signing.

 

[Moderator]

I've Googled the heck out of King signatures and the one on right looks line it. The one on the left with the line on the side also looks like some. It's very confusing.

The one on the left has too many loops. Stephen's writing is very angular. The reason I question the one on the right is because of the "h". I'm not saying with 100% certainty they are not his especially without knowing the provenance of the books but based on seeing Stephen's signature over the years, I have some doubts about these. Now that said, I just pulled out my copies of Revival and Rose Madder from my bookshelf (I have them alphabetically) and if anyone saw the signature on Rose Madder, they would say it was a forgery (including me!) because the "Stephen" looks nothing like his usual signature. As you said, unless you are standing in front of him and see the book being signed there's really no 100% guarantee what you're getting is legit.

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

The dangling line on the one bothers me. The other one looks like many of the ones where people are selling their Revival copies (don't get it, but I guess money is a great motivator) on ebay after the signings a few weeks ago. A lot of factors come into play too. He's obviously pre-signing some and others on the spot. Many signatures get compressed when the signatory is rushed. I've seen some online where it looks identical to the "established" signature, yet is more compressed or wider depending. If I was a published author and signing...each one would be "one-of-a-kind" as at 38 I've yet to establish a signature that looks the same....lol

 

[Sundrop]

The only place I'm buying a signed book without seeing it signed is from the publisher, or from David at Betts Books. He is very reputable and extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I trust him and his word.

 

[RedRumCLTNC]

Well I got a message the other day from the Ebay seller of the autograph on the right and she actually recommended Betts Books and said she was a member of the Stephen King collectors forum, whatever that may be.

 

[jchanic]

Well I got a message the other day from the Ebay seller of the autograph on the right and she actually recommended Betts Books and said she was a member of the Stephen King collectors forum, whatever that may be.

The Collector - info on rare Stephen King books

Personally, I would NEVER purchase a signed copy unless I either knew and trusted the seller or got it from David at Betts. There are just too many fakes out there. The best alternative (although expensive) is to buy one of the signed limited editions. You can be positive that the signature is authentic.

John

 

[Machine's Way]

For the money you are going to spend on one of these "questionable" signed books, why not wait for a closer book signing on the East coast, you are in NC, over the past few years alone he has had several in GA, and others in a very reasonable traveling distance, and will probably cost you less and you get the experience and no doubt an original. Or you could be so lucky to attend a speaking engagement, having gone to both a straight autograph signing and now a speaking engagement I would totally recommend the speaking with hopes of getting a signed copy than just the autograph line. Just my 2cents.