Autograph Reference Section

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  • ZundappZundapp Posts: 139MI6 Agent
    Hello. Found some original bond soundtrack LP's and one had a signature/autograph at the back.
    Probably a former owner of the LP,but if not, anyone recognise this.


    image.jpg
    Thanks
    Martin.
  • Gadget MeisterGadget Meister Bicester, OxonPosts: 1,972MI6 Agent
    Was in Vegas a couple of weeks ago and was browsing in a couple of stores, Antiquities Las Vegas in the Forum Shops, Caesars and The Art of Music, Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood and in the first store came across this:

    image.jpg1_zpsomobtxgc.jpg

    When I questioned the staff they got very defensive, saying that all were obtained under contract, especially when asked for photo proof of signing. They had this up for $5k. Although graphs are not really my thing I would be interested in the experts take on this, apologies for the quality of the photo, it's from their website.

    Got the same reaction from Art of Music over a framed white Tuxedo jacket, signed by all 6, in fact got told that they didn't have to sell to me. Being 90% sure that neither can be genuine, how much more in these stores is faked?
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,294MI6 Agent
    Lots of forgers in Vegas....google Kevin Martin for instance X-(
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    PPK 7.65mm wrote:
    Maybe you just caught him on a bad day. I read on Dalton's message board at IMDB he does not mind signing photos if you write him a letter.

    In my opinion that is utter tosh!

    Dalton doesn't like signing photos full stop, maybe of him in another role besides Bond at a push - but there's no guarantees there.

    He will only sign at most Index cards/Album pages as far as I am aware.


    Sorry I touched a sore spot. It was not my intention to offend you.
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    PPK 7.65mm wrote:
    Maybe you just caught him on a bad day. I read on Dalton's message board at IMDB he does not mind signing photos if you write him a letter.

    In my opinion that is utter tosh!

    Dalton doesn't like signing photos full stop, maybe of him in another role besides Bond at a push - but there's no guarantees there.

    He will only sign at most Index cards/Album pages as far as I am aware.

    Indeed - I saw him a couple of months ago at the John Barry tribute at the Royal Albert Hall and he announced to all autograph hunters (that had been waiting in the rain for hours too) that he doesn't sign photos.

    He will sign index cards or photographs that are not James Bond. It just depends on the time and place. During a public apperence such as a Movie Preimire or Another Gathering that is open to the public. Remember Actors/Singers/Muscians/ Sports People are human beings too, they have bad days too!!!!
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    edited February 2015
    Cheers to all my fellow James Bond 007 fans and fellow Collectors for all your help on this topic!

    I dug out my old issue of Autograph Times magazine from June 2001, with a special feature on the actors/actresses/ and crew members that worked on the James Bond series through the years. On the first page of the article, this is a photo of what Timothy Dalton's real Autograph looks like. I will be posting that image soon. Hope that this helps you all out.
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    rbee wrote:
    As my name has been mentioned I thought that I would chip in.

    I usually stay away from internet forums as there is plenty of rubbish posted on them amongst all of the helpful advice. The rubbish as well as the good advice gets in to circulation and spread around the collecting communities. Forums do as much harm as they do good. Every autograph dealer has been brought in to question at some point on one forum or another. We all make mistakes at some point but the idea is to keep those mistakes to a bare minimum. If you have the slighest doubt, move on.

    In my opinion when buying autographs from any source you owe it to yourself to do your own research first. As Groucho Marx once said, 'Who are you going to trust, me or your own eyes?' So true when it comes to buying autographs.

    There are plenty of sources on the internet for finding genuine autographs for comparison. Even with Star Tiger you will see many fake autographs labelled as 'likely genuine' but as so many examples are posted it doesn't take long to build up a reliable picture using in person examples against those purchased or obtained in the post.

    It is important for collectors to get out and meet celebrities in person whether it be at collectors shows, stage doors, personal appearances, wherever. During conversations celebrities will often let slip information about their signing habits. Read what in person collectors or star chasers have to say, you will be amazed what celebrities do with their signature depending on their mood. In the signings I have held you get so many little variations, a signer might start with an A or J but the next item it will be a or j.

    There has to be some trust in life and start with ACAF Dealers and AFTAL Dealers or specialised dealers like Alex. We all offer advice, give proper COA's with correct contact details and take items back if a collector is not happy.

    When buying from Alex at Bond Collectibles or any autograph dealer do a little research first before buying. On another forum I once read that all of Alex's Christopher Lee's were traced, how do you trace an autograph on to a photo??!!! I buy from Alex, Alex buys from me, I have set up signings and so does he. When it comes to stars like Irka Bochenko Alex might say he obtained his autographs from her in a private signing and here perhaps he is being a little economical with the truth in that he would probably obtain this stock when she appears at a signing show like Autographica, he will obtain hundreds of peices from such an appearance.

    I won't be back on here for a while, as I won't be dragged in to an argument as usually happens on forums, but I will respond to personal email, always happy to help.

    All the best

    Richard

    Thank You of the update, Richard. Recently I got taken to the cleaners by a certain James Bond merchandise dealer(I won't say who). I lost not only some money, I also lost out on the chance to get a real Timothy Dalton autograph. Lesson Learned, if you don't know if an autograph is real, check with people that you trust and do your research via the right sources. Or A Fool and His Money are soon parted.
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,294MI6 Agent
    Hwood Collector Show supposedly has a private signing with Moore.....they're in cahoots with Kevin Martin.
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    As for me I am sticking with Bond Stars.com and SpyGuise and other sources that have a good reputation with in the James Bond fan community.
  • Bond Collectors' WeekendsBond Collectors' Weekends Gainesville, Florida USAPosts: 1,882MI6 Agent
    BondStars and SpyGuise are terrific people--they have supported quite a few of my events--and their signed items are authentic. If you want a personal item inscribed, however, you need to mail it to the star along with an SASE an your request for a personalized signature and guarantee you're not merely going to resell on eBay...
    Seven (007) James Bond Tours! Mission: Mexico!
  • PPK 7.65mmPPK 7.65mm Saratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,227MI6 Agent
    edited April 2015
    @ Bond Collectors Weekends : Thank You I will be sure to keep this in mind as I build my James Bond autograph collection.
  • PoorMansJBPoorMansJB USAPosts: 1,198MI6 Agent
    If you want a personal item inscribed, however, you need to mail it to the star along with an SASE an your request for a personalized signature and guarantee you're not merely going to resell on eBay...

    That works about one time in ten so you need to be sure what you're sending isn't something you won't be bothered if never returned.
  • 75vette75vette South Outer BanksPosts: 82MI6 Agent
    Hi all,

    Unfortunately, I'm pressed for time and was wondering if anyone was online and could tell me if this is a genuine Lazenby signature?

    Thanks very much!

    2jfmv4x.jpg
  • PoorMansJBPoorMansJB USAPosts: 1,198MI6 Agent
    I'm going to say "genuine;" his signature isn't difficult to obtain so not much point in forging it.
  • 75vette75vette South Outer BanksPosts: 82MI6 Agent
    PoorMansJB wrote:
    I'm going to say "genuine;" his signature isn't difficult to obtain so not much point in forging it.

    Thank you! I've written to him (a year ago) but never heard back so am going to try and find a decent one online.
  • rbeerbee Posts: 8MI6 Agent
    Sorry for taking so long to reappear on here but thank you to those of you that have emailed me privately.

    To respond to 007_Autographcollector I have chatted with Alex and of course he knows who you are.

    Points one and three in your earlier post are covered by the same answer really. I am with you 100%. Alex is wrong for not changing his auction images, like any good autograph seller he should show the EXACT photograph he is selling and post the auction winner that same image. I have mentioned this to him before and when he sends me something different, which he does (!) I send it back and tell him off. Like he doesn't change his auction images he doesn't change his auction descriptions so again you are right. Berenice Marlohe didn't sign much at the London premier but Alex's items would have come from star chasers all over Europe, North America and probably beyond but I presume as usual he didn't change his auction description. The autographs from Berenice at those premiers were very poor quality as they were rushed, hardly worth forging. Most were so bad I wouldn't buy many of them.

    Point two about the multi signed items Alex agrees you were right and that they were fake.

    Point four Alex believe's these items to be genuine. I cannot comment as I don't know these autographs.

    Point five as I have said before Alex does slightly exaggerate when he says things like "Signed just for us within a very private signing". These items do come from public autograph shows but when Alex orders such high numbers they are signed out of show hours so people are not kept waiting. Contact the show organisers and they will confirm. I have taken many Bond guests to these shows myself so have some knowledge to how it works. Many items are signed out of show hours!

    Point six, like point four, I cannot comment on as I do not know these autographs. You are lucky in that you have time to spend studying these things, at the moment I don't so would never touch them. But again try talking to Alex about these things, send an email.

    I have sat next to celebrities during signings and with some, not all, you will see a variation of signature as they sign a hundred items. They will sign a J on one photo and the next photo they will sign with a j. Some celebrities have a different autograph to their signature, in other words they will sign for a fan differently to how they would sign a personal check for instance. When signing a hundred items they will forget and you will get a mixture of signature styles!

    With regard to my stock which you highlighted, yes I buy from Alex as I have stated all along but I also supply him, some of the Bond girls I know very well after all these years. Further the same star chasers will offer stock to me, Alex, and various other dealers. Saying that Timothy Dalton will not EVER sign a Bond image is simply wrong.

    To conclude Alex has made mistakes over the years, as have I and every other genuine seller of autographs. Alex does sell a lot of autographs but it would seem there is only a few dozen items you have seen over the years you don't like or is there many more? I ask because I have no idea.

    All the best

    Richard.
  • asioasio Melbourne, AustraliaPosts: 546MI6 Agent
    rbee wrote:
    Point two about the multi signed items Alex agrees you were right and that they were fake.

    Wow, I would like the know his justification for this one.

    Based on all of the negative commentary, I delved through my autograph archives to be sure. Having purchased a George Lazenby signed photo from Bondcollectibles and then subsequently meeting Mr Lazenby at Pinewood Studios a few years later (and getting his autograph in person) I was able to reference the now-questioned autograph versus the bona fide - and I'm fairly confident I have 2 genuine autographs.
    The one I purchased from Bondcollectibles has original ink (variants in the thickness of the ink can be seen at multiple areas of the signature), and the autograph is slightly different from the bona fide one.

    However that being said, all of the bad press has definitely turned me off buying from BC again - sorry if that offends anyone... ?
    Drawn Out Dad.
    Independent, one-shot comic books from the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia.
    twitter.com/DrawnOutDad
  • rbeerbee Posts: 8MI6 Agent
    asio wrote:
    rbee wrote:
    Point two about the multi signed items Alex agrees you were right and that they were fake.

    Wow, I would like the know his justification for this one.

    Based on all of the negative commentary, I delved through my autograph archives to be sure. Having purchased a George Lazenby signed photo from Bondcollectibles and then subsequently meeting Mr Lazenby at Pinewood Studios a few years later (and getting his autograph in person) I was able to reference the now-questioned autograph versus the bona fide - and I'm fairly confident I have 2 genuine autographs.
    The one I purchased from Bondcollectibles has original ink (variants in the thickness of the ink can be seen at multiple areas of the signature), and the autograph is slightly different from the bona fide one.

    However that being said, all of the bad press has definitely turned me off buying from BC again - sorry if that offends anyone... ?


    Justification? Alex made a mistake as we all do.

    All I am interested in is the selling of authentic autographs. In the past I have spent a lot of time fighting the fakers and still receive abusive and threatening mail from them in the post for my troubles.

    I respect 007_Autographcollector knowledge of Bond autographs but I am now interested in knowing the extent to which he believes Alex is selling fakes. Is it a few dozen items over the years or hundreds?
  • 007_Autographcollector007_Autographcollector Posts: 221MI6 Agent
    Hello Richard,

    Thank you for your replies to some of the evidence I gave regarding Bondcollectibles.

    Your replies in terms of my evidence confirms that Alex cannot justify or disprove anything that we found, because we know that what we found was 100% accurate.
    In terms of whether I think it's just a few dozen or hundreds, I would say neither. By our estimation we would be on a number much higher than that, closer towards 4 digits with the amount of fakes Bondcollectibles has sold over the years.

    I would have hoped it wouldn't come to this in all truth, but the following evidence can be backed up by several collectors, and this is the most damning evidence which proves that Alex Brauchle of Bondcollectibles is or has a team of forgers behind the scenes.

    This concerns the autograph of one of THE rarest autographs of the James Bond world, namely the Italian born African actor John Kitzmiller, who played "Quarrel" in Dr. No, 1962. He died a few years after filming.


    This particular incident occurred in early 2010. In the year previously to this, two fellow collectors (in this instance we shall call them "A" & "B") who are well respected in the field were buying reasonably regularly from Alex, until they came across an autographed card from Adolfo Celi. Now at this time "A" already had one but it was on a multisigned page and he quite liked to have one signed on his own, such as the one that Alex was selling. "A" then went ahead and placed a small bid, only a few pence above the minimum bid.
    "B" then spoke to "A" and said that he was also going to bid, to which "A" said carry on, I have only placed a low bid, and seeing as you don't have one, go for it!
    At the end of the auction "B" won it, but immediately at the end of the auction, "A" was offered a second chance offer for his low bid on the auction.
    Now it was at this point that they both smelt a rat. They both received the Adolfo Celi autographs and they were absolutely IDENTICAL, to the last detail they were PERFECT copies of each other.

    So at this point, "A" and "B" wanted to test Alex and see if their suspicions were correct, or simply wrong. So they set a trap for Mr. Brauchle and he failed dismally.

    At the time, "B" was in constant communication with Alex, and like yourself Richard, he was trading and selling with him.
    So he sent him an email, and asked if he had an autograph of John Kitzmiller. To their utmost surprise, he said that he did (eventhough there were none on his website) and asked in return whether he had one, to which "B" said that he did. Off course "B" did not have a Kitzmiller autograph, but he wanted to see what Alex would say, seeing as Kitzmiller had never been seen on the market up until that point.

    Alex's reply was similar to this:

    'Wow fantastic!! Could I please see your autograph to compare?? I can tell if yours is genuine or not!!'


    Now as I mentioned previously, neither "A" nor "B" had an autograph of Kitzmiller, but what they did instead, was forge their own.
    "A" sent him a scan of a light blue page, signed "Douglas, Best Wishes, John Kitzmiller". He forged it on purpose with a very distinctive B in Best Wishes, and a very pronounce J in John, and an extremely odd K in Kitzmiller, so that if there was any chance of Alex doing any forging off this copy, it would stand out a mile.

    So after sending them this scan, Alex replied a week later with something similar to this:

    "Hello! I am so sorry I cannot find my Kitzmiller, but your one looked very similar to mine and is authentic! Greetings Alex".

    You don't just misplace one of the holy grails of 007 autographs. Ever. And if you do, your either an idiot or a liar.

    "A" and "B" predicted that Alex would be selling a forgery of that faked Kitzmiller autograph within 6 months, in the end it was only 3 months.

    Alex had failed dismally at this test and not only did he prove that he was a forger, but he proved he was an EXCEPTIONAL forger as his faked Kitzmiller was absolutely identical in every single way, even down to the B in Best Wishes, it was incredible! He ended up selling a signed photo of JK for over 600$!!!!!!!!!!! And followed that up with a series of signed cards that also sold for several hundred dollars, all matching perfectly perfectly to the forged Kitzmiller created by "A" and "B". We have no idea how he forged it so well, we are presuming he is using a light box of some sorts.

    So in conclusion, if this evidence does not demonstrate what Alex is really like, then nothing else can. I just know that since we have sent our reports to various authorities, Alex has stopped selling rare names on ebay like Gothard, Van Nutter, Kitzmiller, Haggerty etc... and this is because that was our priority for these fakes to be off the market of ebay and seeing people's money being taken by him.
    I have no doubt Alex remembers me, especially after I sent him back over $1000 worth of his fake stock, along with half a dozen collectors who did the same thing. He can be sure that certain authorities are monitoring him very carefully.

    I have attached a scan of the forgery that "A" and "B" made and you can go ahead and compare to Alex's Kitzmiller autographs he sold previously. You be the judge on how close they match up.

    As a very hard working collector, I have only ever seen one genuine John Kitzmiller, and it was no surprise that the genuine one was completely different to Alex's fakes.

    I hope this clears up any doubts that anyone ever had over Bondcollectibles.

    I would also like to stress that the evidence and opinions above, do NOT represent the opinions of ajb007.co.uk and are solely of 007_autographcollector




    Kitzmiller_Fake.jpg
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,294MI6 Agent
    Forgers will go a long way to deceive , going OT but for example I've heard of forgers baking 60s repro 007 press stills in the oven (!) to make them appear more vintage , more tanned etc. Dunno if this has actually happened but I wouldn't doubt it :#
  • rbeerbee Posts: 8MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    I am pleased that it has come to this 007_Autographcollector as we now have something to work with. Thanks for the stories.

    I can only talk about Alex as I find him. As I have said I supply him, I know star chasers that supply him and there have been many occasions over the years when I have asked Alex for something and he has told me that he doesn't have it and it has never appeared a few weeks or months later. This is really a mixed bag.

    But as I say it will be looked in to.

    Grindelwald, you have no idea what we see come through but believe me the fakers are getting better all the time.
  • tds123tds123 USAPosts: 34MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    I wanted an opinion on this autograph bondmobile is selling. Thank you.


    11029483_910308155657911_413023992309672976_n.jpg
  • 007_Autographcollector007_Autographcollector Posts: 221MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Rbee: It will certainly be interesting to see what Alex's excuse will be to this, particularly as we have all the emails from him to prove our point. Off course he will never supply anyone with an autograph if he doesn't know what an authentic one looks like, if however he got his hands on a very rare genuine piece, it would become a common site on eBay in a few months, like he did with Fred Haggerty, Leonard Barr, Anthony Dawson (those particular fakes are very poor), Vanya Seager, Rik Van Nutter, Pedro Armendariz etc...
    I still stand by the fact that his website is the genuine stock, but his ebay sales are not. You could think about it this way, if you got a small number of in person Javier Bardem or Diana Rigg signed photos by your star chaser, who probably charges a fair bit, would you let them sell for $3? I think not.

    Tds123: I am afraid that is a forgery so I would keep away from it and all other bond items that the seller is selling, that Roger Moore is a very poor forgery and any serious seller will know that. Good luck with your collecting :)
  • tds123tds123 USAPosts: 34MI6 Agent
    Rbee: It will certainly be interesting to see what Alex's excuse will be to this, particularly as we have all the emails from him to prove our point.

    Tds123: I am afraid that is a forgery so I would keep away from it and all other bond items that the seller is selling, that Roger Moore is a very poor forgery and any serious seller will know that. Good luck with your collecting :)

    Both parts? I already have a authentic Moore.
  • 007_Autographcollector007_Autographcollector Posts: 221MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    If one part is such a poor fake, the other is very likely to be a forgery too, as Barbara's signature is not a difficult one to forge.

    If it's any help, she does sign quite a bit through the mail if you wanted your own photo signed?
  • tds123tds123 USAPosts: 34MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Thanks for your assistance.
  • 75vette75vette South Outer BanksPosts: 82MI6 Agent
    Hi all,

    Could I get your opinion on whether these are genuine or fakes? I would like to bid on them but find it somewhat hard to believe.

    Thanks!

    2e50dwy.jpg
  • 007_Autographcollector007_Autographcollector Posts: 221MI6 Agent
    Hi 75vette!

    They all look genuine in my opinion, what sort of price is the dealer asking? And has he given you info on where he got them and if he accepts returns in case?

    Craig, Brosnan & Connery can be quite different depending on the environment they sign in, but to me, all of them look spot on.

    The DC is a nice example, signed with his usual DCraig, the Dalton, Lazenby, Brosnan and Connery look all a bit rushed but fine! And the Moore is a perfect example!
  • 75vette75vette South Outer BanksPosts: 82MI6 Agent
    Thanks for the feedback. They looked genuine to me as well, but now I'm beginning to wonder.

    I've done a little more research before bidding and found this same seller (amglasgow) has another set of signed index cards ending in a couple of hours and there are a couple of things that don't set right with me. The Dalton in the second set has "007" underneath his name and I find this odd as these are not being sold as older autographs and I was under the impression he didn't sign anything that relates him to Bond. Also, in the first set Moore signs "Best Wishes" but not in the second set and in the second set Lazenby signs "Best Wishes" but not in the first set. This just seems odd to me.

    Here is the second set he has listed on Ebay:

    1z32tz7.jpg

    First auction:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAMES-BOND-007-COLLECTION-GENUINE-SIGNED-IN-PERSON-AUTOGRAPHED-A5-CARD-COA-/291401694860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d8e4fe8c

    Second auction:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAMES-BOND-007-COLLECTION-GENUINE-SIGNED-IN-PERSON-AUTOGRAPHED-A5-CARD-COA-/291401680550?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d8e4c6a6
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia, PAPosts: 753MI6 Agent
    Is that 007 at the bottom of Dalton's signature? Seems very strange he would do that with it widely known he won't sign Bond memorabilia.

    Moore in the 2nd one looks very much like mine from the private signing with Bond Stars.

    Something about Lazenby's looks off compared with my in person signing, but not sure why someone would go to the trouble of faking him as he is pretty widely available at reasonable prices.

    DC looks right, but his can be so variable with how quick he signs and it being a simple DC.

    Brosnan and Connery I don't have enough knowledge to make an informed commentary.
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