I contacted four different Ebay sellers this past week (Germany, UK, Netherlands, Australia) to inquire where their autographed photos originated as I was interested in possibly bidding on a few. Every one of them admitted they purchase most of their items from bondcollectibles, with several providing the original COA they received from bondcollectibles.
And therein lies a whole other problem as more and more "collectors" are purchasing Bond related items from bondcollectibles and then attempting to resell them on Ebay such that they are showing up everywhere. I'm just about to call it quits on trying to purchase anything autograph related on Ebay.
Anyway, thanks for the validation of what I have experienced firsthand, as well.
Could you guys give me some feedback on the Connery and Dalton signatures below. I posted these some months back but do not believe a consensus was reached as to their authenticity. If deemed not genuine, would appreciate any reasons, too, as the newer ones of us (me) on the boards would really like to learn to discern authentic signatures from the fakes. Sure appreciate any help!
PPK 7.65mmSaratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
edited February 2015
Could some one please recommend a good place to find a Timothy Dalton autograph that is his real signature?
Ideally I would like it to be a signed index card since I am looking to place it in a frame with an awesome looking photo of Dalton as James Bond from Licence To Kill. Recently I tried to get a signed Dalton index card from Bond Colletibles which I never got at all.
Also thank you for the advise about the pre-printed Trading Cards, I am currently on a tight budget collecting wise and I have seen the Topps 75th anniversary Moonraker autograph cards go for pretty cheap. Eventually I would like to get a signed Roger Moore 8x10 photo from Bond Stars.
Sorry, they all look fake to me...certainly the Craig and Lazenby's ones. The Brosnan one looks the best of the bunch but every time I see his auto it looks different, so I'm no expert on his auto. Where did you get them?
Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree".
Sorry, they all look fake to me...certainly the Craig and Lazenby's ones. The Brosnan one looks the best of the bunch but every time I see his auto it looks different, so I'm no expert on his auto. Where did you get them?
That's what I was thinking as well. Thank you for the input. After looking at a bazillion of these, I tend to start trying to fool myself into thinking that one or two aspects of the signature might make it legit. They're currently listed on Ebay and I've been wanting to pick up Brosnan and Lazenby without breaking the bank since I don't have those.
They're also all on basic set trading cards by the look if it too, and whilst it's not outside the realm of possibilities, seems unlikely all these Bond actors would have obliged...
Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree".
Thanks, guys, appreciate it. Currently my collection is about half TTM and half Rittennhouse cards, about 100 of each. I'm facing two main problems now, though:
First, I've coming to the end of being able to contact everyone appearing in the films (credited and uncredited). I've written to most everyone I could find addresses for on Startiger but not sure how to get working addresses for everyone else. The list of persons appearing in the films I put together from http://www.james-bond-movie-list.com/ and only about half those people are listed on Startiger.
Second, I would like to expand my TTM campaign to anyone who worked on the Bond films (directors, art directors, sound, costumes, etc.) but not sure where to get an exhaustive list of these individuals. Does anyone know of such a list, exhaustive or partial?
Thanks, again!
PPK 7.65mmSaratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
edited October 2020
A big thank you to 007 autograph collector for your helpful advise. As soon as I can I am going to look for a Timothy Dalton signed index card at a proper dealer and post a picture of it for you all to examine here prior to my purchasing it.
On another related note, Bond Stars.com is a great company to do business with. I have purchased two autographs from them and despite their being based in England and me in the state of New York, I still got both my Ken Wallis (RIP) and my Shirley Eaton autographs very quickly. I cannot wait to get both a Roger Moore and Rachel Grant(played Peaceful Fountains of Desire in Die Another Day) autograph from them in the near future when my budget allows for it.
Hello,
I will return to you because I always looking for a poster signed by Sean Connery, there are 2 a sell, when do you? (The poster Dr. No a the letter of authenticity)
Last year as I was just beginning my Bond collection, I purchased quite a few autographed photos from you know who on Ebay. After going over them with a fine toothed comb, I concluded that about half were most likely fakes and about half were possibly genuine. However, the five below I'm still not sure about. Any help would be much appreciated. They are - Barbara Carrera, Zena Marshall, Shirley Eaton, Peter Hunt, and Martin Benson.
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.
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:
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?
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 7.65mmSaratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 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 7.65mmSaratoga Springs NY USAPosts: 1,253MI6 Agent
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.
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...
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.
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.
Comments
I contacted four different Ebay sellers this past week (Germany, UK, Netherlands, Australia) to inquire where their autographed photos originated as I was interested in possibly bidding on a few. Every one of them admitted they purchase most of their items from bondcollectibles, with several providing the original COA they received from bondcollectibles.
And therein lies a whole other problem as more and more "collectors" are purchasing Bond related items from bondcollectibles and then attempting to resell them on Ebay such that they are showing up everywhere. I'm just about to call it quits on trying to purchase anything autograph related on Ebay.
Anyway, thanks for the validation of what I have experienced firsthand, as well.
Ideally I would like it to be a signed index card since I am looking to place it in a frame with an awesome looking photo of Dalton as James Bond from Licence To Kill. Recently I tried to get a signed Dalton index card from Bond Colletibles which I never got at all.
Also thank you for the advise about the pre-printed Trading Cards, I am currently on a tight budget collecting wise and I have seen the Topps 75th anniversary Moonraker autograph cards go for pretty cheap. Eventually I would like to get a signed Roger Moore 8x10 photo from Bond Stars.
Could I get your opinion on these Bond signatures.
Thanks!
That's what I was thinking as well. Thank you for the input. After looking at a bazillion of these, I tend to start trying to fool myself into thinking that one or two aspects of the signature might make it legit. They're currently listed on Ebay and I've been wanting to pick up Brosnan and Lazenby without breaking the bank since I don't have those.
First, I've coming to the end of being able to contact everyone appearing in the films (credited and uncredited). I've written to most everyone I could find addresses for on Startiger but not sure how to get working addresses for everyone else. The list of persons appearing in the films I put together from http://www.james-bond-movie-list.com/ and only about half those people are listed on Startiger.
Second, I would like to expand my TTM campaign to anyone who worked on the Bond films (directors, art directors, sound, costumes, etc.) but not sure where to get an exhaustive list of these individuals. Does anyone know of such a list, exhaustive or partial?
Thanks, again!
On another related note, Bond Stars.com is a great company to do business with. I have purchased two autographs from them and despite their being based in England and me in the state of New York, I still got both my Ken Wallis (RIP) and my Shirley Eaton autographs very quickly. I cannot wait to get both a Roger Moore and Rachel Grant(played Peaceful Fountains of Desire in Die Another Day) autograph from them in the near future when my budget allows for it.
I will return to you because I always looking for a poster signed by Sean Connery, there are 2 a sell, when do you? (The poster Dr. No a the letter of authenticity)
thanks for your help
Last year as I was just beginning my Bond collection, I purchased quite a few autographed photos from you know who on Ebay. After going over them with a fine toothed comb, I concluded that about half were most likely fakes and about half were possibly genuine. However, the five below I'm still not sure about. Any help would be much appreciated. They are - Barbara Carrera, Zena Marshall, Shirley Eaton, Peter Hunt, and Martin Benson.
Thanks!
Probably a former owner of the LP,but if not, anyone recognise this.
Thanks
Martin.
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?
www.justgiving.com/inMemoryOfLewisCollins
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Sorry I touched a sore spot. It was not my intention to offend you.
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!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.