The eBay BS Game: Questionable items, Stephen King signatures, sellers

[Randall Flagg]

Easton Press used the auto-pen for one of Michael Crichton's books. Crichton said the subsequent backlash of collector discontent convinced him to never to it again. I've forgotten exactly which Easton book it was.

Jurassic park Gift edition. It had a tipped in "signature" page and was advertised as "Signed edition". A whoops moment for the publisher. I owned one and sold it on ebay years ago-with full disclosure. It was a gorgeous "reproduction" of Crichton's signature, done in blue pen ink (at least that is how it looked). Also had a glassine page preceding the signature page (or perhaps it was the book wrapper-memory fades on this one).

Edit=Yes, it had the clear acetate cover with a t-rex etched/printed/lasered on it.
Thanks to mulleins.

[Fsmdr]

This auto-pen discussion is certainly interesting!. Thanks for sharing the info, Jerome and Ralph.

[Patrick]

Two things I hate are the auto-pen and the auto-tune microphone.

[Brice]

While I'm completely against the autopens. I can think of some singers which I wish would use every tool they can to improve their singing...or not sing at all.

I think a company should always tell when an autopen was used. In fact I think even calling them signatures is disengenuous as hell.

[east-tennessee]

While I'm completely against the autopens. I can think of some singers which I wish would use every tool they can to improve their singing...or not sing at all.

I think a company should always tell when an autopen was used. In fact I think even calling them signatures is disengenuous as hell.

I've never heard of this autopen, totally agree that it should be disclosed,,,,,

Brian,,,,,,,

[ELazansky]

All of this autopen talk has got me wondering about all of these "Signed First Edition" books that are "specially bound by the publisher." The UK version of The Passage which had, I believe, 5000 copies produced. Is Cronin's signature legit in those editions? He was very busy when the book came out, so did he have time to sign 5000 pages? Horns had the similar pre-signed page, but I think it was only around 1100 copies or so. Since it seems that Joe signs just about anything and everything, I'm leaning towards those being more legit. I think I am going to start staying away from the pre-signed items and stick to either s/l copies or flatsigned at a book signing

[Room 217 Caretaker]

All of this autopen talk has got me wondering about all of these "Signed First Edition" books that are "specially bound by the publisher." The UK version of The Passage which had, I believe, 5000 copies produced. Is Cronin's signature legit in those editions? He was very busy when the book came out, so did he have time to sign 5000 pages? Horns had the similar pre-signed page, but I think it was only around 1100 copies or so. Since it seems that Joe signs just about anything and everything, I'm leaning towards those being more legit. I think I am going to start staying away from the pre-signed items and stick to either s/l copies or flatsigned at a book signing

I can put your mind at ease with the Cronin & Hill question:

1. Yes, Justin personally signed all 5000 UK pages before bound into book. I have a good friend that was behind closed doors with him during this process.

NOTE: The US also released a signed edition with a sticker on the front stating signed. I can't vouch for that one. Maybe someone here can.

2. Joe personally signed every copy of Horns.

I do understand your fear. Here recently I've seen books show up on shelves in Borders, Walmart, etc. stating Signed Edition with sticker. Is it real or Auto-Penned? The publishing industry needs to step up and state the truth and not the legal wording "a non-genuine signature may be legally genuine when their use has been authorized by the signature holder".

If the book wasn't touched by the author, it's not a real signature in my signed collection. I've had to send a few Ebay emails to people selling the King UK gift editions (facsimile signatures) as actually signed.

The Auto-Pen topic is an ongoing conversation between a group of Ebay book collectors I'm part of. Funny thing is, one of the members is an editor from a major publisher and has been very quiet on this topic. I wonder why?

Mulleins

[ELazansky]

Thanks for the info, Ralph. I thought the Hill ones were good because every picture I saw seemed to have a slightly different doodle, etc. I'm glad to hear the Passage copies are good as well.

5000 pages to sign...that must have been brutal...

[Room 217 Caretaker]

Thanks for the info, Ralph. I thought the Hill ones were good because every picture I saw seemed to have a slightly different doodle, etc. I'm glad to hear the Passage copies are good as well.

5000 pages to sign...that must have been brutal...

Brutal indeed. My hand cramps at a loan/refinancing closing and that's only 20 pages or so to sign.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

Doodles, drawings etc can be done by the autopen, as well as signatures.
Whatever the author does at his location, is exactly replicated at the location of the book. This can be thousands of miles away.

[ELazansky]

I know the doodles can be autopenned as well - what I meant was I've seen many different versions of the Horns sig page, and they are different, so I assumed they were legit. Here are three examples:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Joe-Hill-SIGNED-...item2a0b423300
http://cgi.ebay.com/Joe-Hill-SIGNED-...item5d2bc4e255
http://cgi.ebay.com/Joe-Hill-SIGNED-...item5d2845bf12

My copy is different from these three:

[WeDealInLead]

Are those UK signed editions signed by King on a sticker or just photocopied in colour and pasted on the sig page? If it's the former, I'd say that's more of a legit signed edition than an auto-penned one.

[CurtSeattle]

My rule has always been.....

If the author isn't touching the pen and writing it by hand, then it shall not be considered an actual legitimate signature "signed in person". The only exception is if the author has telekinesis, in which case, the author may use his (or her) mind to control the pen and sign the proffered object. Author must be within line of sight of said object being autographed or it shall not be considered an actual legitimate signature "signed in person".

[jhanic]

You mean the copy of Firestarter I have that's signed by Charlie McGee is legit?

John

[Stockerlone]

But i think Joe Hill is realy a big exception. When i meet him last year at the one and only German sig. event,
i ask him if its possible to sign a LOT of books for me, because i have a big order list from collectors all arround the world. He says: No problem ... and started to sign an doodle, he changes his pen for sig some comics, he
doodles all books, comics and posters and marks some books with differend sentences like: KILL KILL KILL. Rock on.....

During his signing, i excused me for his BIG work, an he say´s... YES, signing some books is a really hard work.


But Cronin´s 5000 sig..... brutal.....

[Patrick]

Are those UK signed editions signed by King on a sticker or just photocopied in colour and pasted on the sig page? If it's the former, I'd say that's more of a legit signed edition than an auto-penned one.

This is in reference to the H&S limited editions.
Some are his actual signature on bookplates pasted into the book. Some are facsimile signatures with a slightly different bookplate.
Some UK limited editions only came in the real S/L. Others had the facsimile gift editions.

My advice is to check out the King Catalog here (or The Collector's site) to familiarize yourself with a UK limited edition before buying on eBay to ensure you get what you think you are getting because some eBay sellers are misleading either purposefully or out of ignorance.


On the Joe Hill topic: My understanding is that he does not use the auto-pen on any signed editions, but perhaps the next time someone sees him, they can confirm.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

Easy guide for UK S/Ls. Blue ink = facsimile. Black ink = King signed.

[tippy4]

What is this?

Is this a legit signature, or some machine gererated piece of crap?

AUTO SIGNED GREEN MILE

[Randall Flagg]

I think that was discussed earlier upthread, or in the Interesting Ebay auctions thread. Somehow the seller glommed onto the "Autopen" topicality.

[Brice]

I think that's the one that started this auto signing discussion.

[Rahfa]

Very odd. The signature actually looks okay at first glance (but there were flaws pointed out a few posts ago)....Why would anyone 'autopen' Part Four? Unless the seller knows this is a forgery and is just using the auto-pen claim as a way to say "hey, I didn't say it was real."

[MLG]

When Joe Hill was signing at Powell's books in Portland there was a pretty good crowd. He stated up front that he would sign all items but asked anyone with over three items to allow those with three items or less to go first so would not have to wait too long. He took the time to speak with, in many cases take pictures with and doodle throughout. A very gracious man. On a side note he spent the morning of the signing in Portland going around town and signing the books on the shelves of several book stores.

[carlosdetweiller]

Very odd. The signature actually looks okay at first glance (but there were flaws pointed out a few posts ago)....Why would anyone 'autopen' Part Four? Unless the seller knows this is a forgery and is just using the auto-pen claim as a way to say "hey, I didn't say it was real."

I must be missing something. Many of the seller's other auctions have "AUTO" in the auction title but I think that is just his shorthand for "autographed." I can't see where the seller states it is anything other than a legit autograph. Or is it just some of us here on this website that have made the erroneous leap to think that this is an auto-pen signature? How did we get to this point? I'm confused.
I'm pretty sure it is a forgery. Nothing more, nothing less.

[jhanic]

That's the way I understood it also. Auto=autographed. As to whether it's a fake or not, I think it very well could be (I wouldn't want it in my collection).

John

[Bev Vincent]

I've never heard of King making use of an autopen.