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

[Patrick]

If I was from the other side of the pond, I would buy this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stephen-King-Aut...item1e597babb7

I believe this is a fake.

Look at the enlarged "signature" page

The image in the middle of the page is clear. the area around the signature is pixelated. I think the sig is superimposed over the page. Photoshop job.

Regarding the back story: I don't understand why SK would sign this book rather than one of his own for a charity auction. I thought authors were (with few exceptions) loathe to sign books to which they made no contribution.

[Calla_Wolf]

If I was from the other side of the pond, I would buy this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stephen-King-Aut...item1e597babb7

I believe this is a fake.

Look at the enlarged "signature" page

The image in the middle of the page is clear. the area around the signature is pixelated. I think the sig is superimposed over the page. Photoshop job.

I saw this auction last night. Immediately sent Muzak Heart and Soul Foundation an email asking for confirmation of such an item sold as a benefit for the cause.

Waiting on response. Not that the response guarantees real or fake or but just curious.

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

The signature seems real....I can't really see the pixelation...but that's a strange book for him to sign, or for someone to ask him to sign.

I'm not sure how a photoshopped signature would help the seller, since the buyer would eventually see what they got.

However, that book is a large 14x11, and that signature's ratio seems to fit - which means it's a very large signature for SK to sign....that's the oddest part about it.

I didn't say the sig wasn't real...I said I thought it was superimposed.

Take a look at the image at double its size



The pixelation is quite visible around the signature, as if it were a separate file saved with a different compression to the photo of the book.

I may be completely paranoid, but NO WAY would I bid on it without a lot more photos

[jhanic]

I see what you mean. I agree, there's something not quite right there.

John

[Calla_Wolf]

If I was from the other side of the pond, I would buy this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stephen-King-Aut...item1e597babb7

I believe this is a fake.

Look at the enlarged "signature" page

The image in the middle of the page is clear. the area around the signature is pixelated. I think the sig is superimposed over the page. Photoshop job.

Regarding the back story: I don't understand why SK would sign this book rather than one of his own for a charity auction. I thought authors were (with few exceptions) loathe to sign books to which they made no contribution.

ABSOLUTELY

Here's a blow-up of the "signature" page

[Patrick]

I'm leaning heavily toward moving the "Stephen King Autographed Copy of Long May She Wave" posts to the eBay BS thread as it has evolved into a discussion of sig validity, and a discussion has started there as well on the same auction. That ok with everyone?


EDIT: Done.

[namelessnpoor]

here is a closer image of the signed blaze i am looking at to purchase depending on the opinions offered here. So far there has been some skepticism.
It was supposedly signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival and the seller said he had it signed in person.

Please let me know what you think !! Don't wish to waste my money

[IMG][/IMG]

[divemaster]

It's not one of his prettier sigs, but I think it is legit.

[Calla_Wolf]

here is a closer image of the signed blaze i am looking at to purchase depending on the opinions offered here. So far there has been some skepticism.
It was supposedly signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival and the seller said he had it signed in person.

Please let me know what you think !! Don't wish to waste my money

Gut instinct says it's good...but I'm not 100%.

[shibus]

Publicatiion date is June 12th, 2007. For whats it's worth.......

[namelessnpoor]

Publicatiion date is June 12th, 2007. For whats it's worth.......

So Blaze was published June 2007, but he had it signed in 2005 ? I guess that is just about impossible isn't it ?

[carlosdetweiller]

I am leaning towards legit. Not entirely sure, though.

[gsvec]

My gut's telling me it's not legit. Can't figure out why just yet, but let me stare at it longer. Something's just not right.

[willie3]

Miss Gretchen, I agree with you.

I really do not like the way the 'hen' looks.
Looks to me to be written very slow and deliberate.

And that's not taking into account the signature was obtained on a book that hadn't been published yet...

Karl

[Rahfa]

If I was from the other side of the pond, I would buy this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stephen-King-Aut...item1e597babb7

I believe this is a fake.

Look at the enlarged "signature" page

The image in the middle of the page is clear. the area around the signature is pixelated. I think the sig is superimposed over the page. Photoshop job.

I saw this auction last night. Immediately sent Muzak Heart and Soul Foundation an email asking for confirmation of such an item sold as a benefit for the cause.

Waiting on response. Not that the response guarantees real or fake or but just curious.

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

The signature seems real....I can't really see the pixelation...but that's a strange book for him to sign, or for someone to ask him to sign.

I'm not sure how a photoshopped signature would help the seller, since the buyer would eventually see what they got.

However, that book is a large 14x11, and that signature's ratio seems to fit - which means it's a very large signature for SK to sign....that's the oddest part about it.

I didn't say the sig wasn't real...I said I thought it was superimposed.

Take a look at the image at double its size



The pixelation is quite visible around the signature, as if it were a separate file saved with a different compression to the photo of the book.

I may be completely paranoid, but NO WAY would I bid on it without a lot more photos

I know you said it was superimposed...did you not grasp that I said I couldn't see the pixelization?

Also, that signature would be HUGE in real life...maybe three inches across?

I don't get how the seller could pull this off...if it's photoshopped, how will the seller make that work when the book actually arrives?

It would be easy to fake that for an ebay listing - but how would the actual, physical book be faked? I can't figure it out...

[Sam]

here is a closer image of the signed blaze i am looking at to purchase depending on the opinions offered here. So far there has been some skepticism.
It was supposedly signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival and the seller said he had it signed in person.

Please let me know what you think !! Don't wish to waste my money

[IMG][/IMG]

I would cry fake if he insists it was signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival since the book wasn't published until 2007. The signature looks good, but my gut says this is just a really good fake job. That's based on his statement about when the book was signed, nothing more. Your choice now is to either ask for a clarification (if the seller has said more than once it was signed in 2005, no clarification should be needed), purchase the book, or walk away.

I recommend at least lacing up your sneakers.

[Rahfa]

It HAS to be fake if he claims it was signed in 2005...he got too cute for his own good, and spun a story with no research.

Plus, something looks wrong with it...looks maybe traced. Just a wee bit too careful.

[gsvec]

More crap.

And it looks like this guy's selling his practice cards.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

But they come with COA's, they must be genuine. I mean...that would be dishonest.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Here's a nice one.

[Patrick]

More crap.

And it looks like this guy's selling his practice cards.

My favorite part of the first one is the lifetime guarantee that apparently lasts only 7 days:

* Everything sold is 100% hand signed by the personality and is fully guaranteed for
the life of the autograph. I will stand behind each and every autograph that is listed for sale. *

Please buy with confidence.

:: RETURNS ::

You may return your item to us for any reason within 7 days of the receipt of your purchase. We will grant a full refund of the purchase price of your item. Return shipping is assumed by the buyer. Return shipping will be refunded in the event that an item is inaccurately described.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

only $20,000

[Patrick]

only $20,000

This has got to be a tough economy to try to sell an expensive collectible like the asbestos Firestarter. Good luck, Mike!

[Sam]

More crap.

I sent the guy a note telling him it was a fake. Here's the reply he sent back.

"Thank you for this message. This autograph was actually obtained in person by a close friend of mine in 2002. I have full documentation of the signing and a photo of my friend with Mr. King. It's a piece he hated to part with as it was inscribed to him. But it is absolutely authentically hand signed by him. Best, Mike."

[Brice]

More crap.


And it looks like this guy's selling his practice cards.

What I love about this second one is he's selling that shit for charity.

More crap.

And it looks like this guy's selling his practice cards.

My favorite part of the first one is the lifetime guarantee that apparently lasts only 7 days:

* Everything sold is 100% hand signed by the personality and is fully guaranteed for
the life of the autograph. I will stand behind each and every autograph that is listed for sale. *

Please buy with confidence.

:: RETURNS ::

You may return your item to us for any reason within 7 days of the receipt of your purchase. We will grant a full refund of the purchase price of your item. Return shipping is assumed by the buyer. Return shipping will be refunded in the event that an item is inaccurately described.

After 7 days he kills you, thus it is legitimately a lifetime guarantee.

only $20,000

Now you know what to get me for Christmas.

More crap.

I sent the guy a note telling him it was a fake. Here's the reply he sent back.

"Thank you for this message. This autograph was actually obtained in person by a close friend of mine in 2002. I have full documentation of the signing and a photo of my friend with Mr. King. It's a piece he hated to part with as it was inscribed to him. But it is absolutely authentically hand signed by him. Best, Mike."

Stating the obvious, but he is a liar, his friend is a liar, or all of the above.

[namelessnpoor]

here is a closer image of the signed blaze i am looking at to purchase depending on the opinions offered here. So far there has been some skepticism.
It was supposedly signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival and the seller said he had it signed in person.

Please let me know what you think !! Don't wish to waste my money

[IMG][/IMG]

I would cry fake if he insists it was signed at the 2005 New Yorker Festival since the book wasn't published until 2007. The signature looks good, but my gut says this is just a really good fake job. That's based on his statement about when the book was signed, nothing more. Your choice now is to either ask for a clarification (if the seller has said more than once it was signed in 2005, no clarification should be needed), purchase the book, or walk away.

I recommend at least lacing up your sneakers.

I did ask for clarificationand his reply was he told me the wrong info, he mixed the Blaze up with another book he was emailing info about. The other book had been signed in 2005, the Blaze now was signed in October 2008 in Cambridge, MA. As much as I want to get a signed blaze, i think i will just pass this one by, the when and where story of the sig was to much, i think hes lying. Plus getting info has been like pulling teeth.
Thanks for your help everyone