posted 04-08-2007 08:03 PM               

I got Neil in Beverly Hills in 1999 at the BH Hotel and Buzz at a restaurant in BH at Spago, I've photographed Buzz Aldrin a lot of times, I put up one of the photos I shot of him from a book signing of Mr Aldrin.

posted 04-08-2007 08:33 PM               

Check out the "A" in the lower right example of the multiple-photo auction image. That looks like a pretty darned good Neil prose capital "A" (in my opinion). Hypothetically, assuming these were done by a bad forger - and that is what the consensus (rightly or wrongly) appears to be right now - why would they make an "A" which looked that good? There are at least a couple of other tells amongst the examples shown which aren't so easy to dismiss either.

I thought about the two well-known & authentic "atypical" Neils from 1999. John
Wardell's and Alan Thompson's (I believe Alan's is from 1999 - someone please correct me if I am wrong). The seller on eBay claims to have obtained these in 1999. Armstrong also reportedly signed for some collectors at the 1999 Houston Astros Opening Day game, with a prose-style signature.

The next biggest problem after the strange traits is: Why would Armstrong be signing multiple autographs for someone? Perhaps he did not care so much about the number, since the autographs he was giving were so unusual-looking?

Real or not, the ones in this auction are probably worth little because they look so strange. And if they are real, it would be unfortunate that they would be worth little. But that's the simple reality of the market - fewer people would want them.

posted 04-08-2007 09:03 PM            

Unfortunately, Neil pulled a "Bill Anders" on him. He signed a baseball for an unnamed UACC officer the same atypical way, at an Astros game. He's probably the same guy who broke the camel's back with his constant "Hounding" of Armstrong.

posted 04-09-2007 01:09 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by mdmyer:
I think all of this, and of the other thread about the printed signature, is why I doubt I will ever own an Armstrong signed piece.

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posted 04-09-2007 02:51 PM               

There may be a signature variant that we should be aware of.

That makes the field of collecting autographs more interesting.

posted 04-09-2007 06:46 PM               

Basically, I took part in the reenactment of the A11 landing back in 1989 for the 20th anniversary. When I met them, I gave them a photo and a book to sign which they did.

Since, I didn't really collect space things at that time, I didn't even look at the signatures of the book. However, a few weeks later, I opened the book and saw that Armstrong had signed the book completely differently from the photo. Again, I just didn't think too much about it, because sometimes I sign my name in cursive and sometimes I print my name. So, I figured that he must do the same.

However, when I started collecting, I was proud of the fact that I had not only a signed photograph but also a book from Apollo 11. However, when I came upon collectspace years later, I realized that I had a book that, although I knew Armstrong had signed, looked completely different from his "normal" signature. I knew that although it was real, no one would believe me and my book would be considered a "bad forgery." It would also taint my whole collection. It really sucked, especially when the call for Armstrong signatures on collectspace began. The experts had finally decided what an Armstrong signature looked like and it was nowhere near the signature on the book I had.

posted 04-09-2007 07:54 PM               

In my personal view, anyone's autograph is however they sign. They may sign in aypical ways now and then, but it would still very much be their autograph. I have authenticated a few "atypical" Anders which were sent in for consignment to R&R auctions (and I was more than happy to do it) because many known-authentic examplars of those exist and these usually have their own very distinctive traits which could not be easily forged.

posted 04-11-2007 03:35 PM               

Then about 1993, [Armstrong] realized that his autographs were being sold over the Internet. Many of the signatures, he found, were forgeries. So he just quit signing.

posted 04-11-2007 04:55 PM               

Once he figured out I was not going to insult him or his item I found him to be an extremely pleasant person. He also shared his experience at the signing that night which I found to be very insightful and highly informative towards Mr. Armstrong's reasons to stop signing. And the threads like this help bring details like those to light. Everyone can make assumptions as to why he quit signing the second time and he probably was burned out and fed up. Put yourself in his shoes being hounded every day for thirty years. I think I would be looking for any excuse myself. I would look at it with the perspective of do I want to go through this in the years I may have left. (I don't blame him.)

What is sad is that Mr. Keeler terminated his auction based on the opinions given in this thread. Basically assuming he had an ugly duckling that no one would want. Overlooking the fact that he brought to light an apparently overlooked variant style of signature. As the replies progressed they started popping out of the woodwork. My question is did Mr. Armstrong attempt a new style that would be more difficult to forge in 1999? Only he knows his own reason.

posted 04-11-2007 06:37 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Lunar rock nut:
My question is did Mr. Armstrong attempt a new style that would be more difficult to forge in 1999?

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posted 04-11-2007 08:03 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by mjanovec:
It would be interesting to see what Armstrong's signature would sell for today had he never stopped signing. Anyone remember what they were selling for circa 1993?

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posted 04-11-2007 09:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
Autograph material of Armstrong during the 1970/80s were only selling for a hundred dollars or more. A signed picture of him, in 1983, was only listed for $125!

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