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Author Topic:   Gene Cernan's new autograph style
Spacefest
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From: Tucson, AZ
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posted 11-27-2009 11:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacefest   Click Here to Email Spacefest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Autograph show attendees have probably seen Gene Cernan wearing a "bowling glove" on his right hand.

When he was here for a signing last fall, his hand went out frequently. He grabbed a "practice pic" and came up with this new signature. Look for it.

He will spontaneously use the new signature sometime, as it is easier for him to do. Right now this one item is the first and only manifestation.

eurospace
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From: Brussels, Belgium
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posted 11-28-2009 04:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
His new signature type is actually nicer than his old one, if you ask me...

Scott
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posted 11-28-2009 07:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott   Click Here to Email Scott     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's great that it helps his hand. I like the look, too.

nasamad
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From: Essex, UK
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posted 11-28-2009 09:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I like it, I think he should use it all the time to preserve his wrist, and so we can date (pre/post Nov. 09) his signature!

Kim, on the first closeup, have stars been added to the Full Earth shot or is that digital artifacts/dust?

AstroAutos
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posted 11-28-2009 01:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstroAutos   Click Here to Email AstroAutos     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I too like this new signature style... in my opinion he should definitely sign this way from now on to "preserve" his signing hand.

Spacefest
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posted 11-28-2009 01:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacefest   Click Here to Email Spacefest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by nasamad:
Kim, on the first closeup, have stars been added to the Full Earth shot or is that digital artifacts/dust?
I just noticed that, too, on the closeup. It was done from JL Pickering's Retro Space Images CD, so I think it's real.

They seem to be all the same magnitude (brightness) so it's a mystery...

Jay
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posted 11-28-2009 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay   Click Here to Email Jay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just did a quick review of the Apollo 17 Retro Space image disc. It appears the original image in question is from the AS17-148-222729 through 222733 series. I can assure you that there are no stars or dust specks visible on the original files. My guess is that the "stars" are some sort of reflection in the photo that Kim took of the reprint.

mjanovec
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posted 11-28-2009 03:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I like the style, but it appears to less of a "signed" signature and more or less just his name spelled out in his usual lettering style. Still, it has that unmistakable Gene Cernan "style" to it.

That brings up an interesting topic...how would we feel about getting new signature styles from astronauts whose signatures have become somewhat iconic to collectors? For example, if you were to plunk down you money for an Aldrin signature and he gave you a new style that wasn't familiar to you (or most other collectors), how would you feel? While we're used to the slow evolution of these signatures over time, we rarely see a new style suddenly appear overnight (unless you're talking about Bill Anders ).

mjanovec
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posted 11-28-2009 03:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jay:
My guess is that the "stars" are some sort of reflection in the photo that Kim took of the reprint.

Certain matte finish photos create the effect when they are scanned or photographed, so I think you are right J.L. The irregular surface can reflect points of light in different directions and can sometimes reflect the scanner's light (or the camera flash) directly back into the photo receptor. Note that there are also points of light reflected back from the earth portion of the photo (even if they don't stand out as well). Of course, these points of light probably aren't visible in the actual photograph when viewed with the eye.

Spacefest
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posted 11-28-2009 03:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacefest   Click Here to Email Spacefest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The image was printed on our giclee printer, then scanned, enlarged and sharpened. The "stars" are not apparent in the real image, so I think you're right. It's the paper and processing.

Interesting random distribution, though.

nasamad
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posted 11-28-2009 05:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
That brings up an interesting topic...how would we feel about getting new signature styles from astronauts whose signatures have become somewhat iconic to collectors?
Personally I'd probably be more concerned if I was looking at the signature as an investment, than if it was for keeps. I think I'd politely ask the signee why they had signed in a different style, and keep any reply with the signature.

I wonder what the reaction was of the people who received the Neil Armstrong "printed" autographs all those years ago. They are an accepted variation to us, because of good research, but so different to the norm.

Re: The "Stars", glad to hear they are not on the photo.

328KF
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posted 11-29-2009 04:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 328KF   Click Here to Email 328KF     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Oh no! Can you imagine if they all started doing this? We would all have to plop down the cash for the "new style" signatures from the guys we have had sign items many times over already!

Only the real collector would have a complete set of all four types Buzz would come out with!

But seriously, I understand the problem with Cernan's wrist and I'd rather see him do this than stop signing.

Rob Joyner
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posted 11-29-2009 07:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rob Joyner   Click Here to Email Rob Joyner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To take it one more step, would there be a market for an ink-stamped 'autograph' if an astronaut could no longer sign at all?

I also collect Wizard of Oz autographs and a year before his death I got to meet Clarence Swensen, then the last surviving Munchkinland soldier. He was unable to sign but had a special ink stamp made for use at autograph shows. I appreciated just meeting the man but having the stamped signature was still desirable.

The Oz actors only charged $5 per autograph so money wasn't an issue, but would there be an expectation of a lower cost for such from an astronaut to generate interest, especially for items not obtained in person?

AstronautBrian
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posted 11-29-2009 10:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstronautBrian   Click Here to Email AstronautBrian     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another example of what Rob mentions above is the autograph of Roy Campanella, the Hall of Fame catcher from the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was in a car accident in 1958, which left him paralyzed. Years later, he was able to use a machine to assist him in signing his name. His signature from before the accident commands a much higher price than those signed with the help of the machine.

SVaughan
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From: Toronto, Canada
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posted 11-30-2009 08:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SVaughan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
...and then there's the remote electronic signing machine that author Margaret Atwood has used at book signings (this has been discussed previously on collectSPACE). Atwood has attended book signings 'virtually' with a video link to her in her home/office. As the person seeking the signed book steps forward, there is an interaction, Atwood signs the template at home and the signature appears on the pre-positioned book in front of the customer. There is a definite interaction with the signer, the signature bears the individuality of a 'genuine' signature and was signed 'personally' for that customer... yet it was still signed by a machine. Is it real?

As was suggested here earlier, I don't think many of us would turn down the opportunity of obtaining an autograph so signed by an astronaut via video link from earth-orbit... but how would we feel if that's how John Young or Tom Stafford did their next signing? I'm not sure there'd be a rush to pay 'full-price' for such a signature.

nasamad
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posted 11-30-2009 11:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sir Patrick Moore is another well known user of the ink stamp autograph.

I have no problem with an ink stamped autograph if I'm lucky enough to meet the "signer" and have them stamp my item in front of me. What I have more reservations about is a through the post stamped signature, where absolutely anyone could have performed the stamping.

MrSpace86
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posted 11-30-2009 06:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MrSpace86   Click Here to Email MrSpace86     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would be pretty upset about receiving a stamped, preprinted, or autopenned signature. I would rather receive my item or an item unsigned or not receive anything at all.

Regarding Gene Cernan's new signature, it looks really nice. I like the old signature a lot better but this signature is nice as well. I really appreciate and am grateful that he decided to modify his signature instead of not signing at all. Truly top class person!

JasonIUP
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posted 12-01-2009 09:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As long as Gene still charges, he's probably grateful, too, that he found a way to still charge without killing his wrist.

Spacefest
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From: Tucson, AZ
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posted 12-02-2009 12:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacefest   Click Here to Email Spacefest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gene informs me that he will not change styles in the near future, but he's read these posts and is grateful for the support when he does.

ilbasso
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From: Greensboro, NC USA
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posted 12-02-2009 01:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ilbasso   Click Here to Email ilbasso     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Whatever keeps Gene smiling and signing for us, more power to him!!

Any chance he could change the spelling and signature style to something like, oh, "Neil Armstrong"?

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