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Author
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Topic: 331650519094: John Young signed cover
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fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 09-10-2015 02:58 PM
   
Here is a "John Young" signature that is guaranteed authentic. An Eagle Scout got it signed personally at a parade. I think it belongs in the Hall of Shame.
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astrobock
Member Posts: 138
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 09-10-2015 08:50 PM
Considering the circumstances of how the signature was obtained I think it could be authentic. Not a typical signature but there are traits about it that look right in my opinion. Curious what others think. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-10-2015 08:51 PM
I agree, definitely a Hall of Shame candidate. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 09-10-2015 11:07 PM
Although the signature is quite irregular, the parade context would explain it. But more convincing to me is the elaborate display (clearly put together by a young person) to feature this treasured item. I'm sure he wouldn't go to this amount of trouble for something he'd forged... |
18blue78
Member Posts: 126
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 09-11-2015 12:21 PM
By no means an expert opinion but a big flag for me would be the stating price. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-11-2015 12:44 PM
It is certainly not a typical signature, but like some have said, there are certain traits to it that could point to it being an authentic but rushed signature.The committee member's badge offers a means of access to Young, and the other memorabilia helps to put the owner at that time and place as well. As for the starting price, well, the medals and the badge are probably worth more than the $10 being asked, and if I was a forger who went to the trouble of gathering all of the period memorabilia, I probably would take the opposite approach: setting a high price to help sell that the piece is real. Ultimately, it is a leap of faith for any potential bidder... |
Steve Zarelli
Member Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-11-2015 08:57 PM
Note that the signature is one continuous line from beginning to end. Not a likely choice for a forger. It also has some subtle positive traits. Forced to make a choice, I think it may very well be an authentic walking signature. That said, without verified exemplars to back it up, it is not "authenticatable" in my opinion. And, even if you knew with certainty it was authentic, it's not a desirable example and would be worth a small fraction of a prime example. |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 09-12-2015 02:56 AM
Not all autographs are created equal... And as with anything, as the signature becomes separated from its owner-specific provenance (which in this case is just about all that seems to give it credibility), all you're left with is a non-typical (although perhaps authentic) signature that no "expert" is willing to stake their good reputation on... So, I guess this provides a good lesson for us all — lots of genuine signatures can't or won't be authenticated, which doesn't make them forgeries, just very poor candidates for collector acquisition. And these will only become less "authenticatable" as time goes on... All great points, Steve! |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 09-12-2015 01:32 PM
I've seen some covers (no example by hand) signed by Young in "almost" one line on covers from around STS-1 and STS-9. So time matches and some traits like the "g" and the "o" make it indeed look good to me as well. |
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