Charlton Heston - Heavily forged and secretarial signatures
in July 2020 a most interesting article was written in USA Complaints PSA DNA Authentication Services, etc.
Names were dropped all over the place. Names easily recognizable to anyone in the autograph hobby. It is said listing the names that the group fronts an organized crime organization, made up of high profile dealers.
After nine devastating lines the complaint continues: “…..To show how much harm they are inflicting into this hobby, they had a meeting to discuss the low value of Charlton Heston autographs. Most collectors do not see this as a crisis, but this group sees it as an emergency situation. ‘We Must Make Every Autograph Lucrative And Profitable To Our Industry’ states …….(name withheld here). The low value of Heston autographs is no reflection of the successful acting career of Charlton Heston, but rather the vast number of items this man signed willingly. Charlton Heston NEVER employed a secretary to sign autographs. Recently a study was released by the motley crew of ….., ….. ,…..(two high profile names in the hobby) and other high profile autograph lords to render all real Heston Autograph to be (wrongly) and have them labeled as secretarial, while showing examples of the Real Heston Autographs (name withheld) forgeries) to be the so-called real ones. The (name withheld) forgeries have a taller ……. and less wiggles. Charlton Heston prided himself for signing all requests PERSONALLY and never fooling fans with secretarial . These idiots are tarnishing Mr. Heston’s good name. Reputation, and his memory in the name of power, wealth and greed.
I have a problem with some things said above.
(1). The vast number of items this man signed willingly. Not true. Some members of PADAH did a lengthy study on the availability of Heston Autographs. It was easily discovered that genuine signed photographs can be considered quite scarce. A trip to eBay found 69 signed photographs of Charlton Heston autographs, many with COA’s. several were described as SCARCE and RARE. To be accurate, out of the 69 signed photographs only 7 were genuinely signed.
(2) Charlton Heston NEVER employed a secretary. NOT TRUE. Most non genuine signed photographs on eBay were either secretarial signed or the signatures were fairly poor forgeries. The source of the forgeries was a person connected with a high profile autograph auction house.
The following illustrations are just a sample of what can be found on eBay.
- A color photograph of Heston bearing a non genuine signature with a COA from Beckett.
- A color photo of Heston with a non genuine signature with a COA from JSA.
A B&W photo correctly described as secretarial.
A scarce photograph with a genuine inscription signed by Heston. Courtesy of Todd Mueller Autographs.
- A document that bears a genuine signature of Charlton Heston.
Six signed photographs, each bearing a non-genuine autograph of Charlton Heston. Sold by RR Auction for $371 was lot # 1071.
- On eBay offered is a signed letter together with a signed photograph. ONLY ONE HAS A GENUINE SIGNATURE. Obviously the seller cannot tell the very obvious differenceS.
What exemplars was used to do a study on Heston autographs? A few notable members of PADAH (Preferred Autograph Dealers and Auction Houses) utilized dozens of actual signed photographs (not copies) from the Stephen Koschal Reference Library which is now housed at PADAH. See samples below.
On purpose, we are not explaining how to tell the difference between a genuine signature or a secretarial and even a forged example. However we are available and ready to teach those who claim to be autograph authenticators on how to discover the difference. WE ENCOURAGE THEIR INTEREST. PADAH is the only autograph club that can offer this type of service. Support the 70 plus professional members.
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