| Mr. Scully 13.07.2006 07:00 |
To celebrate the millionth visitor of my Queen Concerts site I've decided to launch Queen Autographs - a website dedicated to genuine and fake Queen autographs. I'm doing a research with an English collector and we want to show you how to recognize fake Queen autographs from genuine ones. Above all we want to focus on fakes on eBay but we will also pay attention to fakes given away by the official Queen fan club. Interaction with the visitors: you can use the form on QueenAutographs to submit an eBay auction that you want to have checked. We'll have a look and express our opinion usually within 24 hours. If we don't know, we will admit that :-) It's a free service from fans to fans - and I think I can safely say that nobody has studied Queen autographs as hard as I did. If you want to help us: we need scans of autographed Queen items (with Freddie) - but only those that are genuine or those that the fan club certified as genuine. I'm not interested in bad eBay fakes, I have enough of these :-) Thanks in advance! Welcome to link |
| The Fairy King 13.07.2006 07:32 |
Very good! Thanks! |
| John S Stuart 13.07.2006 08:22 |
Excellent site as usual Martin. The attention to detail is quite meticulous. I hope this becomes another of your successful ventures, and like your link , becomes one of those reliable references I can dip into when and wherever I need it. Congratulations. Acting as devil's advocate, I fully agree you are providing an excellent (free) service for collectors of genuine autographs, which I hope, leaves the forgers quaking in their boots, so I fully support this laudable cause. On the other hand, don’t you think you are providing more lethal ammunition for the crooks to refine their skills – and ultimately produce ‘better’ fakes? |
| Mr. Scully 13.07.2006 08:35 |
Thanks, John. Yes, I'm aware I'm "providing more lethal ammunition for the crooks" but I'm sure it's impossible to produce "perfect autographs" and the big dealers usually don't have time to master their skills anyway. Overall the quality of fakes will probably improve but I don't believe anybody is able to fake Queen autographs perfectly. |
| Sebastian 13.07.2006 08:37 |
I like it and it's indeed quite brave to publicly uncover the fan club's incompetence. But you're missing the hall of shame. |
| John S Stuart 13.07.2006 09:07 |
Mr. Scully wrote: Thanks, John. Yes, I'm aware I'm "providing more lethal ammunition for the crooks" but I'm sure it's impossible to produce "perfect autographs" and the big dealers usually don't have time to master their skills anyway. Overall the quality of fakes will probably improve but I don't believe anybody is able to fake Queen autographs perfectly.Good answer. As I said above, I think it is an excellent site. I also think it is good news for us all, that someone, (or some organisation) finally has the balls to tackle e-bay face to face. Do you think that the day may come when your autograph site (hopefully) becomes so influential that e-bay has to sit up and actually do something? (And before someone writes in to suggest this is too much power for one man to weild, remember Martin would not be alone in this, as he would obviously have a bank of 'experts' to confer with). |
| Mr. Scully 13.07.2006 09:19 |
"Do you think that the day may come when your autograph site (hopefully) becomes so influential that e-bay has to sit up and actually do something?" No :-) The main reason being that the site is based on my opinion, on my experience. Not on 100% proofs. "But you're missing the hall of shame." It's there, only hidden. It helps with recognizing the auctions with fakes. It'll be probably back in some shape, give me a couple days :-) Btw. is there any expert out there who would be willing to make a banner for QueenAutographs? :) I need a professional banner, just like the one on QueenConcerts. Starman created an excellent one, I know Pim can make great graphics - anybody else? :-) |
| Serry... 13.07.2006 09:58 |
Thanks for your research and the works for that site, Martin! |
| David Jones 13.07.2006 13:53 |
Great idea! Another great site, fresh layout. Is there supposed to be a banner at the top, cause I can't see it, just blue! |
| Mr. Scully 13.07.2006 14:51 |
The banner is there, try to reload :) Anyway, I hope somebody makes a good banner for me soon because the current one is very simple, nothing to be proud of :) |
| thomasquinn 32989 13.07.2006 15:45 |
John S Stuart wrote: On the other hand, don’t you think you are providing more lethal ammunition for the crooks to refine their skills – and ultimately produce ‘better’ fakes?Exactly what I was thinking today. |
| DreaminQueen 13.07.2006 17:48 |
Awesome Martin! If only there were more people like you warning us honest working fans sooner... People will always wanna jump on the gravy train... Cheers! *Rock On* |
| Brian_Mays_Wig 13.07.2006 18:21 |
Excellent......as per.....Keep up the good work. |
| Micrówave 13.07.2006 18:31 |
You should charge at least $1 for your service. Why someone would buy an autograph without seeing it signed personally is beyond me. Remember: OVER 50% OF SIGNED SPORTS MEMORABILIA IN THE U.S. IS FAKE!!! and people still buy it up. Are we really that pathetic that we need to display something and make a fake story up about how Roger gave that to me? |
| DreaminQueen 13.07.2006 19:10 |
Mircrowave! wrote: You should charge at least $1 for your service. Why someone would buy an autograph without seeing it signed personally is beyond me. Remember: OVER 50% OF SIGNED SPORTS MEMORABILIA IN THE U.S. IS FAKE!!! and people still buy it up. Are we really that pathetic that we need to display something and make a fake story up about how Roger gave that to me?Well unlike those crooks who want to make money by robbing honest people of money because they wanted an autograph from their fave group, Martin here is doing a service for the world. And unlike the majority of the world, hes not out for monetary compensation... Hes doing ti for the love of the group and other fans like him. Because wouldnt you be peeved if you spent good money on an autograph only to find its fake?? |
| Queen T 13.07.2006 20:49 |
Mr. Scully: I just e-mailed you about 6 items to have a look at... Thanks!!! |
| rocks. 13.07.2006 21:10 |
Sebastian wrote: I like it and it's indeed quite brave to publicly uncover the fan club's incompetence. But you're missing the hall of shame.haha, if you does make one, make sure to include the Freddie Mercury Solo Album signature...signed byt Freddie... PFFT! |
| The Real Wizard 14.07.2006 02:26 |
WhatMustHeThink wrote:And the re-release of BoRhap after Freddie's death, signed by all four members of the band. Classic.Sebastian wrote: I like it and it's indeed quite brave to publicly uncover the fan club's incompetence. But you're missing the hall of shame.haha, if you does make one, make sure to include the Freddie Mercury Solo Album signature...signed byt Freddie... PFFT! |
| RogerTaylorNet 14.07.2006 03:28 |
Great website, Martin. Thanks for your work! |
| Isis 14.07.2006 04:02 |
Great Mr. Scully Thanks Isis |
| QueenCuttings.com 14.07.2006 04:23 |
Another great and very useful site Mr Scully! Thank you very much for it. I can not promise you anything, but if you like, I'll try (or better, my wife) to do a banner and send you by mail (if this can help you) Have a nice day Rock On |
| deleted user 14.07.2006 04:48 |
cool thanks |
| Bambi 15.07.2006 00:36 |
great info...lol thanks. |
| Isis 15.07.2006 01:42 |
Just put the word out there for you a bit Mr. Scully in my neck of the woods - I have already had heaps reports back in with thanks to give to you from the fans for looking out for them. Isis |
| eenaweena 15.07.2006 02:41 |
you've done a great service to all queen fans. thanks, man. |
| pcgenius9 15.07.2006 13:57 |
WOW you're quick! I added 4 things tonight and 3 of them you believe are genuine - cool! |
| David Jones 15.07.2006 14:34 |
No, still not showing. I had the same problem with the banner on QueenConcerts.com until you changed it from '05 to '06 for some bizzare reason... |
| Mr. Scully 15.07.2006 15:37 |
David, I changed the banner two hours ago... try to reload. If you don't succeed, it must be some caching on your side. |
| Soul Brother 15.07.2006 17:31 |
It is great to have a site dedicated to this issue and you are to praised for you hard work in putting this together. Have had a good look through the site and it seems well put together, however a few details and problems spring to mind, based on official representations of the signatures based on the Scandal 12" etched versions and also that provided with the miracle lithographic 12" print and those you highlight as genuine and those as fakes. The absolute fakes are easy to spot (now easier thanks to your service) but what about signatures obtained from signing sessions after which the band had spent a few hours signing (try it yourself and see how your hand hurts and what shortcuts you make after 100+. Another technical issue is that signing in biro and marker are like chalk and cheese and shortcuts are made with the latter due to lack of available detail. Finally, it does seem crazy to suggest say that 100% of all signatures obtained via the fan club are fake - this definately requires further testimony and evidence - who did the fakes, why, how, did the band never, ever visit the fan club and sign material....it seems unfathonable to assume they didn't, I am very sure they did, and thus I would say this needs absolute confirmation as some therefore may be genuine. A great site dedicated to the postive aspects and hopefully will attract great debate!!! |
| Mr. Scully 15.07.2006 17:57 |
Soul Brother - thanks for the comments. Signing sessions - from what I heard, they were very scarce, I remember only some Hot Space signing sessions. Anyway, I'm sure the hand can get tired but have a look at Complete Works - the first 600 were signed by the band. And it's a perfect example how you can sign a lot of items and still your signature is perfect. Or it may not be perfect, your hand may be tired but in that case I can admit I'm not sure about the signature. But fakes are in 95% of cases clear and easy to recognize. Biro versus marker - the band usually used a biro or a very thin (black) marker (at least in the 70's - 80's). While 100% of fake signatures are by a thick marker, usually by a coloured one :-) Fan club - the faking started around 1984; until then the autographs were genuine. And of course, I can never be certain about all the cases but I have seen like 30 signatures obtained by various fans from the fan club between 1984 and 1990 and all of them were fake (which was also recently - ironically - confirmed by Jacky when I sent her one of those scans). I'm sure the band did visit the office from time to time but I can imagine those signatures were used a prizes for the Conventions (all UK Conventions featured genuine signatures - which is sadly not the case of Dutch conventions). |
| Soul Brother 15.07.2006 19:37 |
Martin, Thanks for the response. As far as I am concerned, the more debate and discussion on this issue, the better and your site is a positive move towards this so well done. I think I have said in the past that it would be useful to (somehow) get a professional graphologist on board. Not easy, but give the band's profile, perhaps this could be a loss leader for anyone worth their salt (ie they can afford to do it for fee given the publicity they would receive). A very cursory trawl of the net shows up link and perhaps it would be worth highlighting the site to Margaret for further work? |
| Soul Brother 15.07.2006 19:40 |
I would add that the element of the grapholists work would be merely that of familiarity/consistency of signatures over the years, rather than that of character analysis!!! |
| Mr. Scully 16.07.2006 05:45 |
Yes, I will also be happy for a discussion instead of some quick statements :-) It would be very useful to ask a professional graphologist - but I'm definitely not willing to pay 100 pounds just to prove that I was right and fan club faked autographs :) Most graphologists also do character analysis instead of authenticating signatures. What I would want to ask the graphologist about are the Miracle era signatures (1989-1991). That's something I'm absolutely unsure about and those can be poor fakes as well as strange but genuine autographs. |
| David Jones 16.07.2006 09:16 |
Nah, still not worked Martin, must be some problem my end. I'm sure it'll appear eventually. Is there supposed to be a banner on the top of the QueenOnline.com page as all I can see there is grey! Very strange. |
| Mr. Scully 16.07.2006 09:24 |
All - a new section added, now you can upload your own images (took me a while to find out how to do the automatic resizing and other things :-) link David - it's strange because it's normal img src, it can't be any easier :-) Yes, there's also a banner on QueenOnline. Must be something with your browser then. |
| leebaguk 16.07.2006 11:33 |
I have just uploaded one of my Freddie signitures to your new (excellent) site. Heres a brief history on how I obtained it. I was a Fan Club member until 1994 and this autograph dates back to 1988. I had sent Jacky a picture of Freddie in the hopes of it appearing in the QFC mag. Imagine my suprise when I recieved the pic back from her with this comment. "Thanks for the great pictue you sent for the magazine. However, Freddie was in The Office this morning and I asked him to sign it for you instead!" The ahutograph is signed in Blue biro. I also had sent in stuff to be signed in 1990 and Im pretty sure that they were fakes that I got back. They looked good though. I have since sold those ones. The one I have posted on here I will always keep as it's far more personal. See what you think.... Lee |
| Mr. Scully 16.07.2006 11:58 |
Lee, the upload has failed for some reason. Maybe the file was too big or something. Could you please email it to me? I will upload it myself and see if some error occurs. |
| David Jones 16.07.2006 12:40 |
Must be. I'll have to upgrade to the latest IE. I wonder how many other sites I'm not seeing in their full glory... |
| leebaguk 16.07.2006 16:11 |
sure. Will do Mr Scully.... Let me know the addy Lee |
| Mr. Scully 16.07.2006 16:24 |
Lee - try webmaster@queenconcerts.com |
| podders 14.01.2009 14:27 |
Shame this has stopped listing ebay autographs now especially given the causes and circumstances mentioned on the front page. Was a really good source of information. :-( |