john fante signature (1 Viewer)

xogget

xogget

A signed "Wait Until Spring, Bandini" just popped up on ebay and I'm very interested in buying one. I was excited at the listing until I clicked on it and saw what appears to be a forgery. Doesn't the signed edition have a cream spine? Didn't he always sign the full "john fante" for black sparrow instead of "j fante"? And the signature looks much neater than signatures I've seen of his in the past. Thanks for any help!

I know this isn't bukowski, but i know a lot of people here like Fante too. :o

Oh, and weren't all of his signatures on blank pages that were tipped in later?

oops, here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/1st-EDITION-SIG...ryZ29223QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



(I'm a forum noob!)
 
I have this auction bookmarked and was considering a bid, but you raise some valid concerns. I do know that older Fante signatures are always "J. Fante." Bog bless the forum for pointing these things out. I'll do my homework prior to bidding. Thanks.
 
Hi,
I will say, as a rule, that BSP would have numbered this 168, and NOT 168/200. Is they did number it like this photo suggests, then it would be the first time I have seen this in the hundreds of signed BSP editions that I have seen...

I would err of the side of caution. Something seems wrong...

Bill
 
My copy of Pulp with a seriograph has the xxx/xxx format, but that is the only one of those i've seen. I saw a signed Wait Until Spring at powells that has a cream color, and elsewhere the signed Wait until spring was on a blank page tipped in after the title page.

here's the copy at powell's: http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-1141629119-0#

You can see the images shown there are very different than the ebay book.
 
All of my BSP books with prints or paintings bound in have this xxx/xxx numbering. Also, I have a trade first of "Wait Until Spring Bandini" and the backstrip is red, not brown. I'm guessing that this is a legit signed/numbered copy.
 
I'm still not convinced it's legit. Every signed copy of wait until spring bandini i've looked at today has had a cream-colored spine and a signature on a blank tipped-in page that looks like the first picture here. The only variance I've seen is this ebay copy that has a black spine and a different looking signature and one that's not on a blank page. Would black sparrow randomly change this edition halfway through? The first image I have here is a Wait until spring signature I've seen examples of multiple times (and also on ask the dust), and the second is the ebay version.

fantesig.JPG fantesig2.JPG
 
Okay, now you've got me curious. I've just emailed a friend who has a huge Fante collection to find out the backstrip color and whether it's signed at the colophon or on a tipped-in blank. Should know by morning.
 
Just heard back from my friend and he confirms what you are saying... tan backstrip signed on a blank sheet. He says his lettered copy is signed on a blank as well. He also confirmed that the trade first has a red backstrip. This one has either a brown or black backstrip but is clearly a first since it has the color title page. Curiouser and curiouser.
 
Hi,
Not accusing anyone of anything, but.... I find some people that pull known signatures off of the internet. They think that they can easily copy the person's signature. They then make quite a good income buying books and signing them. Again, I'm not accusing him of this, but I have looked at some of his other signed books and they do NOT look enough like the known examples to be 100% sure they are real. Look at some of the sold books under his account.

If this was me, I would not touch this one with a 10 foot pole.

Something does not seem right with this seller.

Again, THIS IS MY OPINION......

Bill
 
You're probably right Bill. Anyway, I sent the seller a heads-up that the signature is probably a forgery and that the book is not the signed/numbered edition. Let's see what he does with the info.
 
Hi,
Whenever I have notified sellers that the Bukowski signatures that they are selling are not legit, they usually question my knowledge and tell me that they were signed in person, or some b.s. like that. I once had to explain why a 1996 edition of a book, could not have been signed by Bukowski (it was not one of the limited editions with a tipped in sig, but a later edition book). It should go without saying that you would expect a forger to be smarter than the pen that they are using, but that is not always the case.

Best,
Bill
 
Thanks for your help, guys. I wanted it to be real but it was just too fishy, and I don't want anyone else to be fooled.

Wow I just looked at his other auctions and the signatures in those are clearly fake. I'm a big Philip K. Dick fan and those signatures are just UGLY! I'm gonna contact the guy too--I don't want people getting duped.
 
I sent an e-mail to John Martin and asked his opinion as to whether or not this listing is legitimate. His response speaks for itself:

Hi Mark:

The copy of "Bandini" on eBay is completely bogus. First of all, that book is not signed by Fante on the colophon page. It's signed by Fante on an unprinted sheet tipped in after the title page. Second, the black binding is of some remainder copies of the cloth trade edition. The 1/200 signed edition is bound in cream color cloth. Even the numbering in red on the colophon page is forged--it's not Barbara's handwriting. And of course the Fante signature is forged. I think you should notify eBay!
 
The seller emailed back saying thanks and that he wouldn't want to ruin his reputation by selling a forgery. He's pulled the listing.

nymark said:
Second, the black binding is of some remainder copies of the cloth trade edition.
Click to expand...

Ah, this also explains the occasional first printing with the wrong color cloth! I'd wondered about that.
 
On the sellers listings:
The book comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Bart's Books, Ojai California.

Seeing as Bart issued a COA for a clearly forged book, it is my opinion that any COA that comes out of Bart's Books is suspect. Either they issue COAs with no knowledge of authenticity, or something much worse. Either way, I would not consider a COA from this company to be a guarantee. In fact, I would consider any book that comes with a COA from them as highly suspect.

Maybe someone should tell the seller that whoever Barts Books is owes someone an explanation....

They should pull all of their forged books that are being sold with COA's. Anyone want to mention the 5 forged Philip K Dick books that they are selling all with COAs?


Bill
 
A COA from ANY seller is not worth the paper it's written on, as far as I'm concerned. What can you do with a COA from some no-name seller if you want to resell the book at a later date? Will it mean anything at all to a third party? Probably not.
 
Hi MArk,
That is true. COA's are worth almost nothing. A COA from a reputable seller means more and one from a disreputable one means even more....

I would never buy a signed book from someone that I know has sold such a poor forgery in the past...

Bill
 
i'm compelled to comment
that i'm blown away by the knowledge
and resourcefullness of you guys
in addition having a sense of fair play & integrity
damn you're good!

;)
 
Jeez, I'm impressed, too. You guys know your stuff.

Chronic: this is a bit OT, but does your friend with the great Fante collection have a 1939 hardcover of ASK THE DUST with dust jacket? I've looked and looked on the web and never found an image of the dj from the first edition. I'd love to see it. There's one depicted in the film ASK THE DUST but they've messed with it in some way if I recall. If you can get him to send you a scan, and post it here, that would be very cool. Just had to ask. That must be one hell of a rare book, because I never see it listed for sale, or even see a photo of the book.

Unfortunately, I had a first edition of WAIT UNTIL SPRING BANDINI, 1938, with dj, and sold the sucker for $90, years ago. Big mistake number 10,417.
 
David, I would guess that he probably does but I'll have to check with him. I'll email him tonight. I'm not sure that he even has a scanner but I'll see what I can do.
 
does any one know if barts books is alphamale store on ebay.?. i've bought signed bukowski's from him. they seemed authentic.. now i'm starting to worry.
 
Hi Darren,
I don't know for sure, but it seems that is the case. Why not scan a few and send them to us (cover and sig page). I would think that a certification from the folks on this forum would be worth much more than a COA from Bart's.

Best,
Bill
 
chronic said:
David, I would guess that he probably does but I'll have to check with him. I'll email him tonight. I'm not sure that he even has a scanner but I'll see what I can do.
Click to expand...

Chronic: Thanks. It's just a long shot, but I had to ask. It's my lust for ink on paper. If I can't own a certain desirable rare book (and I know ASK THE DUST 1939 is way out of my league), then I like to at least see pictures. Kind of biblioporn. I'd love to see a scan of the dj for DUST, including the end flaps, the back cover with author photo and blurb. It's almost like being there...

My best Fante now is a 1950s paperback of FULL OF LIFE that somehow I held onto during the endless sell off of assets that is my life. It's made it this far -- I'll try to keep it for the long haul.
 
Rekrab said:
...does your friend with the great Fante collection have a 1939 hardcover of ASK THE DUST with dust jacket?
Click to expand...

Hi David. Actually, here's a link to lot 73 in the PBA Modern Lit Auction on December 14th. It's a first edition of ASK THE DUST with a jacket. If you hit the "click to enlarge" and then the "full size" link, you'll get a great blow-up of the jacket. It's a bit beat and the spine is badly faded, but it's the photo you requested. While viewing, you might want to wear a bib to catch your drool.

http://www.pbagalleries.com/search/item178445.php?
 
bongobill said:
i'm compelled to comment that i'm blown away by the knowledge and resourcefullness of you guys in addition having a sense of fair play & integrity
damn you're good!
Click to expand...

i am, too. good show! as we say here. :)

Rekrab said:
Chronic: If I can't own a certain desirable rare book (and I know ASK THE DUST 1939 is way out of my league), then I like to at least see pictures. Kind of biblioporn.
Click to expand...

that made me chuckle. just read your Stories from the Brink. particularly enjoyed Driving Across Town. it's a war of attrition. just thought i'd say.
 
nymark said:
Hi David. Actually, here's a link to lot 73 in the PBA Modern Lit Auction on December 14th. It's a first edition of ASK THE DUST with a jacket.
http://www.pbagalleries.com/search/item178445.php?
Click to expand...

nymark: Gorgeous! Thanks a million. That's the same design as used in the film (I think it's near the beginning), but they altered it in the movie -- removed Fante's name so it would be consistent with the character being named Bandini, if I'm remembering this accurately. I assume they did that digitally or using a color photocopy, and didn't mess up an original jacket. Nice also to see the back cover, although you can't quite read it in that photo. A great cover for a masterpiece novel. I reread ASK THE DUST recently and it was as good as I remembering it being when I first read it in 1980, when the Black Sparrow Press edition came out with Bukowski's intro. Very cool. Thanks again for the link.
 
theonlygoodpoetisa said:
... just read your Stories from the Brink. particularly enjoyed Driving Across Town. it's a war of attrition. just thought i'd say.
Click to expand...

Thanks, theonlygoodpoetisa. It's definitely a war of attrition, this life. My favorite Bukowski title is WAR ALL THE TIME; that sure describes my experience. As in that story, I'm still running around town like a maniac, but to different places, for a different daughter. The pet lizards died (so no trips to the petshop for crickets to feed them), and the kid taking piano lessons is now at college, but another daughter has a job and a son and no car, so I'm often driving her to work, babysitting him for an hour.

Jeez, I can't stay away from this thread for some reason...
 
Yeah, the knowledge on this forum is incredible.
David, I have that Full of Life paperback as well.
And this Bantam 1954 Ask The Dust. A classic cover in a way, isn't it...
Hope my images will come through - here's the front and back cover:

AskTheDustBANTAMfront.jpg AskTheDustBANTAMback.jpg
---Hank
 
I love the Bantam/Dell/Avon covers from the '50's. Signets were great too, but a bit more "classy"?
Here's two of my faves (forgive the slightly off topic, but still Buk related).



 
darren said:
does any one know if barts books is alphamale store on ebay.?. i've bought signed bukowski's from him. they seemed authentic.. now i'm starting to worry.
Click to expand...

I don't think they are the same seller. The seller alphamalestore has several listings up that seem to be perfectly legit, including a lettered copy of "The Day It Snowed in L.A." that's mentioned in another thread arond here somewhere.
 
Hi,
Darren misspoke a BIT. alphadognma is this seller in question that may be Bart's. Alphamalestore is a perfectly legit seller of Bukowski. Sad for him to have a name so close to this seller....


Bill
 
HankD said:
And this Bantam 1954 Ask The Dust. A classic cover in a way, isn't it...
Click to expand...
Yes, that's a beauty. One of these sold on eBay not long ago, for about $80 I think. Seems like a book you might be able to find cheap in some rundown secondhand bookshop, with luck.

Another Bukowski related vintage paperback is Jon Edgar Webb's Four Steps To The Wall. It's got a great cover, and as most of you know, Webb was the editor and publisher of Loujon Press and brought out a couple of luxurious collections of Buk's poetry, plus issues of THE OUTSIDER magazine. I no longer have my copy of FOUR STEPS, or I'd post a scan.
 

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