mjp
Founding member
I think I will avoid bidding on any eBay auction listed by "greenesbooks" (Ira Greene).
In December of 2006 there was a post about a suspect auction of Play the piano drunk by eBay user greenesbooks, and now in July of 2007 there is this listing from eBay user greenesbooks:
which is one hell of a poor forgery (and there have been some pretty bad ones lately).
Since we know that this is not a real Bukowski signature, it makes you wonder about his other "signed" books.
If you look at his auctions (he's got a lot of signed books, this guy) you'll notice a couple of things; first, a large percentage of them are not signed books at all, but "bookplates" stuck into the books. Second, many of the "autographs" are jerky (as if the pen was stopped many times in mid stroke, to compare what is being written to a real signature) like the forged Bukowski examples.
I know the Bukowski above is a forgery, but I'm no expert on other author's signatures. But if you look at his auctions and compare some of the signatures to examples of legitimate signatures, you will see that many of them do not appear to match. My opinion is that a good number of his "signed" books are forgeries.
Why? Well, first of all, too many of the "signatures" are on bookplates. It has become somewhat common for lesser known authors to "sign" books this way. Google the term "signed bookplates" and you'll find dozens of authors willing to send you autographed stickers. You've never heard of any of them though, and that is an important point.
eBay user greenesbooks would seem to have the world's largest - or only - stock of signed bookplates by famous authors. Because I couldn't find any other examples of signed bookplates by the famous authors in his current listings. None. Odd? You tell me.
None of this is proof that eBay user greenesbooks forges signatures himself, of course. But does it really matter? He is selling them.
Interestingly, when confronted about the issue, rather than acting surprised or apologetic, eBay user greenesbooks seems to become defensive and abusive. Look at this feedback he left on eBay when a buyer complained that they did not receive a signed book, but rather a book with a "signed" sticker: "Reply by greenesbooks (Dec-11-06 20:12): Moron can't READ!Ad stated BOOKPLATE attached. No Email to me for refund. Moron."
He has also said in posts on this forum, "...prove any one of them is a forgery..." and "...either authenticate them or prove to me they are forgeries." Huh? The buyer has to authenticate? Silly me, I thought that was the seller's job.
None of eBay user greenesbooks contain a word about provenance. Provenance is basically the chain of ownership. Something like, "Ray Bradbury signed this book for my mother, she has had it for 30 years and now I am selling it." Or, "I obtained this signature at a book signing," or through the mail, or when I ran into so-and-so at the golf course - you name it. All greenesbooks says about the books (aside from a generic description of the book and author) is, "...extremely beautiful collectible..."
But wait, he does say, "All books guaranteed," so that makes him honest, right? Well, no. That makes him willing to give your money back if you discover he has sold you a forgery. But anyone who would buy a forgery in the first place obviously doesn't know enough to spot it, or is trusting the seller, so they wouldn't ask for a refund.
My personal opinion is that eBay user greenesbooks (Ira Greene) knowingly sells forgeries on eBay. Unless he can prove that even a fraction of the signatures are genuine - let's say one out of every 20 - then I will continue to believe that they are all questionable.
In December of 2006 there was a post about a suspect auction of Play the piano drunk by eBay user greenesbooks, and now in July of 2007 there is this listing from eBay user greenesbooks:
which is one hell of a poor forgery (and there have been some pretty bad ones lately).
Since we know that this is not a real Bukowski signature, it makes you wonder about his other "signed" books.
If you look at his auctions (he's got a lot of signed books, this guy) you'll notice a couple of things; first, a large percentage of them are not signed books at all, but "bookplates" stuck into the books. Second, many of the "autographs" are jerky (as if the pen was stopped many times in mid stroke, to compare what is being written to a real signature) like the forged Bukowski examples.
I know the Bukowski above is a forgery, but I'm no expert on other author's signatures. But if you look at his auctions and compare some of the signatures to examples of legitimate signatures, you will see that many of them do not appear to match. My opinion is that a good number of his "signed" books are forgeries.
Why? Well, first of all, too many of the "signatures" are on bookplates. It has become somewhat common for lesser known authors to "sign" books this way. Google the term "signed bookplates" and you'll find dozens of authors willing to send you autographed stickers. You've never heard of any of them though, and that is an important point.
eBay user greenesbooks would seem to have the world's largest - or only - stock of signed bookplates by famous authors. Because I couldn't find any other examples of signed bookplates by the famous authors in his current listings. None. Odd? You tell me.
None of this is proof that eBay user greenesbooks forges signatures himself, of course. But does it really matter? He is selling them.
Interestingly, when confronted about the issue, rather than acting surprised or apologetic, eBay user greenesbooks seems to become defensive and abusive. Look at this feedback he left on eBay when a buyer complained that they did not receive a signed book, but rather a book with a "signed" sticker: "Reply by greenesbooks (Dec-11-06 20:12): Moron can't READ!Ad stated BOOKPLATE attached. No Email to me for refund. Moron."
He has also said in posts on this forum, "...prove any one of them is a forgery..." and "...either authenticate them or prove to me they are forgeries." Huh? The buyer has to authenticate? Silly me, I thought that was the seller's job.
None of eBay user greenesbooks contain a word about provenance. Provenance is basically the chain of ownership. Something like, "Ray Bradbury signed this book for my mother, she has had it for 30 years and now I am selling it." Or, "I obtained this signature at a book signing," or through the mail, or when I ran into so-and-so at the golf course - you name it. All greenesbooks says about the books (aside from a generic description of the book and author) is, "...extremely beautiful collectible..."
But wait, he does say, "All books guaranteed," so that makes him honest, right? Well, no. That makes him willing to give your money back if you discover he has sold you a forgery. But anyone who would buy a forgery in the first place obviously doesn't know enough to spot it, or is trusting the seller, so they wouldn't ask for a refund.
My personal opinion is that eBay user greenesbooks (Ira Greene) knowingly sells forgeries on eBay. Unless he can prove that even a fraction of the signatures are genuine - let's say one out of every 20 - then I will continue to believe that they are all questionable.
