On Ebay

Old Soul · 5th June 2002, 12:39 AM

I spotted on Ebay today an Empire magazine with Mr. Lee

**Frederick Bergstrom** · 5th June 2002, 01:19 AM

Dont get to upset until you talk to Juan...This is Ebay... who knows how legit it is

**Alfonso Casal** · 5th June 2002, 01:40 AM

Do you have the Ebay link?

Old Soul · 5th June 2002, 02:47 AM

Ebay link

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?M...Christopher+lee

Old Soul

**Charles Prepolec** · 5th June 2002, 03:01 AM

Looks legit to me, but I'm certainly no authority. The auction has about 21 hours left with no bids at present. It might be prudent to save the image if you want Juan to have a look at it.

By the way, the direct link to the specific auction can be reached here

Old Soul, no worries, I seriously doubt that anyone would think you would part with such a fine prize.

Cheers!

Juan Aneiros · 5th June 2002, 04:03 AM

Old Soul, I wouldn't worry about it. Mr Lee did not sign that magazine personally, it a false signature.

It could not be your one any way, because prizes are always personalised.

Since at least two month before the release of EpII, Mr Lee does not sign autographs personally for anybody other than through his web site. We did not get any magazine autographed and he did not sign anything at the premiere of EpII. Anything he signs in the street, its under very special circumstances and always personalised. Anything sent to his agent, either has a digital signature in gold/yellow or gets stamped in black ink. Few exceptions are ever made and when they are, they don't end up in Ebay I can assure you.

The quote taken from the seller is the ultimate joke too.

"Finally, REAL autographs online! These are the signed collectibles that will accumulate value through the years! We sell 100% authentic signatures period! Don't settle for other cheap forged imitations many of the other sellers are offering! They love to forge items we have up."

I don't know if the actual dealer was the one taken for the ride or they forged it themselves but Mr Lee sure didn't. I feel sorry for the person who ends up winning the bid.

When you get your mag, more like when Mr Lee has time to sign it. You'll notice that the colour of the pen used and the size/position of his signature will be very different from that one. For a picture like that, and he would argue for a long time with anyone who tries and contradict him, he would sign in a medium thick gold pen at 25 degrees inclination just under where it say "The Great Christopher Lee as Count Dooku".

**Charles Prepolec** · 5th June 2002, 03:44 PM

There you go Old Soul. Told you I was no authority on the autograph front, so no great shock there.

Cheers!

Josslyn · 5th June 2002, 04:32 PM

It's a real shame, although not a surprise, that people would sell false autographs. And $99 for that magazine. Wow.
Too bad there isn't any way to report this. It would be a full time job, I'm sure.
Makes me wonder about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewi...item=1540709506

**Colin Bushby** · 5th June 2002, 08:08 PM

It's funny this should pop up, I have just got back from Scarborough, and on my treck trough the back streets I came across this 'paradise' Rare books, magazines and autographs, I shot in like a bullet, not a penny in my pocket mind you, I just wanted to drool. There was everything you have ever wanted on movie memoribilia, there were some genuinly good bargains, like Famouse Monsters of Movieland or Filmland, can't remember now. Then there was the autographs, hundreds of them, and I mean hundreds, but straight away when I saw a photo autographed by Charlie Chaplain for 20 pounds and John Wayne for 30 pounds, I began to wonder or realise these might not be real.:D
Then there were some of Mr. Lee and Peter Cushing, Boris Karlof and the likes all going for around 20 pounds, but what got me was the variation on most of the signatures, there were hardley 2 alike. How do they get away with it. Like the rest of you I aint an expert on any signature, but because I have a few of Mr. Lee, which I know is 100 % genuine, I can tell instantly if it's real, or at least looks real, it makes me wonder when people do forge them why they don't attempt to make it look genuine.

The first thing I noticed on the one on EBay is the L is looped, ( all the ones I have there is no loop) and the T is crossed in the wrong place.

Just thought I would share that with someone.

Juan Aneiros · 5th June 2002, 08:12 PM

Some autographs are fakes, certainly anything to do with SW is as far as Mr Lee is concerned.

The COD that these dealers produce are jokes, neither Mr Lee not us ever deal with these people. He doesn't have time to autograph everything from this site, hence people wait up to 30 days to get theirs, he is not going to do it for dealers. Is he?

Non-personalised autographs, unless there is geniune proof beyong reasonable doubt that are 100% authentic and not digital copies, are worthelss.

Since the falsification of autographs has expanded to uncontrolable lenghts, due to the easy money that can be made, catching one dealer is a waste of time. Ebay provides them with the perfect cover.

Do you honestly think that Mr Lee goes around signing autographs for dealers in LA airpoirt, outside his hotel, blah, blah, blah.? He only does that a special signings, in which case the seller can provide all the relevant information. He only does it for fans and can spot dealers miles away.

Fans tend to go for personalised items, which are only worth anything to them. Those who buy non-personalised ones, know that a COD from a very reputable source is a must , in order for the value to increase over the years. Private collectors, simply do not sell to the general public.

**Dave Hutchens** · 5th June 2002, 10:21 PM

In a late-night, half-crazed from lack of sleep totally mad fit of must-bid-on-something-at-all-cost-ness, I placed a bid on an autographed stamp book from the UK a few days ago, right after I left a warning here to everyone NOT to use eBay for autographs. I didn't really expect to win. I did. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

This is the item number, Juan, should you have a moment to check it out for me. I'm already getting queazy, as I'm sure I know what the response will be:

1355725898

If, Juan, you can determine for me that this is a fake, I'll take it to eBay's SafeHarbor and get out of it. I haven't paid yet, fortunately.

Thanks so much!

Dave

Juan Aneiros · 6th June 2002, 12:19 AM

Unless I know 100% it is a fake, I'll rather not say and I'll explain why. A member e-mailed us some time ago to ask about an autograph he won from Ebay, we looked at the scan from the site and told him it was Mr Lee's signature. He went ahead and bought it. Then when he received it, he found out that it was a digital reproduction, or so he claimed.

He tried getting his money back and because of some Ebay legal bull, he couldn't. The seller never answered him back. Then, he tried to get me involved in what was HIS dispute and not MINE. I believe he then wrote a letter to Mr Lee's agent complaining about me and that he bought the picture because I told him it was real. How can anyone really tell from just a scan? I can only really tell if it is a fake.

You buy it, you take the risk. I can only verify that the ones that are bought through this site are geniune and I won't get miself into disputes that do not concern me. We have nothing to do with Ebay, dealers, etc.

The only thing I can tell you is that if the signature was obtained through is agent after this site went live, it was stamped. If it is a Dooku one, other that the poster at this site, it's a fake. If it is from LOTR and it was obtained prior to the film being released, it's a fake. If it is a Dracula pic from the last 2 years, it's a fake. Any claims about being obtained at the LOTR or SW premieres are fakes. You think not, go for it.

Old Soul · 6th June 2002, 12:37 AM

Gee Juan, I hope it didn

Juan Aneiros · 6th June 2002, 02:13 AM

[quote][b]Gee Juan, I hope it didn

**Dave Hutchens** · 6th June 2002, 04:27 AM

Quote:

If it is a Dracula pic from the last 2 years, it's a fake.

Thanks for the advice, Juan. It's listed as being from 1997, and yes it's a Dracula. A stamp book, to be precise, called "100 Years of Dracula," supposedly signed by Mr. Lee on the cover. It's quite nice, actually. I'll cross my fingers it's real. It certainly appears genuine, but appearances of course mean nothing.

Just to let you know, I'd absolutely _never_ drag you or this wonderful site into any type of dispute, over anything at all. I have far too much respect for everyone involved.

Dave