Is it a fake signature?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Buzz-Aldrin-APOLLO-THE-RACE-TO-THE-MOON-Signed-Easton-P...

> Compared to other Easton Press Signed Editions signed by Buzz, his signature looks a bit jagged. Also, has anyone ever seen a strange Easton Press Certificate of Authenticity like that...?

I’ve seen “fake” DLEs. I actually got the Tom Sawyer one in a lot. But fake only in that it’s not numbered and has no COA. The book itself is otherwise the same and for about the avg $10 per book I paid, I’ll take it. I also got the Egypt books from a rare bookshop that are numbered but had no COA included. Can’t guarantee someone didn’t just write in the numbers themselves, but at half the cost for them new and, again, for the same books otherwise, I really wanted them for what they were and felt it was worth it. They are still limited even if they aren’t part of the “official” 800 or whatever the run was.

If I was buying a signed one though, especially if it wasn’t all that unique but for the signature, and wasn’t sure I’d probably skip it. I’ve skipped plenty of Crichton books that had odd looking signatures no matter how good the deal.

That being said, did EP sell a version of this book unsigned? If not and the book is in good condition, I don’t see why it would be fake. If they did and you aren’t sure, it’ll probably always be there gnawing away in the back of your mind and ruin the whole thing.

A few of my DLEs came from EP without COAs, but I didn’t complain because they don’t really prove anything. The signature page or the limitation page in the book represents EP’s guarantee of authenticity. I suppose it might matter, though, if you later decide to sell the book.

I don’t remember seeing this book signed by Buzz, but I’m far from the most knowledgeable about him on this board.

I have several other EP books that are signed by him and the signatures look similar from what I can see

>4 GOBOGIE: This volume was part of a 5-volume set called America in Space that was issued without signatures and without limitation. I understand somebody may have gotten it signed after receiving it from the publisher, but in such case they would not have that weird COA unless they forged one themselves...

I hear ya and agree. I am familiar with the set and agree with the points you make

The concept of a COA which is signed to state that the signature on the book is real is completely absurd. COAs are very silly and a little bit tacky (fake or otherwise).

>7 stubedoo:

Agreed. It kinda smells like the work of a politician. Did EP come up with these on their own or is there a legal mandate driving them?

>7 stubedoo:
>8 treereader:

Certificates of Authenticity or COAs are provided by Easton Press to "add a layer of value and foster trust" (spoken from atop my soapbox :D).

COAs are NOT ACTUALLY SIGNED. Easton Press COAs are copies only. The author, witness and publisher sign a master certificate (on rare occasion when author is deceased it is publisher representatives only who sign - see Shelby Foote's Civil War A Narrative set in brown leather). It is then photocopied, printed on nice paper and inserted into books. Easton Press books are not double-signed as some eBay sellers claim.

COAs may be superfluous, but are not silly. By having the books signed on a special bound-in page, Easton Press pretty much assures their authenticity (which also removes the added cost of 3rd party certification). There are cases; however, where production rejects - there are no "fakes" out there - make it to the secondary market without some or all of the following - numbers, signatures, COAs. Having a book with all the aforementioned features provides assurance that at some point it was purchased directly from the publisher (not discarded by or stolen from the printing facility). If a book is issued with a COA, it also adds incremental resale value as it is "complete" as published by Easton Press.

It would be nice for Easton Press to provide limitation number outside the sealed book either on a sticker or on the box, but it is a topic for another conversation...