Bob Dylan takes responsibility for “autographs” that were machine-printed
Despite the fact that there is aTouring commitment from talwarts, Comments from the public Bob Dylan has it. In recent years, it has been rare to find them. But controversy over the musician’s use of digitally replicated “signatures” prompted one of Dylan’s rare statements, apologizing For what he calls an “error in judgment.”
The issue at hand lies with limited-edition and (purportedly) autographed copies of Dylan’s book Modern Song Philosophy, Which Each sold at $600. AThere are some unhappy customers pointed out, the signatures clearly appeared machine-printed when compared with other, authentic examples of Dylan’s signature.
A statement was shared Facebook Dylan said that he used an autopen because of vertigo. It first became a struggle in 2019, and then followed him through the pandemic. An autopen replicates a person’s signature by storing a digital copy of their handwriting and recreating it through a robot arm (meaning the signatory doesn’t need to be in the room to put pen to paper.)
“I’ve hand-signed each and every art print over the years, and there’s never been a problem,” Dylan writes. “However, in 2019 I had a bad case of vertigo and it continued into the pandemic years. To facilitate these signing sessions it takes a team of five to work in close quarters. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a safe or practical way to finish what I needed to while the virus was rampant. So, during the pandemic, it was impossible to sign anything and the vertigo didn’t help.”
He continues: “With contractual deadlines looming, the idea of using an auto-pen was suggested to me, along with the assurance that this kind of thing is done ‘all the time’ in the art and literary worlds.” According to Dylan, he plans to work with his publisher, Simon & Schuster, and his gallery partners to “rectify” the situation.
Simon & Schuster initially denied refund requests from disgruntled fans, reassuring them that the autographs were substantiated with a “letter of authenticity.” The publishing house has since doubled back, admitting the signature was a “penned replica” of Dylan’s and promising full refunds to all 900 people who purchased one of the books.
Dylan’s admission also called into question some pieces One of his recent publications signed artwork—pIeces that They can be sold for up to $15,000 per. BBC. Castle Fine Art, a British gallery that carries Dylan’s signed art, shared in a statement via Variety that they were “entirely unaware” that autopen had been used on the prints. All clients affected were offered full refunds by the gallery. if any buyers choose to keep their paintings, “they will be asked to exchange the current certificate of authenticity for one reflecting the autopen signature.”
Autopen allegations haven’t solely plagued Dylan; Van Morrison was allegedly caught using the device. His management has since denied the accusation. It was rejected. Sinead O’Connor also admitted last year to using a signature stamp on her memoir Rememberings. “I was not in a position to hand write my name 10,000 times, which is how many I was asked to sign,” she tweeted at the time, per BBC. “My son was unwell as was I.”