Seller to avoid: greenesbooks (Ira Greene)
- Thread starter mjp
- Start date
Bukfan
"The law is wrong; I am right"
It's incredible he can keep getting away with it, but I guess Ebay likes his fees too much.
He says he's been collecting signed bookplates for over 20 years, but I have never heard of anybody collecting signed bookplates before. Autographs, yes, but not bookplates. But what do I know...
He says he's been collecting signed bookplates for over 20 years, but I have never heard of anybody collecting signed bookplates before. Autographs, yes, but not bookplates. But what do I know...
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bospress.net
www.bospress.net
Some people collect tiny pieces of famous people's hair, so i have no doubts that some people collect bookplates.
Not defending Ira here since he obviously seems to be a fishy fellow. Bookplates aren't THAT rare. I've seen quite a few HST bookplates and reputable ebay seller www.flatsigned.com do have a bunch of bookplate signatures with COA. http://shop.ebay.com/www.flatsigned.com/m.html?_nkw=signed+bp&_sacat=0&_sop=3&_odkw=signed&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3911.m270.l1313
Hosh
hoshomccreesh.com
Well, I don't know about HST, but you know who might be able to shed some light on this issue: John Martin and Linda Lee Bukowski--you know, ask them if they every heard of, or have in their vast and basically complete collections, or even just saw Buk sign bookplates for random bookplate collectors via requests in the mail (which sounds like something he definitely would've done, as he loved encouraging future contact from random fans and strangers). I mean, there are quite a few people on this forum, and I'd say some even know these folks...so there's that.
Also, doesn't a fake Buk signature on ANY ONE one of Ira's bookplates implicate him not (only) for the signature, but for the bookplate itself--which he has already said are his? I mean--a fake on his bookplate means his bookplates are intermingled with fakes...and are equally suspect, regardless of signature. Like having either the bullets that match a slug/casing (& production lot#) taken from a body -OR- just having the gun which makes the rifling marks--both are compelling evidence of the crime. I mean, is there some nefarious horde of shytsers out there with the SAME bookplates? Are they a some kind of club--like say the Shriner's or the Masons, and they get their shyster-gear wholesale?
Or is it just one dude...a greedy one...with access to eBay and bill's to pay?
It's a mystery...a real mystery indeed.
Also, doesn't a fake Buk signature on ANY ONE one of Ira's bookplates implicate him not (only) for the signature, but for the bookplate itself--which he has already said are his? I mean--a fake on his bookplate means his bookplates are intermingled with fakes...and are equally suspect, regardless of signature. Like having either the bullets that match a slug/casing (& production lot#) taken from a body -OR- just having the gun which makes the rifling marks--both are compelling evidence of the crime. I mean, is there some nefarious horde of shytsers out there with the SAME bookplates? Are they a some kind of club--like say the Shriner's or the Masons, and they get their shyster-gear wholesale?
Or is it just one dude...a greedy one...with access to eBay and bill's to pay?
It's a mystery...a real mystery indeed.
LickTheStar
Sad Flower in the Sand
That HST signature is ugly, real ugly. I don't own any myself, but I've seen plenty and that looks terrible...
mjp
Founding member
That's his defense. That he buys them from "reputable dealers." Any way you slice it, it's a con, but there's nothing we can do to put people off buying them. Outside of having this thread.
And really, if someone buys one of his bookplate specials and isn't familiar with the author's real signature, that's their problem. Let the guy on Antiques Roadshow tell them it's fake.
On the topic of bookplates: I bought a copy of a volume of HST's letters through a highstreet retailer and that had a signed bookplate. As it was a big chain, a new copy and within HST's lifetime I assume it is genuine. It was only 25 pounds (cover price) so I'm not out on the deal. As I understand it, it must have been arranged by the publisher specifically for inclusion in the trade HB British first edition. I agree that signed bookplates by big name authors NOT arranged by the publisher of the title is unorthodox, to say the least.