Culture
23 Nov 22

Publisher offers refunds for replica autographs in new Bob Dylan book

Simon & Schuster has apologised to Bob Dylan fans who spent $600 on a signed, limited-edition copy of his first book since 2004, but received a fake “penned replica” of the legendary musician’s signature.

International publisher Simon and Schuster has released a statement admitting its reportedly hand-signed copies of Bob Dylan’s, The Philosophy of Modern Song, do in fact contain replica autographs.

It did not take long for internet sleuths to rifle through shared photos of Dylan’s signature in his latest publication to reveal inconsistencies in the singer’s penmanship. After being promised “hand-signed” copies of his book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, 900 fans were eager to spend the whopping $599 for an authentic piece of memorabilia.

Those who purchased the book, which is Dylan’s first since his 2004 memoir Chronicles: Volume One, will get their money back, the publisher said after admitting to the error in a statement Sunday.

Since its release on 1st November, the online community believe to have been able to identify as many as 17 variations in Dylan’s autograph, created by autopen or an automated signing machine, Variety magazine has theorised.

It took a mere 48 hours after receiving their signed copies, complete with letters of authenticity, that images of the fraudulent signatures flooded onto the internet for forensic analysis. Each signed by CEO Jonathan Karp, every buyer’s letter stated that “You hold in your hands something very special, one of just 900 copies available in the U.S. This letter is confirmation that the copy of the book you hold in your hand has been hand-signed by Bob Dylan.”

Although not believed to have been intentional, speculation will no doubt surround the automated signatures. Simon and Schuster have since released an apology to their customers, promising “an immediate refund”.

“To those who purchased THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG limited edition, we want to apologise. As it turns out, the limited edition books do contain Bob’s original signature, but in a penned replica form,” the publisher said Sunday in a statement to The LA Times. “We are addressing this immediately by providing each purchaser with an immediate refund.”

The 2016 Nobel laureate’s tome consists of 66 chapters about 66 of his favourite songs by artists including Nina Simone, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, the Clash, the Who and his childhood hero, Little Richard.