Simon & Schuster have issued an apology after purchasers of “hand-signed” copies of Bob Dylan’s book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, found that the signatures were in fact machine penned. The embarrassing admission comes after the publisher sold the special copies for USD$599 (approx AUD$900) with a letter of authenticity from former CEO of Simon & Schuster, Jonathan Karp.
The letter stated in bold, “This letter is confirmation that the book you hold has been hand signed by Bob Dylan.”
Simon & Schuster Offer Refunds After Dylan Autographs Uncovered as “Replicas”
— Simon & Schuster (@simonschuster) November 20, 2022
The fraud was uncovered after purchasers of the book began to compare Dylan’s signatures online and found 17 different signature variations replicated through the 900 limited-edition signed copies. Simon & Schuster released a statement that said, “As it turns out, the limited edition books do contain Bob’s original signature, but in a penned replica form.”
Hats off to them for that amazing bit of corporate doublespeak. It prompts the koan-like question, “If a forgery is committed by a machine, is it still a forgery?”
Simon & Schuster have agreed to issue refunds to customers caught up in the deception. Although it’s clear that the editions were sold under false pretences and for financial gain, exactly who is responsible for the fraud remains to be determined. The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.
Further Reading
Bob Dylan’s Team Seek ‘Monetary Sanctions’ From Lawyers In Abuse Case
Bob Dylan Sells Unique Version Of ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ For $2.6 million
Bob Dylan, Jay-Z Among Forbes’ Ten Highest Paid Entertainers Of 2021
