[Vwoolf] "Fake or Fortune?"

[Stuart N. Clarke]

I've just watched an old episode from 2012.  Members of the public bring in 
a painting that they believe to be by a famous artist, and the experts try 
to prove them right or wrong.  Tonight's was a little Degas, and it really 
was: it will be added to the supplement of the Degas catalogue raisonée 
(they're a frightening lot the French who produce catalogues raisonées). 
So, that was a triumph: instead of being worth a few hundred pounds, it 
later sold for almost ½ a million in 2015.

These 2 VW books "signed" by the author are available for sale through 
Abebooks:

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2 inappropriate, possibly dishonest, adverts:

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=21286592276&searchurl=sortby*3D1*26kn*3Dsigned*26an*3DWoolf&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp3-_-image7__;JSUlJSU!!KGKeukY!g6A3oavJAd4Ia7Z7mKAkyVShvXQrDwt-SL2THiUAmg7a2yqWW5d0uDJBs_SC652FK8U$ 
The book is not signed by Virginia Woolf.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30750969962&searchurl=sortby*3D1*26kn*3Dsigned*26an*3DWoolf&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp2-_-title22__;JSUlJSU!!KGKeukY!g6A3oavJAd4Ia7Z7mKAkyVShvXQrDwt-SL2THiUAmg7a2yqWW5d0uDJBs_SCzQJTLqE$ 
Virginia Woolf's signature looks like a forgery: too carefully written (why 
would VW sign her name on the ffep of a US edition? If she gave a copy to 
someone, she would have inscribed it to them).*  The book is not a 1st 
edition, but the 1939 reprint (as is the dust jacket).

*******************************

I contacted Abebooks, who told me to contact the sellers, so I did and got 
no response.  So, I went back to Abebooks:

"Your complaint has been noted within the seller's account and I will be 
following up with them to remind them of the importance of complying with 
this and all AbeBooks Policies. I will also ask them to address your 
inquiry.

"Our privacy policies prohibit us from discussing the details or outcome of 
our communication with the seller but I would like to assure you that we 
take your complaint very seriously. If they contact me with a message for 
you, I will be sure to pass it along."

That was on 27 May: no follow up with me, so no rush.  Note that the second 
seller emphasises: "Many of the books offered here have been signed by their 
authors or artists and we take great care in making sure that the signatures 
are authentic."

Caveat emptor, indeed.

Stuart

*I could go on and on, but as no one cares, why should I?