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Bob Dylan performing in Kent (2012)
Photo:
Ki Price / REUTERS
A limited copy of his new book »The Philosophy of Modern Song« cost around 600 dollars – allegedly autographed by Bob Dylan.
As it turns out, that's not true at all.
Now Bob Dylan has apologized to his fans on Facebook in a personal statement.
There he wrote of a "bad case of dizziness."
The publisher "Simon & Schuster" had previously admitted that these were not original signatures.
Bob Dylan justified the decision at the time with the restrictions caused by the corona virus: During the pandemic it was "impossible" to sign anything.
Because of imminent contract deadlines, it was suggested to him that the signatures be made by a signing machine.
He was assured that something like this was done "all the time" in the art and literary world.
That was a misjudgment.
Dylan therefore promised to "correct" the error together with "Simon & Schuster".
The publisher had previously stated on Instagram that it would provide buyers with a refund.
The track "The Philosophy of Modern Song" was sold in a special edition of 900 copies at a price of $599.
In an enclosed letter, Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, vouched for the authenticity of the signature.
Several buyers had complained on social networks in the past few days: After comparing the signatures of their copies, they noticed suspicious similarities.
Signing machines can capture a signature template and then reproduce it any number of times.
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