Hilton Smith Help
 

I am looking into possibly purchasing this Hilton Smith Auto., but have concerns-especially with the H and I in Hilton being connected, which I have never seen before. It comes with full JSA, but I won't get into that. Has anyone seen a Hilton signed like this (supposedly signed in early 1980s) .Any advice as to real or fake is appreciated.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...s487bddbe.jpeg

I have never had a Smith signature but according to Ron Keurajian's book, most Smith signatures offered in the marketplace are forgeries and his three illustrations of Smith signatures concur with your opinion of the H and i not being connected. His book also shows a dot over the i on all three illustrations which is seemingly not present in your illustration.

This Smith is in the current Legendary Auction with an Auction LOA from JSA. Interesting.

Link

Yeah...not a fan of the HI...I would guess it could be ghost-signed...Here is my Hilton....

Correct, I didn't want to bid since it just doesn't look right with every other Hilton Smith I have seen, regardless of COA from JSA (which I didn't want to get into).

Not looking good
 

Google: "hilton smith" autograph

Click on images

You'll see at least a half dozen signatures of his, none of which have the H and I connected. Several are in PSA/DNA holders. One of them is mine, so I can separately confirm no connection.

I'd pass, sadly, as having one of those is a real thrill for me, given who Smith was to Negro League history.

I think its fine for what thats worth.

Rhys

Why? Nothing about this signature says its authentic....

Take away the first H (which I know some people will have a hard time doing because of formation even though the height and slant is fine, but just do it for the sake of argument) then compare each letters height, slant, and formation to other known examples like the other 3X5 posted and it is 100% dead on in every way. I think the H formation had to do with the fact that he was using a felt tip pen and every other one I have seen in the hobby was ballpoint.

Sometimes people get fixated on one thing and forget to look at the other 10-15 letters. Signatures are not an exact science and just because one letter looks off doesn't automatically mean the whole thing is bad, a lot of it depends on on time, place, medium, instrument used etc. Obviously others disagree with me here and thats fine, its not an exact science just an opinion, but I believe it to be authentic when taking all factors into account.

Just my opinion.

Rhys

prewar - I kinda see what you're seeing but notice the spacing between the S and m in Smith. Also, the formation of the m. I'm not really familiar with his auto but those are two things that jumped out at me.

Most of the ones I'm looking at have an L at least as tall as the T in "Hilton."

Little late on this, but here's a letter handwritten by Smith. Looking at the words, I see one with an H that connects and one that doesn't.

Ken

Earlywynn,

I do agree that the letter was written and signed by Hilton Smith, but I do believe that "Hilton Smith" at the bottom of your letter was written by someone else....

I would be interested to see another signature in a thick sharpie or something like that. I think its fine, but who am I to say, I dont authenticate for money so my opinion really doesn't mean much. (smiley face goes here)

Rhys

JimStinson
 

I agree with Prewar and JSA on this one. In looking at examples pay more attention to the Lower case "i" in Smith (often did not DOT the i) and where the "t" is crossed in last name (vertical line extends high on the letter) In my opinion I think that eliminates the secretarial theory and also a forger would be more likely to get the spacing on the begining of the name correctly and miss the other two instances cited above.
As was suggested earlier look at a cross section of examples via google signed over the course of his life in order to make a determination.
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JimStinson
 

Also that being said , His autograph is neither RARE or EXPENSIVE , if uncomfortable with that one which appears to be a signed photo copy print not exactly a "gotta Have" item , wait for another
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