DEAR JOHN...a study of John Belushi's autograph and a personal search!

[Micko]

John Belushi shone bright and burned out in only 33 short years on this Earth. He is rightly considered an American comedy icon and so his autographs are highly sought after items. The trouble is that the man who lived a wild and fast life also had a wildly signing style. Now I’m only an amateur collector, and I’ve tried doing my research, and although there are characteristics to his signature, he can be very tricky to give a definitive on. Obviously taking into consideration the changes in signing over his years of fame, quick signings, documents and checks, he’s still a tricky one.

The following is my tale to discover if I have a genuine Belushi or not.

First of all, let’s have a look at some (what I would consider to be) 99.9% genuine Belushi signings.

Firstly some signed documents:

Here is a very confident and quite complex signature; an all in one movement for ‘John’ continuing into an ‘A’ for his middle name ‘Adam’ (which appears in earlier examples of his signings and official documents)  Then his surname is another all in one movement, this time rounded with lots of swirls. The ‘B’ starts with the straight line downwards, then twists back up to the top veering left and then he continues into the two front loops of the ‘B’ and then back again and into the ‘e’ and a nice loop for the ‘L’ a tight swirl for the ‘u’ and ‘s’, another loop for the ‘h and then finishes with the dot of the ‘I’ that floats out to the right hand side of the signature.

 

Another contract signed faster, The ‘J’ a bit more pointed in this example, still with the ‘A’ for Adam, and the Belushi is stretched and less flourished, probably to fit into this document. Still that dot over the ‘I’ out to the right. And both names written in single, deliberate movements.

Next up is a nice example of a check from 1972.  A little looser, back to the more rounded style, still with the middle ‘A’ but the ‘Belushi’ is leaning to the right a little. There is a break after the ‘s’, which seldom occurs and the dot  once more.

This  group signing from SNL cast in 1977 features a much simpler signing style, he’s dropped the ‘A’ and this time there’s less of a lean to the left on the ‘J’ of John  and the trademark ‘I’ dot still floating off the very end.(in the middle of the document)

This check from the same year and the lean to the left is back and that dot over the ‘I’ as a little dash to the right.

This dot/ dash I believe is an important trait in spotting a genuine Belushi (isn’t it the same with Stan Laurel, where a genuine one always has a dot after the signature? Something that forgers often missed.)

Then there’s this hastily signed membership card, yet there’s that ’A’ and of course the dot again!

 Another card:

 Now a couple of more informal versions of his signing styles. A signed receipt with a much simpler ‘John’ but it still has a twist in the ‘o’:

 

And this in-person from a respected document specialist, this time with the John above the Belushi and with a flamboyant swirl underneath.

So there you have it, lots of variation, but a few stand out features;

A lean to the left

Both ‘John’ and ‘Belushi’ written in one movement.

The bottom of the ‘B’ twisting back and sweeping into the rounded ‘e’

The twisting ‘s’

And that tell tale ‘dot’ over the ‘I’ at the end.

 

Now onto the obvious fakes to compare to:

This site ‘Memorabilia Autographs’ are hawking a large number of these forgeries, from 200 to 400 dollars. This is the most common forgery of his signature out there.

Memorabilia Autographs

This one on Ebay is currently passing this one off. Not a bad attempt to copy his movement, but not right

Ebay

 

This pick guard is pretty shameless:

Now onto my own purchase, I bought this on Ebay back in 2005. And I am under no allusions that it could be a fake, but it has always bugged me, as just when I write it off, I see something that makes me think it could be genuine.

Firstly it seems like a very elaborate fake, now, I’m not stupid enough to think that forgers won’t go to great lengths to cheat us collectors, but still. Why fake these three names in particular; Bill Murray, John Belushi and Gilda Radner (whom the autograph hunter wasn't sure who it was, hence the question mark after her name). Surely Dan Aykroyd would serve you better to forge alongside Belushi? More bucks for sure.

And the confidence in which the Belushi signature is executed has always made me wonder, a forger could certainly have gone for a simpler version of his signature and there is no hesitation at all in the line, it has that lean to the left and has that all important dot over the ‘I’.

 

I sent the item to John Hickey at Heritage Auctions, who was very helpful and ran it by Steve Grad at PSA/DNA at no extra cost and I was simply told ‘all no good.’ Now I have the utmost respect for their work, but it continued to bug me and nine years later it still does! Particularly as PSA Autograph facts have this one posted as a genuine example.

PSA facts

 Here are two studies I’ve done on my own autograph. One shows all three SNL cast comparisons.

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And finally another look alongside two genuine and similar in style Belushi’s.

 

So, there you have it, what do you guys think? Am I chasing a dream and need to save up and buy another, or could I have a genuine Belushi in my collection? I’d love to know what you think? And no need to spare my feelings, I’m still getting over that Jackie Gleason secretarial I have hanging on my wall!!

And at the very least, anyone looking to buy a Belushi have a little resource here on site.

[Bam Miller]

Here is an attachment to my John Belushi autograph bought for £300 of UACC registered member 126/ AFTAL registered member 14/  (grumpyoldgit) on Ebay back in early March. It was a fighting battle to get this piece, the starting price being £90, I'm quite happy with this piece but would like to get some opinions from you guys on here. Its an autograph page from 1978 the dealer said he got off a woman who ran into him in New York. He is still an active member on Ebay btw. The signature obviously signed in a hurry with '78 added in which John was known to do back then. It is missing it's "trademark"fullstop at the end of "Belushi" 

[Bam Miller]

What do you guys think of this Signed Briefcase full of Blues LP, hard to make out the signature but it's signed by John with a sentinent on top. I'm pretty sure John signed this piece, his signature is identical to many authentic examples I've seen plus, I'm aware of his quick handwriting which matches that of the LP. sold last week for £300, the starting price was £10 plus postage. the seller owns a record shop who sold it with reluctancy. Signed anywhere between 1978 and 1982, I have a feeling it was signed in the late seventies. 

[Micko]

The Briefcase sig I saw recently. I even checked the issue date of the album codes and it is one from the correct time frame. It could be good; the 'John' feels right, but I personally would be a bit wary of it. Just a gut thing more than anything else.

[Micko]

Again it's so hard to be definitive, but your purchase has many good traits and has a very similar 'John' and 'B' to this known exemplar. So I think you did good. However we can never be 100%. I've learnt that the hard way. The one I have been tortured over is a very different style and I am still not convinced it's real, probably never will be.

[Bam Miller]

Agreed Micko, John was known for adding the year at the bottom of his signature, the style of his '78' is matched to a couple of well known Authentic examples I have seen. To be fair Micko, I'm not convinced that yours is authentic I'm sorry to say, but back in '05 there was no comparision pages like this one on John's signature. Plus, Gilda and John together is magical.

[Micko]

Yeah, the more I see of genuine ones the more I feel my one is not real. I was going to ask your opinion on it. So thanks for the honesty.

The bit that threw me was that it is a very complex way of faking a Belushi, very precise, that's what threw me most.

It's been an interesting journey, but I think a credit card or document is the only real way to be sure of a genuine Belushi. However the bar tab you purchased I believe is definitely genuine.

[Micko]

Agreed on your thoughts on the above. It does have some good traits, but the more I look at it the more unsure I am. I don't think it's as obvious a fake as the Continental Divide or IOffer ones that clog up the internet.

[Bam Miller]

Too many Belushi autographs popping up on ebay almost every week it's astounding and saddening, this guy was a God and shameless scum sellers attempt to cash in on his very name, also alongside Elvis and MJ, John's signature is on a list of the most forged signatures on the planet... that list has around ten or so names on it. If I find the link to that then I sure will post it ASAP

[Micko]

Another credit card example of a genuine Belushi. Sold in 2012 by Iconic Auctions.

[Bam Miller]

This or a signed personal cheque signed by John would be the ideal signature of his to have

[Pete Bendu]

Just Great! Now I have to look for more Belushi credit cards to buy.

Late 70's early 80's means just Visa and Diner's Club to go,... right? 

[Bam Miller]

Look at the date, expired 12 months before he died, and a month before his final movie, 'Neighbours' began shooting. His wife Judy sold a huge bulk of John's personal belongings back in 1990 so this is one of those possessions. 

I have a card with a piece of his clothing that is highy sought after, panini golden age relic card 2013. Got mine for twenty bucks, whose to say if it really is a piece of something he wore but I guess you just have to believe. Only 25 were in circulation. One sold on RRAuctions for a ridiulous sum in July last year. 

The renewed interest in John definitley surfaced about two years back, has just gotten bigger with this Biopic thats currently filming with Emile Hirsch in the starring role.

I'm currently in a bid for one of his 1974 cheques, lead bidder ;) but theres a week left until it ends soo whose to know. Fingers crossed right? Will post a pic of the cheque soon