The artist nearly known as Little Willie, Bob Dylan, published The Philosophy of Modern Song — his first book since 2004's Nobel Prize-winning Chronicles: Volume One — earlier this month. However, publishing giant Simon & Schuster is now issuing refunds for the $600 USD "hand-signed" limited edition copies, admitting that the songwriting great's autograph appeared only in "penned replica form."
Copies of the book began showing up in mailboxes last week, and those who shelled out six hundo for the limited edition quickly felt some intense buyer's remorse. After fans compared notes in various online forums, they found that, while there was some variation in the signatures (they identified an estimated 17 variations, as per Variety), the book seemed to have been signed by an autopen machine that can accurately reproduce autographs.
Simon & Schuster took to Instagram to acknowledge the not-so-authentic signed copies of the book.
"To those who purchased The Philosophy of Modern Song limited edition, we want to apologize. As it turns out, the limited edition books do contain Bob's original signature, but in a penned replica form. We are addressing this immediately by providing each purchaser with an immediate refund."
The limited edition of The Philosophy of Modern song was not only advertised as having been hand-signed by Dylan, but came complete with a note from Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp that vouched for its authenticity.
"You hold in your hands something very special, one of just 900 copies available in the US. The Philosophy of Modern Song signed by Bob Dylan," Karp wrote [via Rolling Stone], concluding: "This letter is confirmation that the copy of the book you hold in your hand has been hand-signed by Bob Dylan."
Oh babe, it ain't no truth.
The actual contents of The Philosophy of Modern Song have also pissed some people off — including Talking Heads' Chris Frantz, one of the several musicians Dylan appears to slight in the essay collection.
See the post from Simon & Schuster below.
Dylan announced the latest in his long line of rarities compilations, Bootleg Series Vol. 17, last week.
Copies of the book began showing up in mailboxes last week, and those who shelled out six hundo for the limited edition quickly felt some intense buyer's remorse. After fans compared notes in various online forums, they found that, while there was some variation in the signatures (they identified an estimated 17 variations, as per Variety), the book seemed to have been signed by an autopen machine that can accurately reproduce autographs.
Simon & Schuster took to Instagram to acknowledge the not-so-authentic signed copies of the book.
"To those who purchased The Philosophy of Modern Song limited edition, we want to apologize. As it turns out, the limited edition books do contain Bob's original signature, but in a penned replica form. We are addressing this immediately by providing each purchaser with an immediate refund."
The limited edition of The Philosophy of Modern song was not only advertised as having been hand-signed by Dylan, but came complete with a note from Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp that vouched for its authenticity.
"You hold in your hands something very special, one of just 900 copies available in the US. The Philosophy of Modern Song signed by Bob Dylan," Karp wrote [via Rolling Stone], concluding: "This letter is confirmation that the copy of the book you hold in your hand has been hand-signed by Bob Dylan."
Oh babe, it ain't no truth.
The actual contents of The Philosophy of Modern Song have also pissed some people off — including Talking Heads' Chris Frantz, one of the several musicians Dylan appears to slight in the essay collection.
See the post from Simon & Schuster below.
Dylan announced the latest in his long line of rarities compilations, Bootleg Series Vol. 17, last week.
