As a longtime follower of kneejerk dead-celebrity sales, I was quite shocked at the outpouring (hundreds upon hundreds of real and fake autographs) on Gene Wilder.
Gene has a very easy signature to copy, so it's turned up on collector cards, baseballs, and dupe photos. Apparently because he was WILLY WONKA, his prices have become MAGICAL.
Put it this way, when Madeline Kahn and Harvey Korman died, his co-stars in "Blazing Saddles," memorabilia barely moved at $50. An autographed (allegedly) still from Gene in that movie is fetching $150, and (at the moment) some will pay double for a "Young Frankenstein," but the REAL gold is from the sci-fi fantasy fetishists buying up anything WONKA.
Some WONKA trinkets have gone for $500 or $600.
The trick EBAY celebrity-death sellers know, especially with forgeries, is to make that killing INSTANTLY. Run "one day" auctions while the hysteria is high and resistance is low. Make sure to say you'll send a (worthless) "Certificate of Authenticity" as if some hayseed in Oklahoma is going to EVER pay $100 or $200 to have that $300 item authenticated, and then ask for a refund.
How EASY and TEMPTING is it to forge a Gene Wilder signature? Very. Who knows how many of these were actually signed by him. And what, really, does it say about disposable income when people are paying for a scribble of wink what others pay for a month's rent?
Gotta have that worthless autographed photo or "WONKA" card, NOW! NOW! NOW! Use "BUY IT NOW," sniper that "ONE DAY AUCTION." Forget that in a month, and most certainly in a year and beyond, interest will flag. After all, JOHNNY DEPP was also WONKA....
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