Bob Dylan apologizes for replica autographs in $600 book, blames 'a bad case of vertigo'

Bob Dylan is apologizing for an "error in judgment" after a $600 special edition of his new book, "The Philosophy of Modern Song" (Simon & Schuster, 352 pp., out now), contained replica autographs instead of original signatures.

"I’ve hand-signed each and every art print over the years, and there’s never been a problem. However, in 2019 I had a bad case of vertigo and it continued into the pandemic years," Dylan explained in a Facebook post on Friday.

"It takes a crew of five working in close quarters with me to help enable these signing sessions, and we could not find a safe and workable way to complete what I needed to do while the virus was raging. So, during the pandemic, it was impossible to sign anything and the vertigo didn’t help," he said.

He continued: "With contractual deadlines looming, the idea of using an auto-pen was suggested to me, along with the assurance that this kind of thing is done ‘all the time’ in the art and literary worlds."

"Using a machine was an error in judgment and I want to rectify it immediately. I’m working with Simon & Schuster and my gallery partners to do just that," the musician wrote.

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Bob Dylan publisher apologizes for replica autograph in $600 book, offers refunds

Simon & Schuster issues refunds for $600 Bob Dylan book

Dylan's apology comes days after his publisher Simon & Schuster issued an apology and offered refunds for those who purchased the $600 special edition of "The Philosophy of Modern Song."

"To those who purchased THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG limited edition, we want to apologize," the publisher announced in a statement posted Nov. 20 on Instagram. "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."

Through social media, customers compared their copies and found the autographs suspiciously alike. The books had arrived with a letter from Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp, vouching for the signature's authenticity.

"The Philosophy of Modern Song," in which Dylan assesses compositions ranging from Hank Williams "Your Cheatin' Heart" to Jackson Browne's "The Pretender," was published Nov. 1.

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Contributing: Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bob Dylan apologizes for replica autographs in book, blames vertigo