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Thought there wouldn't be a better place to ask than here. I'm so bummed about this. Hopefully some here can ease my mind.

Met the great Garry Shandling this past weekend and he signed my DVD box set. I don't think there was any choice but to use a Silver Sharpie considering the box is all black. He inscribed it to me and the autograph looked amazing. Later, I noticed that the "J" in my name was rather light compared to the other letters he wrote. It's obvious he pressed good and hard for the rest of the message except when he got to "J". It coudlnt' be the issue of the pen not being ready because as you see the "To" is perfect and that's the first thing he wrote on the box.

Anyway, last night 4 days later I picked up the DVD box and saw that the J had faded considerably. I swiped my thumb over it and it faded even more. CRAP! I didn't mean to do that. I start to freak out...I think "do I just fill the letter in with the sharpie? Trace over it?" I have NO IDEA what got into me because I actually got the marker and began to do it but then stopped...it was too risky. There was no way I could trace over it without it looking very unnatural. I aborted. I wiped off what I could from the "touchups" i added and put the box down. Now I"m totally bummed that the autograph looks all weird.

What does everyone think?? Is it really that bad? I've now fit the box in a plastic sheet to protect the autograph. The rest of the autograph and inscription is strong and isn't fading. Just the "J" is in danger. Does anyone have any words of comfort or stories of the same issue to make me feel better about this? Should I just put a the loop in with the marker? If I'm being a total bitch about this please please say so---I need to hear it!

Yeah -- silver sharpies are notoriously tricky on some surfaces. First, stop touching it. You can use hairspray as a "fixer" to help stabilize the silver ink, and stop touching it. Did I mention that you shouldn't touch the silver ink?.

Stop touching it. Got it.

Would you (or anyone) even consider finishing off the "J" with the marker? Would that be completely blasphemous? Does anyone really do that? Or do you just leave it be?

Justin wrote:Stop touching it. Got it.

Would you (or anyone) even consider finishing off the "J" with the marker? Would that be completely blasphemous? Does anyone really do that? Or do you just leave it be?

No. you will only make it look worse, and we have already determined (and you agreed) to not touch it. Finishing the "J" off would require that you touch it.....and.....

I'd remove the dedication of To Justin

Just leave it! Seriously, that's the way it was signed. If a celeb spelled your name wrong, would you correct that? If you ruin the inscription all together, you will be so p*ss*d at yourself, you'll never forgive yourself. Nothing worse than wrecking a prized autograph that you can't replace

Thanks guys. You're right...I'm not touching it. I've wrapped it in some plastic to protect the item from any further damage. I've slowly come to accept the flaw...so I'm feeling better. At least the actual signature is unharmed!

Had anyone had the same happen to them?

Justin wrote:Thanks guys. You're right...I'm not touching it. I've wrapped it in some plastic to protect the item from any further damage. I've slowly come to accept the flaw...so I'm feeling better. At least the actual signature is unharmed!

Had anyone had the same happen to them?

2500+ autographs... plenty of stuffed ones . Just try & get another one if that happens

Justin wrote:I've wrapped it in some plastic to protect the item from any further damage.

Ummmmm... Just a word of caution, the silver ink *might* stick to plastic