First off, the link sent for eBay yesterday for a listing of a monograph from the West Virginia Museum of Glass has now sold out.

Second, if you know anyone who might enjoy receiving the e-mailed Gazette, just hit the reply button and send along their name and e-mail address.

Now to some answers. Author, Marshall Ketchum of Genoa, NY responds:
I, personally, would probably pass on a piece that someone had engraved with some identification number unless it was quite scarce or the price was exceptionally good. On the other hand I find such things as forged signatures on genuine pieces quite interesting. I am reminded that a few year ago Bob Rockwell had in his shop several 6303 goblets that he had purchased from someone in NYC. When he got them he found that many had forged signatures along side genuine signature. When I learned that he had them I hurried to his shop to get one but the only piece he had left was one with only the genuine signature. I would never be discouraged by a genuine piece with a forged signature unless the signature was very poorly done.
I would not bother to have either type of problem removed. More damage might be done and then you really have a problem.

Glass repair artist Wayne Montano of Emmett, ID says:
We get about 10-12 pieces of Czech glass each year with a Steuben or Tiffany signature to remove. A lot of fakes out there and want to B’s.
I’ve never had to remove an acid stamp saying it was Steuben before. I did remove a Fry acid stamp and I told the dealer it was a Fry piece.
But he wanted it gone. I looked it up later and sure enough it was Fry and pictured in the Fry book. An acid stamp mark is not easy to apply. During the 70 and 80’s there were a lot of fakes out there. I had a cut glass piece with both a Libber and Hawkes signature (on the same piece). It was a J. Hoare pattern and blank, but was not signed J. Hoare. Books can be our best investments and we encourage buying them and joining groups like this one.

Next, collector Dick Stark of Bethesda, MD responds
Certainly the spurious signatures or i.d. nos should be buffed out unless they are incised too deep which is uncommon. The acid mark should be very superficial and not bother anyone. The only problem is with iridescent objects in which the disturbed area may be detrimental following polishing. It should not deter you from an object you desire.

Dealer David Goldstein of Naples, FL opines:
The good piece, bad signature problem is not a new one. If the piece is something common, pass unless it is really cheap for what it is and you “need” it. If the piece is rare or unusual, ask yourself if its important enough to you that you can live with the bad signature, and how long you think it will take to find a correct example..

I don’t think you should normally try to remove a bad signature. Typically, you end up making the piece worse. A long time ago I saw a big beautiful Gold Aurene on Calcite Punch Bowl with excellent color and a nice (forged) Tiffany signature. I thought about it for a couple of minutes and passed. I couldn’t live with the signature and removing it would have been even worse.