Here's a very nice 24x36 Sam Newton on upson being delivered tomorrow. I'm kind of a sucker for pine trees.

Florida Highwaymen

Been a very busy month for many reasons. I almost let it slip away without a November post.

Here are a few pics from 2003 - 2006 that I rediscovered recently.

The first one is by Sam Newton, the second by Lemuel, all the rest are by Harold.

My newest article about highwaymen art has gone live on the Antiques and Art Around Florida website. If you are here in Florida and picked up a printed copy of the magazine, now an annual publication, the story was printed with the wrong pictures.

It's an unfortunate situation that cannot be changed. However, the internet edition of the article has been corrected, the two proper images have been restored and it can be found in "Editorials" if the following link doesn't take you directly to the article.

http://aarf.com/

As always, my article is another exercise in shameless self promotion disguised as a little piece of history in the highwaymen market.

H Newton misattributed again on eBay

And next up, to add to the TWO OTHER mistakes currently on Ebay claiming Harold Newton's work, here we have a NYC seller.

This looks like something that is sold in Walmart, but I'm just kind of guessing because, as you can imagine, I don't scour the stacks of paintings offered there. I only see them out of the corner of my eye as I walk by on my way to some necessity.

I thought I gave the seller, in the eBay message I sent, a polite correction.

We'll see what kind of response I get. Good, bad, or ugly.


ANTIQUE OIL ON CANVAS LISTED FLORIDA HIGHWAYMAN ARTIST HAROLD NEWTON
FROM CENTRAL PARK WEST NYC ESTATE

this is a antique oil on canvas painting by listed florida highwayman artist harold newton,whose works are very sought after,and sells strong at worldwide galleries,and auctions ,i just acquired at a avid art collectors estate sale in new york city.measures 36x24".in frame measures 41x29".in excellent condition.

Here is the message I sent upon spotting this today:

"Dear 516diamond9853,
Good morning. I totally understand how you could think this is a painting by ONE OF the Newtons in the highwaymen group, and that you'd WANT it to be by Harold. As an expert in the field, I assure you that this is NOT by any of them. regards, BOB
highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com

Here's the thread of emails that followed.

***************************************************************

i believe one of his earlier works

- 516diamond9853

______________________________________

Dear 516diamond9853,

I appreciate your response, and will send you images of Harold's signature if I get your email address, then you'll have no doubt.
mine is hwymnbnb@aol.com

BOB
____________________________________


i was told this was done by alfre hair also a highwayman,who signed harold new tons work

- 516diamond9853

___________________________________


Dear 516diamond9853,

That's 100% nonsense. A made up lie.
Not even a rumor of that ever happening.
Again, I know you want to believe it's his work. I don't blame you for that.

BOB
___________________

thats what i was infomed by a expert


- 516diamond9853
__________________________

Dear 516diamond9853,

Your 'expert" is wrong.
Why don't you want to see what his authentic signature looks like?
You hoping someone makes a mistake and buys this painting?
I don't mean to accuse you of anything, I'm just wondering.

BOB
_________________________________

if nobody buys will keep for myself


- 516diamond9853


This will be the last one, I'd have to guess. Total indifference to integrity on display. Seller does not want to know what the real signature looks like.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET ON EBAY, PEOPLE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE STEALING.
_____________

Fortunately no one fell for the trap.

Ended:

Aug 12, 201216:58:03 PDT



Starting bid:


US $225.00 [ 0 bids ]



Shipping:


$50.00 UPS Ground



Item location:

new york, NY, United States

Fake Highwaymen, Newton, of course.

Here we go again, two bad Harolds on eBay right now.
one in Amsterdam and one in Key Largo.
Here's the latest, this time it's an intentional mis-attribution.

When you see the emails back and forth, you'll understand why I know this.


Dear sue70,

Sue, this is painted and signed by Dean D Newton, not a highwaymen Newton, and definitely not Harold.
If you google him you can probably see images with the signature on other paintings.
Bob, highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com

Dear 24heavy,

I have this appraise by two different appraisers and they said it is Harold Newton.
The signature is Harold Newton's also.
The sytlized painting is typical of his too.
If you read the content of my description, it says that Newton was much more accomplished than the others and did paintings other than the tropical ones.
I do appreciate your information though.
Thank you


- sue70
Now, gentle people, since you're reading this blog, I assume you have a brain, unlike Sue70.
Since you have a brain, you know how to google and search images.

You can find, unlike the "two appraisers" she checked with, examples of Harold Newton's signature and Dean D Newton's signature, as well.

I told her my website so she'd know who was attempting to keep her from embarrasing herself, or possibly opening herself to charges of fraud, but she's a stubborn one.

That's the lesson for today, kids. Summer School is in session.


Saturday night update:

Success or fail? Dunno.
It's hard for me to imagine that someone bought this thing, but she ended the sale Saturday.
That's a good thing.

"This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

Harold Newton forgery on eBay

Been working Facebook, so go here for more:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/H-Newton-and-A-Hair-Paintings/309497962412013

And, as is the case oftentimes, here's the response.

Hi, Bob
Thank you for your expertise. I'm a dealer with long experience, and before listing the painting I make preliminary research, examination of the signature in black light, it looks good. I'm selling this painting as it is. So you are welcome to make your offer if you are interested.
My best regards,
Alex


- clioo

And my response.

I mean no disrespect.
I understand where you are coming from, however I have to protect my market and warn collectors whether you personally believe me or not. You are entitled to disagree.

http://highwaymenart.blogspot.com/2012/06/harold-newton-forgery-on-ebay.html

highwaymen education

>From: anonymous
To: hwymnbnb <hwymnbnb@aol.com>
> Sent: Sun, May 20, 2012 5:03 am
> Subject: signed al black
>
> hello,
> do you know why there are paintings on your website listed under an
> artist’s name, but underneath it says “signed al black.
> I am curious if there is a back story to this. thank you, sincerely,
> anonymous. ps...I found your website VERY informative!

From: hwymnbnb@aol.com
> Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 07:36:02 -0400
>
> anonymous, thanks for the kind words.
>
> Al Black has a website now, if it's still up and running. I haven't
> checked for a month or two.
>
> Before he started painting along with his buddies and relatives in the
> 1970's, he was their silver tongued salesman. He had that knack, the
> gift of gab, so to speak.
> He would take a dozen or so unsigned paintings from the actual artists,
> mostly Willie Daniels, and haul them off to his favorite selling spots.
>
> He'd spread them out and when someone picked one out and asked, "How
> much is this one?" he'd then say, "Oh, yes ma'am, you have very good
> taste. That's my most valuable painting. Would you like me to sign it
> for you?"
>
> He'd whip out his ball point pen and scratch his own sig onto the dry
> paint.
>
> I've sold paintings with Black's signature on Hezekiah Baker's, Ike
> Knight's and Roy McLendon's work.
>
> In fact, at the first Safety Harbor Museum Highwaymen Symposium about a
> dozen years ago, a lady brought a gorgeous McL sunset pine tree
> portrait to the show to get an idea of the value.
>
> As a dealer, I spotted it from across the crowd, approached the lady
> and said, "What a beautiful McLendon, (as it was one of Roy's better
> quality ones, just drop dead gorgeous), you're lucky to have found such
> a nice one by Mr McLendon."
>
> In her naivety, she got very upset, gave me a look like "who's this
> know-nothing jerk" and scolded me, "It's NOT a McLendon, you're wrong,
> it's by Al Black", and pointed out the signature on the lower right.
>
> See, she didn't know me. If she did, she'd realize that I'm NEVER wrong.
>
> Roy's usual pine trees have a green foreground like most highwaymen
> paintings do. This one had more of a brownish color to it. The lower
> right corner had a bright green triangle painted over the brown color
> where Roy would usually sign, and sure enough, it had Al's classic ball
> point scratched on that little spot.
>
> I told her that I knew what I was talking about and called over Gary
> Monroe for confirmation. You probably know who he is. He's the guy who
> got the first book published about these guys in 2001. We were friendly
> at the time, but despite all the help I gave him as he was doing his
> research, he never acknowledged me in his book. As I grew to know him
> better, and discussed him with others who had worked closely with him,
> decided to simply eliminate him from my consciousness. We happily
> totally ignore each other to this day.
>
> But, I digress. He served my purpose that February day, came over and
> confirmed that it was one of Roy's.
>
> For the finest book on this art, I strongly recommend Catherine Enns'
> "Journey of the Highwaymen".
>
> Since I turned your simple question into something long and possibly
> boring and snarky, with your permission I will post your question and
> my response in one of my blogs.
>
> So please let me know if you and your email address would like to be
> included.
>
> regards,
>
> BOB
>
> cell 727 809 1691
>
> http://www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com/
>
> http://www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com/
>
> http://www.highwaymenart.blogspot.com/
>
> http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=61882155&trk=tab_pro
>
> https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-E-Backus-paintings/226383987441293
>
> https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/H-Newton-and-A-Hair-Paintings/309497962412013
>
> https://twitter.com/#!/BobLeBlanc

highwaymen amusement.

Just amusing my self this morning.

A E Backus Seminole camp

I've been neglecting my blogs.

So sue me.

Anyway, here's an extreme rarity for your viewing pleasure.

Highwaymen in DC revisited

Here's a cap tip to Tony Hayton. He's doing his best to gain national attention for this highwaymen art. I, for one, appreciate his efforts.

Read this story and you will, too.

http://shfwire.com/node/6109

A new wrinkle in the highwaymen market.

First let me write that Issac Knight is one of my favorite people.

As I read the article in the "Ledger.com" out of Lakeland, I see that the autograph collectors were out in full force, and I wish them well, of course. I posted the above picture so you can see the sheer ecstasy one can enjoy in getting one of these autographs. I can only hope that it lingers longer than a fleeting moment.

That said, I found that one can buy a photo of Ike signing an autograph.

That's right, BUY A PHOTO of a genuine highwayman signing a genuine autograph.

I just can't make up my mind whether to order the 4x6 size for 5 bucks, or go big time and get a 30x40 for $75.00.

New Alfred Hair forgery on eBay

And the hits just keep on coming. Another fake signature pops up.

This is nothing new. As always, I emailed the seller to let him know he has a forgery on his hands. As is often the case, the response was one of denial.

This time, the painting happens to be quite beautiful, but it has absolutely no earmarks of Hair's style. The signature is an attempt to copy Hair's signature style as commonly seen scratched into wet paint.

This time it's scratched onto dry paint according to the image.

Here's my original message sent, followed by the response. I totally understand the seller's wish that the painting is "right" and I understand as well that people can be fooled by these things.

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Item number: 280810095239

From: 24heavy
To: barleyneckusa
Subject: Other: 24heavy sent a message about Antique Florida Highwaymen Oil Painting by A.Hair, No Reserve #280810095239
Sent Date: Jan-20-12 00:02:14 PST


Dear barleyneckusa,

FYI. This is not Hair's work. That is a forged signature. BOB
highwaymenart.blogspot.co m
______________________________________

Dear 24heavy,

i disagree and numerous people have said it is right and as you can see by the bidding everyone thinks it is right and i have numerous offers to buy it now.


- barleyneckusa

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

Alfred Hair Harold Newton Museum

Alfred Hair, courtesy Scott Schlesinger

The finest exhibit I've seen, and I've seen most of them the last decade and a half, featuring highwaymen art, was in the Ft. Lauderdale Museum, and looking back, I'm surprised that it was five long years ago. 2006.

There should be no question that these two extremely talented deceased artists are the most important. Generally speaking, their work is more valuable on the highwaymen scale. Importance creates increased demand in the marketplace.

here's the link: http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Alfred_Hair_Harold_Newton_Highwaymen_exhibit.html

Rarities to the Harold Newton market

Not one, but two important paintings have come to market.

Here they are: A drop dead gorgeous people and sailboat painting...AND...what could be the earliest known landscape, a primitive Rio Mar that looks like no other.

Call me at 727 809 1691 or email hwymnbnb@aol.com if you have interest.