Yeoman's in the Fork Blog

Recently, while exhibiting at the 1st Annual Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair, we sat down with Robert Hicks during a break in the show. While chatting, I pulled a First Edition copy of 'The Widow of the South' from under the table. The book was signed by Robert, but the signature did not look right to me... I decided to take it to the source and ask if the signature was indeed a forgery as I had suspected. To my surprise, Robert was taken aback and immediately began to laugh. Under the watchful eye of the onsite police officer, Robert snatched the book from me and began to examine it with an intensity that I have to assume he would normally only use if examining a period map of the Battlefield at Franklin or a First Edition copy of 'Company Aytch' by Watkins... To my surprise, he claimed that the signature was not a forgery at all! This book was one of the first books signed by Hicks during the early release days of the NY Times Best-Seller. The signature was small, uncharacteristic and absolutely differed from any example that I have ever seen of his autograph! The only thing that I really caught at all was the similarities in the "R" of his first name.

Robert laughed and explained on the first few book signings he attended when the book was brand new, his signature was quite small and that this book represented one of those very early copies. In typical Robert Hicks fashion, he went on to explain that his signature got bigger over the years as both his ego grew and as the duties of signing became a real day to day part of his life. The strokes were simplified and the flow of the autograph lends itself to be easier and quicker to sign. After hearing the story and laughing along with us, Bruce, our new law enforcement friend purchased the book before I even had time to price it and put it out on the table! Check out the photos of the book and the newly acquired dual-signed copy of 'Widow.' A great book with a great story! Thanks to Officer Bruce Smith and Robert for your support and for the great fun...