Signature blues

It is no surprise that fans of Bob Dylan would want to own an authentic work by the music icon. The publisher Simon and Schuster this month gave Dylanologists that opportunity by offering a signed edition, limited to 900 copies, of his new book The Philosophy of Modern Song – at just $599. This must have seemed something of a bargain. The voice of countercultural protest has a sideline as a visual artist; a portfolio of six of his figurative, rather traditional prints is yours for £17,500. Except all is not right with Dylan’s Philosophy – or rather, in the words of Simon and Schuster, “the limited edition books do contain Bob’s original signature, but in a penned replica form”. This term may have wider application. Aren’t plenty of today’s young radicals merely a “penned replica form” of the 1960s originals?