The Verified PKD Inscription Database
The verified PKD inscription database represents the collective knowledge of PKD scholars, dealers, and collectors about authentically signed Philip K. Dick material. While no single centralized database exists as a public resource, the PKD collecting community has accumulated substantial documentation of genuine signatures through provenance tracking, estate records, and cross-referencing.
Sources of Verification
Estate provenance: Books from Dick’s personal collection or that passed through the hands of his literary executors carry the strongest provenance. The Dick estate has cooperated with scholars and dealers in authenticating material.
Known recipients: Dick inscribed books to specific people — friends, fellow writers, correspondents, editors. When the identity of the recipient can be verified and the inscription matches the known relationship, the authentication is strong.
Convention records: Dick attended various science fiction conventions where he signed for fans. Some convention programs and event records document his attendance, providing context for signatures dated to those events.
Dealer records: Established science fiction book dealers who dealt with Dick during his lifetime or obtained material directly from associates maintain records that support authentication.
Using the Record
Any collector considering a significant PKD purchase should:
- Request full provenance documentation
- Compare the signature against verified exemplars from the same approximate period
- Consult with dealers or scholars who specialize in PKD material
- Treat any signature that cannot be verified against the known record with extreme skepticism
The verified record is small but well-documented. Its very smallness is its value — a genuine PKD inscription that can be traced through the record is virtually proof positive of authenticity.