Dylan Artifacts At Center Of Controversy

When Peter McKenzie was 12 years old, a young unknown folk singer moved to New York City and, for a short time crashed, on his parent’s couch. Eventually moving out, the singer left behind a harmonica, lyric sheets, and various scribblings, memorabilia that has now become sought after collector’s items once belonging to the now-famous Bob Dylan. With Dylan’s permission, McKenzie, in 1991, began to sell the items that Dylan left behind. Now McKenzie is embroiled in a series of suits and countersuits with two collectible dealers, one of which has worked with McKenzie since the onset.

When Peter McKenzie was 12 years old, a young unknown folk singer moved to New York City and, for a short time crashed, on his parent’s couch. Eventually moving out, the singer left behind a harmonica, lyric sheets, and various scribblings, memorabilia that has now become sought after collector’s items once belonging to the now-famous Bob Dylan. With Dylan’s permission, McKenzie, in 1991, began to sell the items that Dylan left behind. Now McKenzie is embroiled in a series of suits and countersuits with two collectible dealers, one of which has worked with McKenzie since the onset.

Dealer Jeffrey Gold, associated with McKenzie since 1991, now claims that McKenzie sold him $80,000 worth of fake Dylan artifacts including a harmonica, a signed Harry Belafonte album cover, and various lyric sheets. According to McKenzie, however, all of the artifacts in question are genuine. McKenzie’s explanation for the suit is that Gold has been unable to sell the memorabilia at inflated asking prices and is now seeking a way to recoup his monetary investment. Due to the publicity surrounding Gold’s suit, a second dealer, Reed Orenstein, also having difficulty selling a copy of Dylan’s notes he purchased from McKenzie, has now come forward to question the authenticity of his item. Orenstein is suing McKenzie for $40,000. Still holding to the genuineness of his memorabilia, Peter McKenzie is countersuing for $200,000, claiming defamation.

Despite these recent claims regarding the validity of McKenzie’s merchandise, one dealer remains steadfast in its belief in Peter McKenzie’s collection. Currently, retailer Skyline Brooks is marketing one of Dylan’s writings, originally obtained from McKenzie.