This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/bestofredditorupdates by /u/Direct-Caterpillar77 on 2025-07-03 04:04:02+00:00.
I am not The OOP, OOP's are: u/2fly2hide & u/FutureNoise
Nevermind, this is not a Downer. I don't want to Drain You; take back your Heart Shaped Box. [1 redditor is reunited with their old autographed Nirvana CD]
Originally posted to r/Autographs
Could this be real? June 13, 2024
A signed copy of Nirvana - In Utero
This came into my shop and I took a chance on it. Any chance that it could be legit? Charity auctions and events aren't especially relyable, but from a radio station in southern cal?
Would love some other opinions.
IN THE COMMENTS
The original owner is in the comments
This is real.
This was mine.
I gave it to a dear friend.... I'm saddened she parted with it.
DM me and I can confirm the name and address on the envelope (Oceanside, Ca)
I stayed up all night to win that in a phone auction.
I was in college back then and that was a lot of money for me. I had to request the letter because they never gave me a receipt. There should be a sticker from the station in there too I believe unless it was lost.
HMU for full backstory.
You have a piece of my heart.
***UPDATE: 6/15/25 Chatted with OP u/2fly2hide who confirmed where and how item was sold. u/2fly2hide could not be a nicer or more genuine Redditor. OP stated many of you reached out in their DM's offering to help me recover this... I can not begin to explain what this means to me and wanted to thank everyone for their offers and kindness. My initial goal was just to help confirm the origin for OP, but u/2fly2hide is helping me become the original owner again and it means the world to me. TY again. Reddit is wild and amazing.
*** UPDATE 6/17/25 OP is amazing and is going to send it to me and wont let me pay even though I offered a million times. I'm going to do a follow up post when all is said and done to let everyone know how cool this community can be. TY u/2fly2hide and everyone for your kind words. I'll be paying this forward forever. Cheers.
Update June 26, 2025
The returned CD & the original letter from the auction OOP won in 1993
Two weeks ago I saw a post on r/Autographs asking if a signed Nirvana CD case cover could be authentic.
I recognized the item as something I had bought and loved for over 20 years. A decade ago, I gave it to a dear friend, and I was shocked to suddenly see it in my Reddit feed.
The original intent behind my response to OP’s post was simply to help the new owner authenticate the provenance of the item and share the backstory.
Chatting with OP, I learned that the item had been pawned at their pawn shop. As we talked, I asked for first consideration if they were planning to sell it. That’s when I started to realize their intent to return it to me—32 years after I’d won it, after treasuring it for over 20 years, and a decade after gifting it to a dear friend.
What I didn’t expect was for OP to be such a kind-hearted individual. They recognized my deep feelings about the piece, and the fact that they were willing to reunite me with it was amazing in itself. However, when OP REFUSED ANY KIND OF PAYMENT—not even for postage to mail it to me, or to cover their original cost—I was absolutely blown away.
As of today, June 26th, 2025, the item has made it across the country and is now back with me. Words cannot express my gratitude, and there may, or may not, have been tears shed.
My main goal with this update is simply to highlight how awesome OP is, to promote their kindness however I can, and to show just how amazing the Reddit community can be—especially when you least expect it.
I will be paying this forward for the rest of my life.
COMMON QUESTIONS:
HOW DID YOU GET IT ORIGINALLY?
A charity phone auction in 1993 through the San Diego, California radio station 91X.
I was in college, and it was the week of my 21st birthday, so I happened to be up all night with some friends.
Even back then, most of the auction items were going for hundreds, so I hadn’t been able to bid. But since this was at around 4 a.m., it was only at $60 when I phoned in my $65 bid. The last thing I remembered was hearing my name being called out as the winner before passing out with a Zima in my hand.
When I first got the piece, Kurt was still very much alive. The CD means quite a bit to me personally, as I am a huge fan.
WHY DID YOU GIVE IT AWAY?
After having it myself for over 20 years, I went through an incredibly tough time. I have a friend who was always there for me—always. She was a self-described “rocker chick” and loved music.
Around 2015, we would have known each other for about a decade, and my life was changing. I was moving away and wanted to find a way to thank her and show her how much I appreciated her friendship. This was my prized possession, and it was what my heart thought she would cherish forever.
Though I’ve seen her a few times throughout the past decade, it never came up. I just assumed she squirreled it away to keep forever—until I saw it in my feed last night.
I haven’t spoken to her in a few years now, but since OP confirmed it was sold, I’m just gonna leave her be. I may change my mind about that, but it seems like the right thing to do.
I’m just very grateful to have a chance to have it back in my life again. OP is a great person and very kind.
YOU SAID IT WAS PAWNED... MAYBE IT WAS TAKEN OR STOLEN?
Chatting with OP, I learned the item had been pawned at their pawn shop.
OP is a professional, but after comparing cities, dates, and general descriptions, I felt reassured that it was indeed my friend who pawned it—meaning it hadn’t been taken from her, which was a main concern of mine that was put to ease.
WERE YOU UPSET IT WAS PAWNED?
No, not at all.
Though we’re still friends, we haven’t spoken for years and she lives states away now.
Because it was sold to a pawn shop , then she needed the money, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass her.
It was a heartfelt gift and hers to do with as she wanted, but not really worth THAT much (to anyone besides me), so if she had moved on and had more pressing needs, I’m glad she had it to pawn and help her through.
HOW DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE THE POST SO QUICKLY? THAT’S WILD!
I agree. It’s kinda bananas I saw it, and it really tripped me out a bit.
I was looking at baseball posts, and it was in my feed.
If you look at my post history, it’s a little collectibles-heavy and I think that’s why it popped into my feed.
I’ve helped many other Reddit posters find sources, autos, and timelines and love a good treasure hunt, but this was eerie for me.
Reddit is a trip, and I’m grateful.
WHATS NEXT?
Besides making a friend for life (TY Dave!) I will be back in OP's city later this year and you can bet one of my first stops will be to their store (OP disclosed store info in their original post) to thank them personally... with all the beer and pizza I can hold =) CHEERS REDDIT!!!
THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT THE OOP
DO NOT CONTACT THE OOP's OR COMMENT ON LINKED POSTS, REMEMBER - RULE 7