Academy Of Manuscript and Autograph, LLC - Legit?

Does anyone have any info on this company? Can you trust their authenticity certificates?

There is plenty of info about them online from Google - linked to their website or company profiles (i.e. Manta), but I can't find any consumer report-type info on them to research peoples' experiences with them. No offence to AMA, LLC - I just don't know anything about them, whether they are trustworthy, and would apprciate any feedback that anyone can give.

Thanks in advance!!

Tags: Academy Of Manuscript and Autograph

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Permalink Reply by Mike Rowlands on January 23, 2012 at 7:11am

...although Mike Frost's message reads "Also any item we certify would also have a matching numbered hologram." which I do not see on the COA above. They will either put the hologram on the front or back of the item (album in this case), or on the COA itself...and since no one would be that stupid to put it on the album, it should be on the COA. To me, it's a fake COA, and the seller/consignor provided this fake in order to sell a falsely signed Beatles album. My hunch is that "Best Wishes from The Beatles. George Harrison" is legit; one or all the others are fake.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Nelles on November 30, 2011 at 10:22am

Thanks Steve - much appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by Mr Zipper on December 3, 2011 at 12:03pm

At least they had fancy looking LOAs.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Rowlands on January 21, 2012 at 7:49am

This same album is up for auction on January 22nd 2012 at Pioneer Auction in Portland, OR. It does not surprise me at all that their showcase item for the next auction is this LP. Here's the full auction catalog. The album is lot # 100. Anyone who has purchased other items that they're offering (i.e.: gems & jewelry with AIG and GLA certification) will catch on pretty quick when reading reviews of the COA and appraisal companies.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin on January 22, 2012 at 1:38pm

The album's up to $400!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Rowlands on January 22, 2012 at 2:37pm

Sold for $5,200. Sheesh. They also have quite a few baseball autographs (some sold as of this writing for $500+, i.e.: Ruth, Cobb, Gehrig etc) certified by ACE...who I have not heard a lot of great things about.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin on January 22, 2012 at 3:43pm

$5,200 for a fake signed Beatles album. We just witnessed a felony.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Rowlands on January 22, 2012 at 5:16pm

I've bought a dozen or so things from this auction house (Pioneer); if you're there in person and are knowledgeable about what you're bidding on, there are decent deals to be had...but I've been burned by them more than once and now only buy $5 and $10 baubles just for fun - conversation items. These folks are cleaning up, though - 15% to 18% buyer premium, and they can take as much as 50% sale price (depends on what it sells for).

On the upside, when they sold me something that didn't turn out to be as claimed, I did finally get a refund (albeit after a LOT of back-and-forth and cost on my part on part to get things independently appraised after the sale). I've been to the Gallery 63 (Auction Kings) auctions as well and had a much better experience, though they too sold me an item that turned out to be incorrect...but from them it was "We're so sorry, you're right, bring it back and get a full refund." Pioneer will fight you all the way until your right to dispute a credit card charge has expired, so as always, caveat emptor!

Anyway, I ramble, but just a heads-up to anyone considering bidding on Pioneer auctions in the future, these are my personal experiences, your mileage may vary.