Autograph Authentication Boards: Is it Time?

Authenticity is everything in autographs. Some are satisfied with certification by certain third-party authenticators, and others don't like or use any of them. Many particularly don't like them issuing opinions on autographs they've sold.

The more orderly the marketplace and the safer we make it for collectors, the more the autograph market will grow.

So here's the question:

Is it time for the autograph hobby to set up official expert authentication boards in each category of autographs? Or in some cases, individual subjects...down to a particular president or musician?

The boards could handle re-examinations, disputes, and perhaps even render original opinions.

Do you think it makes sense?

And if they were set up, how do you think they should work?

Should dealer or collectors groups set up their own boards?

How should experts be chosen?

Should dealers and auctions sign up, agreeing to be bound by the boards' official decisions? Or should the board issue official opinions and leave it to the parties to fight it out once the decisions are rendered?

What do you see as the benefits; the drawbacks...and are they even feasible?

I think they're an idea whose time has come.

What are your thoughts?

Tags: authentication board, authentication boards, authenticity, autograph, experts, official

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Comment by Greig McArthur on December 9, 2011 at 4:52am: The thing with Aftal is that if you have a couple of questionable items on your website they will not let you be a member but if your a member then they do let their own members sell questionable items. They seem to change the rule book to suit themselves. I have had a lot of trouble with Aftal and its really shocking the stories I can tell you about them.

Comment by Anne Marie LaProvidenza on March 21, 2011 at 4:43pm: Hi Steve, thanks so much for taking a stand against these criminals !!

I wish you the best with this case.

We need more people like you to take action against those who prey on us collector's .

Comment by E.B.G. on March 20, 2011 at 5:00pm: Sounds like a fair proposition Steve.

Comment by Markus Brandes on March 20, 2011 at 1:27am: My suggestions:

Experts for a field should be chosen 50% by professionals as well as the AutographLive board. as well as 50% by the autograph community who always have the opportunity to "agree" or "disagree" with a statement. It is the same technique like the "like it" or "unlike it" on Facebook but like with EBAY feedbacks third people get a feeling who to trust and who not even if they are conected to an authentication company, are dealers or knowledge collector's. Therefore statements from "positive voted" experts are more respected as from people who just join a thread because they like to protect their questionable items (...look at the Charlton Heston thread.....)

Comment by Steve Cyrkin on March 8, 2011 at 10:26am: I agree, DB. Faith in reputable third-party authenticators has not gone down the tubes. In fact, it's growing—among active, higher dollar buyers especially.

Do they make mistakes? Yes.

Do I wish they made fewer? Yes.

Have they made autograph collecting safer? Unquestionably. Just imagine the percentage of the forgeries in the market without them.

Do I wish they offered a service that GUARANTEED the authenticity of autographs? More than anything.

I agree the idea of official authentication boards is fraught with pitfalls, but I think they're worth the effort and risks.

Comment by DB on March 8, 2011 at 4:32am: Steve - a great idea that is fraught with pitfalls. Essentially, it becomes a 3rd party "arbitration/dispute" board and as such will run afoul of those that it exposes and those that are refuted. As such it will become just another target of those as evidenced by just a few statements below. Nonetheless, nothing ventured, nothing gained but we have too often seen are the problems with those "that doth protest to much". That's why that REA written post had alot more insight to it than most realize and even if it came from a card company.

disagree with this "Faith in the third party authentication system has, in my opinion, gone largely down the tubes" as it always eminates from "anti-3rd party only" for reasons that are miniscule in the big picture.

unfortunately, I concur that this and regardless of motivation it what has negatively impacted the idea of "hobby" -vs- Investment; Why? Because when I tried to sell it an auction I was told it was no good by the auction house. So then you contact the dealer and tell them their item that you bought several years back has been deemed not good. The dealer then will tell one of two things. If your lucky he will ask you to send it back for a refund. Or you are told to, "Prove it". Leaving you to go and pay for a 3rd party authentication, BUT, the dealer tells you he wont accept letters from R&R, JSA, or PSA. Because he does not respect their findings.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin on March 6, 2011 at 4:13pm: Daniel,

It's a dealer organization that has set standards and polices its members. It's the most vigilant and responsive one I know of, and I am a UACC Registered Dealer and have a lot of respect for the program.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin on March 4, 2011 at 10:36pm: Daniel...I have to tell you, from my observation, AFTAL is anything but a good ol boys club. I'm really impressed with them.

I don't think that setting up something that works will be unreasonably expensive.

Comment by Truman Lewis on March 4, 2011 at 9:56pm: Good comments Christopher, I see the same old problem coming up again and again - MONEY, non of us want to spend it, even if it would make us more money - just human nature, and in this downward spiraling economy, I think we we all see less spending (one of the reasons the don't publish a print issue any longer - RIP) and the other thing I see is that it will be "To many chiefs and not enough indians" as always. And Chris -- it was long winded, but good.

THX

Comment by kevin larkin on March 3, 2011 at 11:35pm: I have recently done an extensive search on the web to see if any site or sites existed with photographs of signatures dedicated solely to collector and run by collectors but no luck.

Would it not be an idea and maybe whoever runs it can then use an authenticator to double check if required for a fee?.

I find the best people to approach are the auctioneers of such items.people whom are dedicated just to autographs Sotheby,s in London for example do authenticate for a fee.

just an idea and i agree with all your comments to setup and run an organisational body would be costly and time consuming but a website run by guys like yourselves not so bad.