Robert Edwards Auctions/Rob Lifson thanks third party authenticators.

Note To Autograph Authenticators: Thanks!
Published by Robert Lifson on Tagged Uncategorized
REA would like to take the time to express a special thanks to all the authenticators who have contributed to uncovering often ingenious and complicated fraud, and in the process protecting consumers. It’s a thankless job and these guys are often literally on the firing lines of retribution by those whose interests they cross. It is a given that these same authenticators sometimes make mistakes, sometimes even obvious mistakes. It is a given that authenticators sometimes do not agree with each other, or sometimes even change their minds at a later date (which can be very frustrating). That comes with the territory. We sometimes joke that if all of them ever agreed on the same autographed item, we’d have to declare a new holiday!

But at the end of the day, gentlemen such as Mike Gutierrez (who no longer authenticates but was the very first to uncover two of the most sophisticated and elaborate frauds in the field of baseball autographs, one involving an ingenious mixing of extraordinary authentic items with non-authentic items), James Spence of JSA, Steve Grad of PSA, Richard Simon, and many others, while at the same time making themselves targets of ridicule for every error they make, also help identify and put a huge monkey wrench into the plans of the most prolific professional forgers, and in the process help protect the entire market and the collecting world from the most ambitious and egregious fraud in the field. These authenticators play an enormous role in uncovering and stopping the most ambitious and dangerous frauds - some involving millions of dollars in forgeries - perpetrated by extremely sophisticated criminals, and we can’t help but notice that they really don’t any credit for this. In fact, some get a lot of flack. So we’d like to just say thanks to all the authenticators (as humans, flawed though you may be!) for the valuable services you provide, both to your customers and just as important, though far less understood, to the entire marketplace (ironically, even to your detractors). There will always be differences of opinion among authenticators, there will always be mistakes, and a mistake can be made on any given item, but without these authenticators on the front lines, we believe the collecting world would be in far worse shape, the market would be in disarray, and that forgeries would be the rule, as opposed to the exception.

This seems an appropriate place to provide a link to the REA blog post entitled “Autographs at REA or any other auction: Is Authenticity Guaranteed?” that is as relevant today as when we first published it on April 24, 2008, and that further elaborates our thoughts regarding the many merits (and flaws) of third party autograph authentication:

http://blog.robertedwardauctions.com/?p=83

Sincerely,

Robert Edward Auctions LLC

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/

December 2nd, 2010

Tags: Lifson, Third, authentication, forgery, fraud, jsa, party, psa

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Comment by kevin conway on January 1, 2011 at 9:50am: Travis,

Re: "I given my views on how to improve third party authentication services many times."

Although we've disagreed in the past about the "need" for 3rd party authentication, you make some very valid and excellent points to improving a system that has a lot of broken parts.

Kevin

Comment by john reznikoff on December 24, 2010 at 7:45am: Cheers! Merry Christmas and happy new years to all!

Comment by john reznikoff on December 24, 2010 at 5:32am: Travis,
Although I think your logic is unsound when it comes to a global view of authenticating in our business (i am positive the experiences you will have as a competeing company will change all that),I do commend you for not engaging in personal attacks .

Comment by Steve Cyrkin on December 23, 2010 at 9:43pm: Travis,

You can say anything true that you want about PSA/DNA, etc. I don't care about that at all. But if you're going to be competing with them and you're slamming them like you do, that's a perspective important for visitors and members to be aware of. Richard Simon goes after them, too, but he's been known as a professional authenticator for a long time.

I hope you do go into the boxing authentication business. I have a lot of faith in your expertise and I think you'll do well.

Comment by john reznikoff on December 23, 2010 at 8:55pm: Travis,
I hope you start a service. There is plenty of room and I am sure you will do a great job. I would certainly give you a try.

I would love to see the two major services respond and engage here, but it is easy to understand why they won't, not the least of which would be attacks on blogs by people with fake IDs and less than savory agendas.

As far as all the ingredients of a great service, well, I wish we lived in a perfect world. Please add peace in the Middle East and an end to world hunger for me.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin on December 23, 2010 at 5:41pm: Travis,

I've asked questions and comments on this blog and other blogs, like R&Rs, and in discussions. Not generally related to specific items, but for ways to improve third party authentication and for your opinions on accuracy, etc. But for the most part you haven't answered them.

You're under no obligation to answer any questions, of course, but these have been constructive questions; not just rehashing the same complaints you have about PSA and JSA in any venue here you can.

I couldn't figure out why you wouldn't discuss my questions and comments. But then I read what you wrote a few minutes ago:

"...but until I start Roste Boxing Authentication Service, I reserve the right to answer any questions about my service and how I authenticate, and the results of my authentication, which I would happily do if the service ever materializes, which it probably will soon."

Now I think I understand.

I think it would be great for you to start a boxing authentication service. You know you're stuff, and I think you'd do an excellent job. But readers of this forum need to realize that your constant pounding across this site of the same messages about PSA and JSA are coming from someone who intends to compete with them soon.

Comment by john reznikoff on December 23, 2010 at 5:10pm: Thanks again for complimenting them on getting it right! The rule rather than the exception. I guess you are worried about opining on the many questions posed to you. You might make a mistake? Ooops. Easier to criticize than put your neck on the line I guess.

Comment by john reznikoff on December 23, 2010 at 4:35pm: Travis,

We are about 20 questions behind you.....when are you going to answer? And thanks for complimenting PSA on getting the Liston right. We all appreciate it.