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Star Wars Collectors Unite!

I have been collecting Star Wars autographs since 1998. Not all of my signatures are on Star Wars memorabilia. For example, when I met Warwick Davis at a comic convention in New York City, I had him sign a Willow photograph. I also have publicity photos of Sir Alec Guinness and Christopher Lee from the 1970s, and a Natalie Portman signed The Diary of Anne Frank theater poster from her performance on Broadway back in 1998. My current wish list includes Peter Cushing, Terence Stamp and John Williams. I am interested in knowing about the collections and wish lists of other members.

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Permalink Reply by Bradford on July 20, 2014 at 5:04am

That's what I call the endorsement of all endorsements right there!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 20, 2014 at 5:31am

That is precisely my point Pete. It would require a closer forensic examination to rule out the possibility of it being a forgery based on what you are speculating about the writing instrument that was used to sign it. I am sure that you are right. I would just feel better sending it in if I had any concerns about it. Bradford seems to be content, so sending it to PSA would be unnecessary at this point. Great analysis.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on July 20, 2014 at 6:17am

I don't disagree with you. Unfortunately these companies don't do a forensic examination

Amongst friends I use the term "plastics" and I deliver the line like Murray Hamilton in The Graduate.

The hobbies we loved here in America for over 100 years have gone to "Plastics".....it's the wave of the future.

Autographs, trading cards, coins, paper money, comic books and God only knows what else.....if it isn't slabbed or stickered with Plastic....who wants it?

It's a shame, and I am certainly not a fan of the new proccess but if it makes you all warm and fuzzy that someone looked at it and stickerd it, so be it.

Permalink Reply by Bradford on July 20, 2014 at 7:11am

Wow. So true. I think it comes back to the warm fuzzy combined with resale. Most of us Star Wars fans aren't planning to part with our items unless we are "trading up". However, it takes the slabby patty to sometimes sell to those who aren't experts. For those of you who are and are confident in your ability to discern forgeries from authentic items, I can't see why you would want to spend the money for letting PSA tell you something you already know. If you are like me and not an expert on the other hand, I am fully content taking the word of the experts we have right here....especially Pete since he declared it's authentication!!!! Haha

Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 20, 2014 at 8:21am

Now I am as confused as Jar Jar. Wouldn't PSA at least do an analysis of the ink in order to determine if it would have been typically used? Perhaps I am simply giving them more credit than they deserve.

Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on July 20, 2014 at 8:42am

The 3rd party authentication/grading companies look at an item, and render an opinion. I would hope that they actually look at their reference file to try and match the item to known good samples, but even that step is skipped. The majority of them set up at the major conventions and shows and look at items all day, sticker items and issue Certificates all day. Sometimes they take a photo of the item and mail you the printed letter with your image appearing on the letter after the form has been printed.

There is plenty of fancy equipment, lightwaves and super magnifiers that they could indeed use, but that is not the case with the average piece submitted to them.

A guy I worked with up until earlier this year, handled the company we work for's sports memorabilia, he would drive down to the Westchester Center, NY show every other month with stuff for JSA to look at.

That's what they did, looked at it, sometimes checked references and sometimes took a photo for the COA letter. Then they took the payment and he went on home with the material.

I have 10's of thousands of autographs in my collection, I can think of less than 20 pieces that have been tagged by a TPA. Most of those cases were someone thinking they did me a favor. Hahahahha

Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 20, 2014 at 8:55am

Got it. Thanks Pete.

Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on July 17, 2014 at 7:44am

I have recently received a few e-mails from Coolwaters Productions LLC about upcoming signings and there are quite a few Star Wars actors scheduled. I just wanted to share the information here in case any members are interested. Here is a link to the appearances listed on their website.

https://www.coolwatersprods.com/appearances.html