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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 10, 2016 at 8:16pm

Most of all, there is no supplier of genuine autographs you can call and say, "send me a 'Morrison Hotel' album signed by the entire band, an 'Are You Experienced?' signed by Hendrix, a 'Houses of the Holy' and 'Led Zeppelin II' signed by all four, and a 'Sgt Pepper' band-signed in the gatefold."

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 10, 2016 at 8:18pm

"Oh...and do you have any more Beatles- or Nirvana-signed guitars in stock right now?"

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Permalink Reply by Paul on July 10, 2016 at 8:23pm

Thats so true Steve, i know from experience trying to complete Beatles sets etc of how difficult it is to find Beatles signed albums and when you do source one, they cost an arm and a leg because their incredibly rare.
Good morning Vietnam ( quote)
And when you do,and when you do.

I still haven't found a Morrison to buy and the hunt continues.

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on July 11, 2016 at 9:41am

The biggest red flag to me is once you look past the beautiful framing job is how everything they have is brand new. 30 year old albums, not a crease, wear, shrinking, scuffs. All band signed with all the core members. Type in Roger Waters in their search, it doesn't pull up. Type Pink Floyd, all they have is complete band signed. Even this Woodstock bandana looks brand new. Was it signed at Woodstock?

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on July 11, 2016 at 10:03am

Why would a company that offers big ticket autographs hire a manager who knows little to nothing about autographs? Nothing against framers, they are talented and enhance an autograph but without having a genuine autograph to start what's the point? Except...well...we won't go there!

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Permalink Reply by TradeGeek on July 11, 2016 at 4:35pm

In his defense (kind of), the autograph market is really unique. I have decades of experience in vintage sports cards and even some experience in fine art. I only recently began to focus on sports autographs as a shared interest with my son. 

I don't know of any other market where such a HUGE percentage of items are fake/counterfeit. It's counter intuitive to the uninitiated. There are always unscrupulous merchants and scam artists. But in the autograph world, unscrupulous is not the exception but the rule. 

I won't give this guy or his company a free pass. But I can speak from experience, when I began having an interest in autographs I had no clue it was this bad. It was almost unimaginable that the powers that be would allow it to be this bad. Yet they have, and it is.   

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on July 11, 2016 at 4:44pm

I don't know of any other market where such a HUGE percentage of items are fake/counterfeit.

There is a very low barrier to entry to be a forger. eBay is full of forgers who use 3x5 cards and old books and albums purchased at garage sales. Or you can use 8x10 glossy photos and wash off the failed attempts.

Combine this with the fact that law enforcement doesn't care and it's hard to legally "prove" what may be obvious to seasoned collectors... and there is a huge population of uninformed buyers. It really is a recipe for chaos.

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Permalink Reply by TradeGeek on July 18, 2016 at 8:47pm

Very valid points. Its a shame. That said, with some effort new collectors can get their bearings if they put some effort into it.

It's too bad that so much effort is required, and so few even try. I guess it's just easier to pat yourself on the back for "stealing" that Jeter ball for $50 on eBay. Believing you have superior auctions skills is easier on the ego than admitting you got scammed.

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