Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich on June 28, 2019 at 8:00am

That's been said for the last few decades. While it's probably mostly true, it's kind of a worthless, somewhat lazy statement as you really can't back it up with any hard data.

But yet, the hobby is littered with forgeries targeted toward unknowledgable and newer collectors and non-collector fans.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Strecker on June 28, 2019 at 2:10pm

Pawn Stars and their authenticators aren't the most reliable on autographs from what I've seen or heard either on their scripted show or on this particular board or from other readings.

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Permalink Reply by BC on June 28, 2019 at 5:55pm

Steve Grad is pretty solid. Their previous "authenticators" were a joke, like Drew Max and Jeremy from Unlimited Sports Cars and Collectables in Vegas.

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Permalink Reply by Crabby Appleton on July 4, 2019 at 9:08pm

Steve Grad is a joke. Just google his name.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 28, 2019 at 2:17pm

Yes, that's true. But it's not hard for collectors to protect themselves from buying most forgeries with a little bit of study, experience, and communicating with other collectors.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on June 28, 2019 at 2:24pm

+1 Especially at a site like this! ;)

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Permalink Reply by James on June 28, 2019 at 11:24pm

Yes, and unfortunately all those forgeries bring down the value of real autographs.  Just imagine if there were no forgers...it isn’t hard to do.  The market would suddenly have more than 50% fewer autographs for sale.  Potential buyers would no longer have the option of feeding their autograph hunger with cheaper knock-offs.  The reduced supply of autographs in the marketplace, even the fake ones, would cause the price and value of real autographs to rise, and likely rise fairly significantly.

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