Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 11, 2010 at 9:43pm

You came here already convinced that you had a problem based on feedback you got on eBay. I gave you my opinion on your Elvis autographs, but as I said, I'm not an expert. If I were you, I'd offer them to some dealers and auction houses and see what they say. Don't tell them where you got them or who authenticated them--that should eliminate any perceived bias. You might want to get opinions from a respected Elvis or rock authenticator--there are several good ones.

If you find out beyond a reasonable doubt that you have a problem, I think you're fine writing whatever you want. Many of us have gotten threatening letters from ARA's lawyers, but they haven't sued anyone for defamation since Frank Caiazzo several years ago.

Also, ARA filed for an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (something like a bankruptcy), so I believe the administrator would have to get the Court's approval to sue you. Don't know that for sure, though.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 11, 2010 at 10:12pm

Patricia,

Rich Consola is widely known as the preeminent specialist in Elvis autographs. He's an authenticator and a dealer, and consults for PSA/DNA and many of the leading auction houses. If you want to contact him and see what he says, I'll send you his email--I don't want to post it in case the one I have is private. Let me know if you want me to send it.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Linnabary on October 12, 2010 at 4:54am

well at this stage I guess I for my own satisfaction, and Jerry Gladstone, knowing I am on to him, through no fault of anyone who has voiced an opinion on my situation, I would appreciate this. And as I stated before, you nor anyone who helped me in any way, shape or form, have NOTHING to do with the problem between Gladstone/ARA. I came to you fellows. So please rest assure that I am dealing with my own situation, and have heard and made friends with others folks that have been preyed upon. I got that "you are not an expert statement right from the beginning, I don't want you or anyone else I spoke/written with to think I am looking for someone to fight my battle, please, you have only helped me, made me aware of this business (UGGG) and the crooks, my word that are out there, so thanks for your friendship. Now I am part of a group of people, I find out, by emails that I am certainly not alone. I look back at this "knowledge awakening" on a positive note, and If I can help one person to learn from my mistakes, great that would wonderful!So far, you have been right , gives me a great feeling. I must write another person back about a gallery where he purchased some "fake" signed pieces and Gladstone did mention that gallery (negatively) By the way, someone wrote about the "Forensic expert" I named, and heard back from him, then Googled the examiners name....correct again, the guy is shady!

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Permalink Reply by Rick Badwey on October 12, 2010 at 5:05am

Steve, hopefully more people will find this site before they buy their first autograph. It is a typical scenario: A huckster either forges or knowingly buys a forgery. They throw it in a very elaborate gawdy (and not archival) frame. And sell it to the unsuspecting! If they are calculating, they may even have genuine autographs they purchased legitimately from respected outlets to "show" their wonderful inventory

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Linnabary on October 12, 2010 at 5:18am

Yeah, thats my story short and sweet. I fell for the flashy adds, the catalog, their sales approach, all packaged to make me spend my money. Gladstone is truly a master of this,his tactic worked once you get past feeling sorry for yourself, anger sets in, and this is where, I think, silence is the key to get through this. How many times in life have I heard, verify, verify, verify. Gladstone certainly has the gift of making one "trust" in him!

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 13, 2010 at 2:50am

Hey Patricia...I think Jerry's onto something by sending you to Autograph Alert!

On February 16, 2007, apparently before he started working with Jerry Gladstone, the anonymous writer of Autograph Alert, Stephen Koschal, published a story on the site about Christopher Morales.

Here are a few excerpts:

"The name that comes to light from time to time is Christopher Morales. He name was basically unknown to the field of autographs until he decided to advertise himself as an authenticator.We did a little digging and found out that he was once a partner with Donald Frangiapani. Enough said! Christopher Morales was part of the HBO’s Real Sports episode in January 2006 by Bryant Gumbel. Morales was handed several autographed items to authenticate. Every item handed to Morales was a forgery. He passed all of them as Genuine!"

"The bottom line is that the term “forensic document examiner” is supposed to impress the uneducated. It no longer does! Autographalert.com has a huge file of items passed as authentic by this authenticator. Of all the items in the file, it would be a huge challenge to find something that was passed as genuine, truly is! If the term “forensic document examiner” has any meaning at all how could a so called expert pass printed signatures as genuine on September 12, 2004? Wouldn’t one think a forensic examiner be able to tell the difference between printed signatures and genuine ink? We have the files, we have his Certificate numbers and it is unbelievable what we turned up.

"One major dealer recently emailed us and stated: “I looked at over 150 items tonight authenticated by Chris Morales. All were fakes.”

"It is the opinion of www.autographalert.com that any autograph that comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Christopher Morales needs to be re-examined by an autograph authenticator who has a documented autograph back ground. Your second choice is try to consign your piece to a legitimate autograph auction and see if they even consider taking your item!"

So www.autographalert.com, the site that much of the autograph fraud industry sends customers to now in order to discredit PSA/DNA, JSA, us and others, actually exposes Morales as the forgery authenticator he is. Here's the link to the page (it's half way down)

Jerry sent you there for the truth, and if you dig deep enough you sometimes find it. He clearly owes you a HUGE refund for all those Morales authenticated Elvis autographs he sold you.

Why don't you call him tomorrow? I have his cell phone number if it turns out you need it.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Linnabary on October 14, 2010 at 5:47pm

I
think...I....will..call....Jerry...tomorrow....now...my...keyboard...is..broken...space...bar...not...workig..Will...let...you...know

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Linnabary on October 12, 2010 at 5:02am

I think I just posted 4 actually I own 6 signed either photo or album signed pieces in framed artwork! My oh my, Gladstone said he "gets all his pieces from established dealers and highly reliable sources." I'm gonna try and get some better photos today of the others.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Badwey on October 12, 2010 at 7:51am

Not reallyGladstone is more like it

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Linnabary on October 12, 2010 at 11:53am

I look over, since I joined, at the picture of my badge.....it should say somewhere " Fool" Autograph Magazine Live is the place for fools who fell for sleek autograph swindlers", got to keep my sense of humor about this, this is just sad, and hearing Jerry Gladstone is sure a slick talker, thne I get kinda ashamed to say anything to any friends or family, they would have some smart a** remark to make bout these purchases.

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Permalink Reply by DB on October 12, 2010 at 12:05pm

believe me we have all been there including our resident experts. Read the Farrah & Elvis blogs. It won't be the last time either but at least we are all a little bit smarter. Steve's AM is a great resource and made even better by those trying to root out the problems..

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 12, 2010 at 3:11pm

Patricia,

Don't be hard on yourself. The companies like ARA that sell forgeries are designed from square one to look beyond reproach--especially by using "court approved forensic document examiners." If an autograph is promoted as being authenticated by one, especially Christopher Morales, the chance it's genuine is probably less than 1 out of 1,000.

I'm sending you Rich Consola's email now. I don't think I've ever spoken with or emailed Rich beyond asking him for an image for Roger Epperson's Elvis Presley authentication features back in 2007. That's before I even heard of ARA or Gladstone.

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