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RR Auction doesn't even trust the authenticators they recommend

I attempted to consign a signed album leaf by Louisiana U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, and a signed photo of Eva Peron to RR Auction to auction for me.

Since neither item had a certificate of authenticity, RR Auction turned them down and suggested several authenticators I could contact to authenticate the pieces. One of the authenticators was James Spence. So, I submitted the Huey P Long and Eva Peron to James Spence Authenticators.

After paying $120, James Spence authenticated both pieces as genuine.

I got back to RR Auction and proudly submitted the certificates of authenticity issued by James Spence. The RR Auction rep said she would submit the info to their in-house big-wigs along with the certificates of authenticity for both the Huey P. Long and Eva Peron.

Incredibly, RR Auction wouldn't accept the certificates of authenticity from James Spence--the authenticator THEY recommended.

Is RR Auction getting kickbacks from authenticators they suggest?

Thanks for letting me vent,

Garrett Meadows

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Permalink Reply by Paul on July 25, 2019 at 5:44pm

It doesn't sound like their interested in your items.

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Permalink Reply by BG Meadows on July 25, 2019 at 6:46pm

Initially, I thought the same thing. However, they said once James Spence authenticated the items, to get back to them, which I did. Who knows? I don't.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 25, 2019 at 5:51pm

While not any Eva Peron's, I never had them turn down something w/o a COA unless they stated it was not genuine in their opinion with a specified reason as well.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 25, 2019 at 5:59pm

Come to think of it, I never offered them anything with a COA. Never had a problem here.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on July 25, 2019 at 6:05pm

Agreed. This seems highly unusual. I have given them items with and without LOA’s and all were pre-certified by the auction house. I am surprised that Spence was suggested for non-sports.

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Permalink Reply by BG Meadows on July 25, 2019 at 6:47pm

They just had an Eva Peron which sold for nearly $900, so I thought they'd be delighted to get another, especially one with a COA from James Spence.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on July 25, 2019 at 7:02pm

I can certainly understand your disappointment.

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Permalink Reply by marc e on July 25, 2019 at 6:01pm

ive never given them anything with a coa before and I never give any auction house anything with a coa ,its there job

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Permalink Reply by Daniel S. on July 25, 2019 at 6:07pm

Sometimes people acquire items with an LOA and later consign the items with the associated LOA. Also, for some auction houses like Heritage and Memory Lane, I have negotiated lower consignment rates when there is an existing LOA