Having been an autograph collector now for many years, let me pass on a few words of wisdom. Ebay has many good and bad autographs. Just because it comes with a COA, even from PSA or JSA, does NOT guarantee authenticity. After all, it is just an opinion. Any so-called expert can make mistake. Unfortunately, for resale value, a PSA COA often helps close the sale. So that is an issue for a potential buyer in the future. But, for the present, GAI, ACE, PAAS, Verified, AMA, and other similar authenticators have poor reputations and are therefore mostly, in my opinion, unreliable.. So stick with PSA, JSA Spense, Beckett, and the other "legit" companies. Add in Epperson at REAL, Perry Cox, Tracks, and a few others for music, At least their COA's are worth something.

So what does a buyer do? Having been ripped off on eBay and other "collector" auctions and websites, here is some simple advice. Do your own research. Ever wonder what PSA does in their authentication process? They have a bunch of exemplars, i.e. signature example samples, and do a side-by-side comparison. Here's an amazing idea; do the same thing. Take the picture off the eBay auction and then go onto the internet and do a Google image search for the signer. Unless it a rare signer, you will get countless John Waynes, Babe Ruths, Paul McCartneys, Neil Armstrongs, and Elvis Presleys, etc., with which to compare. They even often cover several signing decades so you can watch the signature change as the signer ages.

Then you won't have to get a "quick opinion" from PSA or rely on a COA from a company no one has ever heard of. I finally learned my lesson and now do all my own research. No, I am not an expert, but I am more educated about real vs fake and confident to at least eliminate the obvious forgeries. Remember to use a magnifying glass or enlarge the image on your computer monitor do get all the nuances. it makes a difference.

And one more obvious thought. If it's cheap, it's FAKE. A John Wayne autograph for $50 is FAKE. I don't care if the seller's mother got it from him on the set of "The Shootist" because she was his make-up artist. It's a STORY and it's still a FAKE. If it is for sale at a price way below comparable autographs, it's a FAKE. I see Michael Jackson Thriller albums for $150. Really? He will never sign another, so get a clue because it's a FAKE! And please, NEVER buy from anyone without a money-back policy or use PayPal to allow you to reverse the charges in the event you have been taken.

Anyway, thanks for reading this far and you get the gist. Let the buyer beware and do your homework. It's your money. Hey out there. Any further thoughts and other suggestions?