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Authenticity is Everything
Third opinions and other questions.
I have two autographed photos purchased by a friend as a gift for my son, who is 14 with a growing collection he gathers 99% on his own, directly. Of the photos, one is of four 'star' Mavericks players and another of Eli Manning.
Anyway, I guess thinking that his word wasn't good enough, or they'd be worth more, my friend sent them to ACE for authentication "Because they were cheap". I trust that he acquired them directly, and they look good from what I can tell) but he's had them authenticated (and stickered) by ACE. But I'd rather he'd left them un-authenticated with show stubs and so forth instead. So my question:
Should I send to PSA or JSA for a second authentication over the ACE authentication? Should I peel the stickers and throw away the ACE authentication first? (The latter seems... not quite honest, although, as I said, given who got it, I trust its real).
Normally I wouldn't care but I do not want questions over the rest of the collection my son has, few of which are authenticated (except those gained in-person at FanFest that have MLB stickers) but the rest of his existing collection were gained at ballparks directly. His ticket stubs and photos are enough for most if he ever sells, but if I start giving him these 'gifts' from well meaning friends with questionable COAs, even if real, it'll taint everything else he has, I'm thinking.
Also, he has an authentic Yu Darvish that looks to me unlike anything Yu signs slowly (as in an arranged signing) - his was an 'over the dugout' autograph (I witnessed it). It's a mad scribble, complicated by the fact that his sig is illegible in English anyway, except for his number. Would it ever be worth authenticating, or just keeping the stub of the game and the story of how it was acquired and hope for the best?
Advice appreciated. Also, besides Steiner and MLB, I understand Spence and PSA are good. Any others to more or less trust? When (besides when value increases) is it worth it to authenticate a personally collected item/collection?
Sorry for all the questions but he's new at this and I want to guide/protect him. My only guidance so far is for him to 'get them in person and then you at least know they are real." Which is valid enough, but it's hard to get a MMantle that way!
Thanks.
DM
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on
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I’m not sure how an ACE authentication would jeopardize the rest of your son’s in-person collection. Perhaps I am missing something so please explain if you don’t mind. As far as removing the stickers, I would contact PSA or JSA directly and explain the situation and your concerns. They shouldn’t be influenced by other authentication stickers but they are human after all. Peeling off stickers could damage the items. Steiner actually uses JSA to authenticate many of the items that they sell on their website that were not from one of their signings. That would include a Mickey Mantle. If you post the items here some of us can take a look at them. I would be particularly interested in seeing the Eli Manning.
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Permalink Reply by D Matthews on
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The issue regarding this single item and the rest of the collection is just the matter of guilt by association.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Panagopulos on
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Next time, have someone take photos of the star signing your son's material, preferable with a close-up at the moment he completes his signature. That way you won't be enriching people whom (I consider) incompetent and criminally irresponsible as far as customer service is concerned.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on
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Mike gave you good advice. If you post the ACE certified images here, you'll get some solid unbiased opinions on whether or not they're likely genuine. Most important of all, you'll find out they're obvious forgeries, and save wasting money on the authentication fees.
All the problem authenticators certify genuine autographs as well, because many people send good ones in, not realizing how bad their reputations are among knowledgeable collectors. So it's quite possible the person you bought them from is telling you the truth.
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Thanks all. I hadn't considered the angle that it is in the certification, not the creation of the item, that ACE is at fault due to lax practices, and that they indeed likely certified good (as in my case, given I know the provenance) and bad pieces. That is, someone shouldn't automatically assume a contemporary autograph is a fake due exclusively to the COA, but consider the autograph and the context. Which is what the authenticator does as well, of course, supposedly!
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