We're an eBay affiliate and may be compensated on purchases made through clicks.

TO BURN OR NOT TO BURN...That is the question.

Like most autograph collectors I have encountered my share of forged autographs, and have written it off to a lesson learned. I have also destroyed those forgeries so future generations will not be fooled. The question I have concerns known secretarial autographs (the famed "Challton" Heston, etc.). I have mixed very feelings on this subject. On the one hand I do not want people fooled, but the photograph (or item) is also a historical artifact of its time. It is like a Charles Lindburgh photograph with a printed autograph sent out by the thousands during his lifetime. Even those have some value today as an example of what was sent to fans. What I have done with certain known secretarial autographs is to write on the back that the signature is a secretarial. Now of course someone could mat and frame it, or Mr. Chop Me Up Documents could cut the signature and put on a card or in a case. That is the danger of that although I try to write directly behind the autograph itself to help stop any scissor happy people in the future. The "Challton" Heston photographs while obviously not signed by him were nonetheless artifacts from his lifetime. So I would be curious what others might think on the subject.

Tags: secretarial

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich on December 20, 2012 at 1:45pm

I've tossed my share of crap autographs, though there are probably at least a couple refunds I should have asked for (I actually did get a refund for my own "Challton"). My instinct is to destroy the garbage, since that's what it is. I understand that secretarial exemplars have some value - if not monetary then for educational purposes. Personally, I really don't want to own them. I'd rather have autographs I'm sure are authentic.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on December 22, 2012 at 8:16am

I agree I have no interest in collecting secretarial items but tend to keep them. I do destroy any known traced or forged items. I should ask for more refunds than I do but the sheer hassle of sending it back usually stops me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike P on December 20, 2012 at 1:59pm

I like your approach, Scott. Writing on the back in ink (not pencil due to some sneaky people in the world..) noting it is a secretarial is the right approach. It's good to keep secretarials, just because it's another exemplar that you can have.

I have a secretarial Carroll O'Connor that was given to me by another person. Having that to compare other signatures with greatly helped me purchase the authentic one I have now.

However, with forgeries, I am pro-torch n' burn. When I see a "team-signed soccer jersey" on eBay, I usually buy it if it's a low price; just to bleach the thing and give my kid or his cousins the jersey haha. I personally believe the team signed forgeries are an epidemic, and it breaks my heart when I see kids and life-long fans think they have a real piece displayed in their rooms, when in fact it's a cold-hearted forgery.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on December 24, 2012 at 9:51am

Yes I am thinking that if the known secretarial items are marked as such they will in the future have value as period items that were in some way authorized by the person themselves. Unfortunately with forgeries there are always lowlife out there that will feed on the unsuspecting. Trouble is that good decent folk then sell those items believing them genuine. I also feel so bad for people who save up and pay a lot for some favorite autograph only to learn it is not genuine. You are right it is heartbreaking especially a young person.