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" DOES IT HAVE AUTHENTICATION? " - How would you answer?

Like many of us, I do some selling on eBay (mostly to help finance my own collecting). This was the question I was asked by a member this morning who says they are interested in one of my offerings:

"Does It Have Authentication?"

This particular piece has no third party authentication but I have no doubt whatsoever that it's real after study and comparison to exemplars as well as running it past a dealer friend.

How do you (or would you) answer this question about authenticity for a potential buyer if you don't have a TPA letter?

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Comment by Eddy on January 13, 2022 at 6:33pm: This one really threw me today. Not sure why. For the most part, I've had the privilege of working with knowledgeable collectors and the TPA issue has never really been an issue. I do remember one fellow who wanted me to reduce the price of an item because he said he would be putting out more money on it immediately to have it "authenticated" by JSA and thought it was only fair for that to be figured into what I would sell it to him for.

Is there a certain $$$ threshold that it only makes sense to secure a certificate or letter for?

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 6:43pm: There is the name too - Monroe or whatever - people get skittish around names like Vivien Leigh - or Bruce Lee for that matter. And with today's forgeries they should be. But it is so much more enjoyable to learn...otherwise I am collecting a list of names along with a list of TPG's with opinions about those names and those are facsimile often enough. Better to search, find it raw and at a good price. One thing about this hobby is endless choice. I love it.

Comment by Eddy on January 13, 2022 at 6:51pm: And then of course there is the alarming uptick of big names (Monroe, James Dean, Three Stooges, Brando etc.) appearing in major auction house listings with TPA "pre certification" that are just plain bad.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 6:52pm: Maybe the guy that thinks he can't get good prices without papers picks "B" or "C" material without an eye for contrast, quality, content, placement, photographer, paper finish and so on.

I'm sure I can sell the following with no papers at a good price for all.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 6:56pm: Yes, Etienne. There are some like Hendrix or Lennon that would take me a LOT of time and observation/note taking/exemplar collecting/auction watching before I'd even consider it.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 6:58pm: Maybe there is your cutoff point from before - a "few" thousand dollars and up.

Comment by Eddy on January 13, 2022 at 7:11pm: Another alternative to the TPA/eBay route could be consigning it with a reputable dealer who has an established client base.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 7:11pm: It is strange. No one would buy a vintage car without having it fully checked out by their own mechanics - even if they can themselves. But with autographs, logic goes out the same window stickers are flying in. Buying a Monet w/o papers from the Wildensteins is equally unthinkable - or is it? What happens when an established concerns reputation dives? And those stickers that may or may not fall off?

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 7:13pm: Yup, I think Dr. Brucato does that as well as others re consignments.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 13, 2022 at 7:19pm: And newer collectors, far more used to keyboard typing, will be less armed with the possibilities of pen and paper let alone fountain. The hobby is changing and I'm getting older!

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