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Signed Beatles VI Album from Antiquities—Your Advice Needed

I was recently in Las Vegas at Antiquities and being a newby I was excited about seeing all the history in front of me. I purchased a Beatles V1 signed by all four. After getting home, I had buyers remorse. I then began to check on COA,s signed by Chris Morales and found that his authentications have been called into question. I read your article on the Forgers Best Friend. I have since been in contact with the owner of Antiquities, Toby Stoffa by emails. I asked her for a history of this album and she explained that she had acquired it from Col. Myron Ross and Thomas Riccio, both with questionable backgrounds. I explained to her that I was getting the signatures authenticated by a respected authenticator here in Canada. She agreed to this person. My question is has anyone else ever had a bad experience with Antiquities Las Vegas and was the been problem resolved?

Views: 3691

Tags: album, antiquities, beatles, beatles autographs, beatles vi

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 1, 2012 at 11:14am

I'm not aware of any music autograph authenticators in Canada. Who is it?

Upload your album here if you'd like.

Toby Stoffa's son, Brian Eick, runs Antiquities of California on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. This is what Brian told a customer of theirs about Morales. Brian agreed to give him a refund on a $10,000 fake signed baseball certified by Christopher Morales they had just sold him. But only because they told him that the ball was from Joe DiMaggio's personal collection, purchased from "JoeDiMaggioEstate.com", but I showed him that it sold a few weeks before on Coach's Corner for about $2,700:

"He [Eick] said that Chris Morales used to have a solid reputation in the industry, but, after my last email, he felt inclined to searched the web and found A LOT out there, including the FBI investigation. He agreed that Morales has lost all credibility. He said Morales isn't someone he goes to for authentication, but the ball already came with his certificate."

If Myron Ross is a Colonel, I've never heard of him being referred as that by anyone in the autograph hobby but Antiquities. Myron's company, Heroes and Legends, is a well-known supplier of forgeries, including Beatles autographs.

You have to ask yourself why Toby's son said Morales has no credibility and they don't use him in California...but she does in Las Vegas.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 1, 2012 at 11:21am

Toby Stoffa blogged here for a little while. Here are her blogs and comments to them if you'd like to read them. You also may want to use the search box in the upper right corner and type Antiquities and read about the experiences of others.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blog/list?user=1dp39bexs...

Comment by CJCollector on April 1, 2012 at 2:51pm

Ron,  you're one of the few people (although it's a shame you did it afterwards) to actually research the COA (in this case Chris Morales) after you made a purchase.  I'm sure you were impressed with the Morales title of Forensic Investigator, but at least you immediately researched Morales after the purchase.

We would love to see photos of the Beatles signed album and of the Morales COA. 

In my opinion, Morales' Authentication IQ is zero. 

In the eight years that I have been investigating Morales and gathering data, I have yet to see one autograph that he has authenticated, that in my opinion, is authentic.

My disdain for Morales is beyond words.

Comment by Barry S on April 1, 2012 at 3:25pm
I bought a fake guitar with a COA from Morales 2 years ago. If his COA was ever found to be on an authentic piece, then it would devalue that piece. My opinion. You caught it quick, nice job. Very sorry Ron.
Comment by Steve Zarelli on April 1, 2012 at 3:48pm

Col. Myron Ross

LOL. Where was he a Colonel? Former Secret Service Agents... investigators... These guys love attaching titles to themselves to create an appearance of credibility.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 1, 2012 at 4:00pm

Brian Eick at Antiquities referred to him as "Col. Myron Ross, U.S. Army Handwriting Expert, Retired."

I'll let them go with it, though, in hope that someday we'll see him in a uniform.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on April 1, 2012 at 4:06pm

Colonel is very high ranking... one step below a General. The best of the best. 

I'd love to see the proof that he was a Colonel. If I am wrong, I would stand corrected. 

Comment by DB on April 3, 2012 at 11:40am

now the right link as it's going on in mutliple spots;

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/forgeries?xg_source=...

Comment by Ron Murray on May 8, 2012 at 8:43am

I have received the final report from the FDE that was authenticating my Beatles V1 autographed album by all four members. He has stated that it is a forgery. I have contacted Toby Stoffa of Antiquities Las Vegas and will be getting a full refund from them. My concern is that when I do return this, they may try and sell this item again. What can be done if this happens?

Comment by CJCollector on May 8, 2012 at 8:48am

Great news, Ron, and good for you!!! 

Does anyone think that Ms. Stoffa will destroy that item?  Seriously?

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