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Is this Eric Clapton autograph real?

Hi Everyone...

Is this Eric Clapton autograph real? Thanks for your opinions

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Permalink Reply by Mr. Steffman on September 19, 2018 at 9:54am

Tim G., it's interesting that you are so argumentative while also totally unprovoked. Is everything okay?

Who stated that obtaining autographs and studying them are the same? Surely not me. Why do you assume that I believe this, merely to argue? Just because I collected in person since age 12 and devoted most of my life to the pursuit of real autographs, doesn't mean my approach to studying signatures is clouded or that I believe it's a sole factor to being skilled.

I do believe that having a network of consultants who have personally obtained, say, 500,000 autographs in person is an extremely useful and far more precise resource, as opposed to building a sample pool using online samples from auction house history or just items have stickers, etc.

An authenticator is only as good as his ability to build a very good pool.

Roger was asked to be a consultant because he has a good deal of experience and respect in the industry. He prefers to handle vintage music specifically, so that is what we show him.

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Permalink Reply by goodcat on September 19, 2018 at 10:08am

I quote you again...

"An authenticator is only as good as his ability to build a very good pool."

I 100% disagree with this statement.

IMO and I know I'm right.... it's the person's ability to see and read the ink and a signature and the ability to determine an outcome.

The amount of exemplars is important, no arguement there. However, It's the person's ability to read and comprehend the evidence that is paramount.

And I will be honest in saying that I don't trust your judgement Mr Steffman. This is my opinion and of course others will differ. But you will not see a money transfer from me to you at any time for your TPA service.

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Permalink Reply by Mr. Steffman on September 19, 2018 at 10:20am

Reading and comprehending evidence based on a pool tainted with wrongly authenticated samples is not helpful at all.

Both a proper pool and this ability are mutually important.

I completely respect your unwillingness to request an opinion from us. The ACOA service is primarily for fans and collectors who don't have the time or resources to authenticate signatures, especially those who see a value in having up to 10 experts taking a logical and statistical approach to studying each signature. All of whom have a strong and lengthy background in music and celebrity autographs, specifically.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 19, 2018 at 10:20am

Tim,

I'll pipe in here, altho I won't be around to carry on much of a conversation today.

There are two main weaknesses in TPAs that do all areas of autographs:

They usually rely on the same staff authenticators to authenticate everything, instead of regularly using specialized experts.
They generally have only one person authenticating an autograph. They may get extra opinions in the rare case they think they need one, but one of the biggest problems is when an authenticator misses a forgery they aren't worried about and starts calling similar ones genuine because they think the style is good. It's far too easy to get off-track without the checks and balances of using multiple authenticators who know an autograph.

What I like about Autograph COA is that they do what I would do if I formed a TPA. They regularly use specialized authenticators and more than one person looks at every autograph.

They have Roger on board for music. They have Steve Zarelli on board for space. They have Pete Chuka for Hollywood, especially sci-fi. And even these specialized experts aren't the sole opinion on the autographs they authenticate.

Plus an image of every autograph they approve is available online.

They are doing what many of us here have complained for years about TPAs not doing.

Will they get enough traction over time to survive and prosper? Time will tell, but I hope so.

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Permalink Reply by goodcat on September 19, 2018 at 10:26am

that's a great explanation Steve

I wondered where Pete Chuka went

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 19, 2018 at 10:38am

Pete isn't gone. He's found Facebook and likes all the people and action.

I haven't been working on Autograph Live as much the last year, while I handle other things, and that's cost us traction. That's changing, however.

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on September 19, 2018 at 1:28pm

Not always. Best way I have studied autographs is by starting with those I have gotten myself personally. After getting certain signatures a hundred times or so over a long period of time is the best way to start studying. The TPA’s study autographs or at least claim they do by gathering exemplars with no real provenance. They get one or two bad signatures in there and they do it effects the signatures they look at going forward. I actually don’t believe they use exemplars like they claim they do. I’ve seen instances where they do not. Getting back to obtaining and studying autographs. Those I have gotten 50-100 times I feel I am really good at (Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Pat Tillman...etc) I can spot those pretty accurately at a glance. While I watch the TPA’s get them wrong all the time. Some they get wrong more then they get right. Tillman for example. Wonder why that is? Maybe because half their opinion is based on the volume of work they get by the submitter. I’m betting it does.