Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Dimeo on July 25, 2022 at 1:22pm

I think Servi brings up all great points that can not easily be dismissed. The autograph business is very lucrative these days and places aren’t vetting the items carefully enough. They are trying to get these items rolled out way too quickly to make a buck. Heritage is the same way, way too many fakes in this past Entertainment auction. I will rethink business with RR after this.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on July 25, 2022 at 2:01pm

I don’t think you should feel that way. Mistakes are inevitable and the item was removed from the auction. I’m sure there are auction houses that would have told someone questioning the authenticity of this item to go get lost.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 26, 2022 at 4:00am

Mistakes happen but they always take them down when notified. I've done this as well as a few others.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 27, 2022 at 11:21pm

Servi,

In your reply at about 1:55 AM East Coast time you said:

"But Beatles autograph collecting might be different. Nobody is going to fake a $50 autograph probably, but it’s different for a signed Harrison LP or a signed Beatles photograph."

It may be hard to believe but most forged autographs are $50-$75 or less! That's because they prey on fans and naive collectors who don't know better. They don't realize how common forgeries are.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 6:17am

Don't rely on them. Learn the graph, spend the time and be your own expert. No one will see you get what you want but you. These companies...your needs are way down the line. Shareholders first. Brand. You? Reveneue. It's a business. The condition "Fine" is a catchall that causes much trouble, that too drives me crazy. As Steve/Stepeanut said, you need to know more than your source/seller. That is real power from self acquired knowledge. To me, papers and slabs just tell me that the item is maxxed out in price and I am likely overpaying. I buy raw only.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on July 31, 2022 at 9:32am

yeah good points.  and for the most part, I follow the same logic when purchasing autos for my own collection.  but if, for example, I decided to buy the autograph of an Astronaut, rather than spend countless hours researching something that I typically do not have much interest in, I would trust the opinion of Steve Zarelli over anyone else in that area.  He specializes ONLY in space and is the most highly regarded space authenticator on the planet.   So trash the big "money-first" authentication companies that authenticate anything and everything, but not the ones that specialize and authenticate only in that specific area.  Don't bother responding, Servi, I am not getting into a verbal battle with you on this. Just needed to add some clarity.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on July 30, 2022 at 1:47pm

Servi,

The Beatles is no different than anything else except that the average selling price is large. Probably hundreds of thousands of cheap autographs are sold every year to inexperienced fans and collectors, that are rarely sent to an authentication service.

There is not a better space authenticator than Steve Zarelli. 50,000 isn't that many for 11 years. Some authenticators authenticate 100,000+ a year with a high degree of accuracy. 

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on November 27, 2022 at 9:38am

This item is now up for sale at International Autograph Auctions. The estimate is 5,000-8,000 Euros. Ouch.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on November 30, 2022 at 8:05am

Some auctioneers are honourable, many couldn't give a damn. Some are outright crooks.

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on November 30, 2022 at 8:20am

There’s a wide mix for sure. In this case, it’s hard to believe that the auctioneer doesn’t realize that there’s a problem at that closing price.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Cushman on November 27, 2022 at 3:41pm

Pathetic...

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Permalink Reply by BallroomDays67 on November 27, 2022 at 4:06pm

I wonder if the consignor tried to have it authenticated or tried any other auction houses prior to consigning it to IAA. It’s been a while since the original auction.

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