Need Opinion on Mantle Autograph

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Posted By: <b>Ben</b><p>I'm hoping all of you autograph experts can tell me if this Mantle autograph is real. THANKS!<br />

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Posted By: <b>Mark</b><p>I vote "thumbs up". There are plenty of good fakes out there, but I think this is one is all right.

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Posted By: <b>Jimmy</b><p>maybe - looks okay, pictures are always a gamble<br /><br />go to my site below to see an autograph ball<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jbsportsauctions.com/baseballautos.html" target="_new" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.jbsportsauctions.com/baseballautos.html</a" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.jbsportsauctions.com/baseballautos.html</a</a>><br /><br />Jimmy

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Posted By: <b>Jodi Birkholm</b><p>If you're thinking of buying it, don't. It's not real. It's the work of one of the better Mantle forgers out there. Please don't ask me to elaborate. It's not something I care to do in a public forum. Just trust me.

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Posted By: <b>Jimmy</b><p>Jodi,<br /><br />seems like an Auto pen to me, so it can be hard, these picture autographs are everywere. Some of the dealers I know have been buying these and getting burned at auction.<br /><br />Jimmy

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I don't think I would ever buy a Mickey Mantle autograph unless it had solid provenance - I've seen way too many good fakes.

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Posted By: <b>Brock G.</b><p>I have a Mantle auto'd 16x20 litho that I spent my life savings on when I was 12 years old then another $200 to get it framed a couple of years later and I have always been to afraid to get it authenticated because if it turned out to be a fake I would cry my eyes out. This thread is not making me feel any better about it.

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Posted By: <b>David Atkatz</b><p>In August 1967 my friend and I decided to walk over to the Stadium to get some autographs. We got to the player's entrance about the seventh inning, and we were the only people there. Just then Mantle came out--he had left the game in the third inning to save his legs, and had showered and changed. I followed him across the street to the player's parking lot--where the parking garage is now--begging him to sign my brand new official AL baseball. He ignored me, and closed the gate to the parking lot in my face.<br />Undeterred, I ran around to where the cars exited the lot, on River Avenue, and waited for his car to leave. As it left he stopped, rolled the window down, and signed my ball. Then, without a word, he drove away.<br /><br />I've still got that ball, and I have no intention of ever having it "authenticated."

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Posted By: <b>Ben</b><p>Jodi,<br />Unfortunately (if its fake) I already purchased the item 2 years ago. I found the COA that came with it and it was issued by Stanley Antonoff, President of Lin Terry Trading Corp. I see they still deal in autographs and supplies. Is this company legit at all?<br /><br />Ben

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Posted By: <b>Jodi Birkholm</b><p>I can't say that I am familiar with that company, but I can name the very man who forged that piece. For legal reasons, I will refrain from doing so. It's really sad that authenticators can't publicly chastise the criminals who they know "authored" such works. This world should never have become so politically correct. If it's any consolation, the FBI has been hot on the case of this particular forger for some time. It would be nice to see some actual reprimand unleashed on this dirtbag. He's scammed many good collectors for millions by now, I'm sure.

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>Jodi<br /><br />I'm curious why you would state you can't name the forger for legal reasons. I don't practice defamation law, but truth is an absolute defence. Is there any other US law involved?<br /><br />Max

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Posted By: <b>Jodi Birkholm</b><p>I/we (other authenticators) do not care to start publicly naming names, as it tends to interfere with ongoing investigations conducted by the FBI. We'll let them take care of it before we come out and commence public discussion of a particular forger. It's best for all involved, including the collecting public. To point fingers too soon can hinder progress in these matters. I hope this makes sense to all who read this. I hate to have to say it again, but I feel I should: Please don't ask me to elaborate further, for I can not do so at this time. Thanks for understanding.

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Posted By: <b>MikePugeda</b><p>Jodi,<br /><br />Could you answer this question...what characteristics of this specific signature lead you to believe that it is a forged signature? Maybe you could help fellow collectors in avoiding purchasing a bad sig.<br /><br />Mike

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Posted By: <b>Jodi Birkholm</b><p>Look at the "tle" in Mantle. Notice how those letters are all on the same plain? Mantle had a tendency to trail progressively upward on the last three letters of his surname. Not all the time, mind you, but certainly a great deal of the time. This example/forgery has those three letters trailing upward from the "n", but all on the same plain. And I am referring to all the material he signed for the collectibles market from the late 1970's-1995. Also, notice, if you will, the way those three letters in the image all are "flat" at the bottom. Almost squared off, if you will. They are executed in a ridiculously slow fashion. This is a fairly early example of the work of that particular forger; he has become far better in the ensuing years. I will say this: there are perhaps five people in this hobby who are adept enough to spot this forger's recent work. And, no, I will not tell you who they all are. I would not wish to offend those who are not represented on the list! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>Ah, sorry Jodi, I misunderstood. I thought the forger had already been convicted. Perfectly understandable if there is an ongoing investigation (or even the possibility of one)<br /><br />Max