I've moved my response to the main board here because something is awry. Naturally, if we've got a real signed T206 Bender here, I'm going to be all in ....even in this condition.
But here's the card:
Here's the purported LOA:
And here's the problem with the description in the LOA:
These are the Lot #11 auctions from Mastro in Spring 2005:
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=47162
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=45891
Neither is the Bender. Something appears amiss....
Also a search of all Bender related 206 items turns up no signed T206 of Bender -- you can search here:
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/auctionresults.aspx
In fact, a "bender autographed" search -- using the language from the LOA's description of the title -- turns up only the following, none a signed T206:
Auction Lot# Title Min Bid Final Price Status
November 2010 518 "The Athletics - World's Champions 1913" Signed Dinner Program Inside Cover (19 Signatures) Including Plank, Bender, Baker and Collins $300.00 $11,257.50 OVER
Mastro April 2006 1208 Hall of Famers Autographed Ball with Alexander, Baker, Bender, Hooper, Johnson, Nichols, Speaker and Pennock $500.00 $3,614.30 OVER
Classic February 2006 216 1960 Nu-Card Hi-Lites Complete Set (72) and 1950-1955 W576 Callahan Near Master Set (87) $100.00 $1,194.98 OVER
MastroNet December 2005 1222 1950-56 Callahan Hall of Fame Near Master Set (90) with Six Autographed Including DiMaggio $200.00 $1,205.55 OVER
Classic October 2005 48 Extensive 1939-2003 Hall of Fame Postcard Collection (232) $100.00 $282.00 OVER
MastroNet Winter 2004 567 Early Hall of Famers Autographed 3" x 5" Sized Collection with Cobb, Foxx, Ott, etc. (23 Different) $900.00 $5,768.40 OVER
MastroNet Spring 2004 700 Hall of Fame Autographed Original Photo Collection (4) $400.00 $2,132.10 OVER
MastroNet Spring 2004 1782 1940 and 1941 Play Ball Complete Sets (2) $1,000.00 $6,412.40 OVER
MastroNet Winter 2003 1761 Hall of Famers and Superstars Signed Photos Collection (43) $200.00 $1,428.30 OVER
MastroNet Summer 2003 758 1921 Testimonial Dinner Program Signed by Ty Cobb, Chief Bender and Ed Walsh $400.00 $1,321.35 OVER
Oser December 2001 331 1939 Who's Who in Baseball Autographed Book $300.00 $4,158.40 OVER
5-2001 574 Chief Bender Autographed 1904 Athletics Team Picture, Matted $400.00 $0.00 OVER
11-2000 1529 1940's-1960's Philadelphia Phillies Vintage Grab-Bag Collection $150.00 $341.55 OVER
10-2000 106 All-Time Hall of Famers Autographed Ball - $200.00 $1,071.80 OVER
9-2000 109 Autographed Baseball with Cy Young, Chief Bender, Kid Nichols, etc. $600.00 $1,794.00 OVER
Did I miss something? Perhaps not all of MastroNets auctions are available for a historic browse? Can anyone explain any of this, other than what currently appears obvious to me, i.e., that we're dealing with a forged LOA from James Spence?
I'd really like this card to be real, if for no other reason than it would be a great addition to the collecting community. But what is going on here?