Looking for board input on LOA question

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I'm consigning to auction a few items and am making COAs for them. The main reason for the little letters is informational/documentational, as the items are unique and esoteric. Many to most collectors wouldn't figure out exactly what they are unless told.

As this issue was brought up before, my question is should I disclose on a COA that I owned the item? The reason I hesitate to write "this was part of my personal collection" is that it looks really tacky, like I'm trying to brag.

[Archive]

Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

although I agree that you might want to avoid the personal collection language. It does or can seem tacky, especially if you acquired the item somewhat recently and are flipping it and/or acquired it primarily with an eye toward re-sale. If you have held possession for many years, I see nothing wrong with disclosing that fact and/or why/how you acquired it, which may convey that you "collected" it or that it held some meaning to you.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

In cases (not mine), that you own it and how you got it is relevant text: "I bought this from Edd Rousch's grandaughter" or "My nextdoor neighbor, who is an employee of the Milwaukee Brewers and worked on the construction of Miller Park, gave me this stadium brick as a gift."

[Archive]

Posted By: shellyjaffe

You can say with in the LOA that these items are owned by you and here is the history behind them.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Thanks for the worthy input. After thinking about it, and having observed the brouhaha over SCDA and Spence LOAs, I think the best thing is to skip making COAs and let the items be sold au natural.

[Archive]

Posted By: MW

David,

Provenance, including chain of ownership, is important. The more information that is available at the time of sale, the better. I'd include it.

[Archive]

Posted By: Joe P.

[Archive]

Posted By: Chris

Maybe you could offer LOA's by request of the winning bidder (?)

My reasoning is that it would save you time upfront for those items that don't necessairly need LOA's or for those for which they are not requested. But as a bidder I would appreciate the option.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

As an example:

I want to sell amounts of original negatives by famous photographers. Most of the negatives don't have the photograher's name printed on them, so if you pulled one from a shoebox you'd likely not know who was the photographer was. The letter I'd include would list the photographers and vouch for the authenticity (as the images on the negatives are crystal clear, it would be obvious that they are note dupes or later generation negatives). Beyond identification, I'm aware that some collectors would appreceate an LOA testifying that their negatives are originals by so-and-so. As a buyer, I'd like one.

My dilema is that there has been so much controversy concerning other LOAs, that I'm not always sure if I wish to enter the LOA waters. One of the big controversies has been ownership, and all of these items are mine.

On a personal basis, I can tell you that one of the practical results over all the excitement over wording in a Spence LOA or SCDA is that it makes someone like me uneasy about writing even one LOA. Particularly considering the items can be sold without one.

[Archive]

Posted By: Julie

that the writer of the LOA DIDN'T say he was the consignor?
I would certainly appreciate consignor's opinion, if he were an expert, and LOA writer's statement that he and consignor were indeed one.

Gee, it all seems so simple.

[Archive]

Posted By: shellyjaffe

My complaint about the LOA with Spence is exactly what has been stated by others. It was amibiguous.You are the owner and you know what you have. Write it up and let the people on this thread look at it. Then we can help you if it is necessary

[Archive]

Posted By: petecld

My feelings in general, not specific to you David:

You're right Julie, it IS so simple when you have professionals doing their jobs properly.

There is no middle ground or gray area. Either an authenticator owns the item(s) or doesn't. If one is selling an item they own and using the influence their name holds by authenticating the item(s), thus adding to it's value, then the LOA or COA should say they are the owner. I feel a responsible professional will do this without question and not withhold information that when revealed creates an air of impropriety or have the need to resort to the ambiguous nature of the Spence LOA.

I thought the whole point of a COR or LOA is remove questions and doubts regarding the legitimacy of a piece.




My direct response to David:
I've never heard of anyone loose any respectability or integrity by erring on the side of caution.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

If I choose to write a LOA, I will make it clear that I am the owner of the item(s).

[Archive]

Posted By: jay behrens

I'm not sure why you would need to mention that you are the owner in the LOA/COA itself other than to show provenance. If the items are being consigned, then the fact that you own these items and also have writen the COA should be clearly stated in the auction description.

Jay

I've just reached Upper Lower Class. I am now officially a babe magnet for poor chicks.

[Archive]

Posted By: Gilbert Maines

As MW stated, all relevant information is desireable. Facts are not bragging, they allow a potential buyer to more fully evaluate your offering.

[Archive]

Posted By: Scott Forrest

You are recognized as an expert in vintage photography. I think that indicating your opinion in an LOA with your auctions is an additional plus for the buyer. The buyer is obviously aware that you own the item you are selling, so the LOA just indicates that you stand behind it.

It's very different from an item being sold by an auction house where the item's LOA is written by the person consigning it.

[Archive]

Posted By: Julie

David , we trust you.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

Duly note that the items would be consigned by me, so it may not be clear that I am the owner. If I were selling them myself on eBay there would be no issue, as it would be obvious I was the owner.

Anyway, as earlier noted, if I write any LOAs, I will include that I owned the item and any signfificant information about its past ownership. Beyond the issue of disclosure, documentation of ownership can be helpful to any future buyer.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

It took me about two hours to make the first COA (take photos of item, make it look nice, make sure my name was spelled right). I figured one was more than enough of that silliness.