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Joe K.Thanks Doug. I understand your points. But in my opinion, it does not stand on it’s own without any provenance. I am sure Mastro had no knowledge of it being from a town ball club, and authenticated it based on the 3 points you mentioned…..but for me that is too much of a stretch and not a reasonable enough conclusion for me to bid on it…just my IMO. For me, I need provenance – without any provenance there are other “non-Cleveland” conclusions that can be drawn that are just as likely and reasonable.
In this case you have now concluded that the Cap was most likely from a town team. Will this cause you to re-evaluate how you authenticate items, and by whom? IMO these independent authenticators take too big of a “leap of faith” than they want all of us to believe – as in this case it was too much of a stretch.
Thanks
-Joe