[drc]

I'm like Barry. I don't collect anymore (at least at the moment) but like following the stuff and reading Net54.

Forgeries don't bother me (I don't collect autographs and am not talking about that), as, to me, they're generally easy to spot. It's all the alterations for higher grade that bug me-- and something i think is harder to detect.

I think it's great people collect, and they should if they want. They should just be careful about what they collect. And the amount of money they are putting into an item should be a consideration. If you're buying a 50 cent matchbook at the antique store, there's really no worry either way. If you're spending $8,000 on a piece of cardboard that's passed through various hands, then you might have some issues to ponder.

In something like game used, if you go the extra mile to make sure your stuff is genuine (provenance, MLB holograms, photo matching), your stuff will have much higher value at resale. In the long run you will be rewarded for being picky and extra careful. Game used collectors will tell you to not go just by the LOA, even if it's from a good company.

I hope I didn't come across as preachy.