Honus Wagner Photo - Help please

[jrlebert]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Maybe you didn't learn much from my comment, but some of the other forum members probably did. And while you are trying to gain information, I suspect it's of a different type than what you claim.

And as I pointed out (and you apparently missed), it's not about scan resolution, it's about all the other stuff surrounding this forgery, including the story.

Regarding your "snarky (surprise)" comment, provide us with a clear color scan of a genuine photo of Honus Wagner, and if it's a cool item, I will be one of the first to say so. But if it's forged crap, I will also be one of the first to say so. Forged photos are bad for this hobby, period. Your item description and scan told me right away that you had not done your research and were trying to sell a forgery, knowingly or not. If you know nothing about the item you are trying to sell, why claim that it's an unknown previously unpublished photo? In case you forgot, from your auction: "You will not find another copy anywhere" and the title: "Original photograph Honus Wagner *** NEVER SEEN BEFORE *** unpublished"

This item has ZERO bids, which means you can go update it to add some of the information you've learned here. I'll hold my breath.

OK, Scott. First of all, come off your high horse. As I have stated many times, this is not MY auction, it is my uncle's. And you are absolutely right, we did not do nearly as expansive of research as would be available HERE, which is, again, as I stated several times, EXACTLY why I brought this discussion here.

Here is the whole story, for the skeptic Scott and others. My uncle antiques regularly throughout the Hudson Valley in NY. He was at a flea market, saw a bag of old photos, and paid $5 for a bag of photos, in which this Wagner was. He did a bit of research online, but couldn't find much on the photo.

This was when he contacted me, in L.A. He sent me a link to his auction, and my research began. This was 5 days ago. I was able to find a little info about the studio, J. Nyser, but, like many of you, was immediately skeptical that such a Pittsburgh-centric figure, who was born near Pittsburgh, played in Pittsburgh, died near Pittsburgh, and was, if I remember correctly, sheriff of Allegheny County at one point, would have been doing in a Connecticut studio.

His scanner is only a B/W scanner, so unfortunately, that's the best scan we've got, as of right now. I am going to ask him to send it to me, so that I can get a higher res scan up, as I stated before.

I don't understand this sentence from you, Scott: "And while you are trying to gain information, I suspect it's of a different type than what you claim." I am an extremely reputable member of this hobby, as many on THIS board can attest to, and have no desire to represent this in any other way than as what it is, WHICH IS WHY I CAME TO NET54 FOR MORE INFO.

If it is forged crap, then by all means, tell me its forged crap, and just give me the reasons why, which this thread has certainly provided. I am not arguing with a single finding, and, in fact, am continually amazed at what this board is able to come up with in just a few days. Again, it's why I came here.

I would not recommend to my uncle that we update the auction at all. My only recommendation would be to take it town altogether, so as to not sell what could, and most likely is, a forgery or, as some call, a "fantasy piece".

I hope that clears things up for you, Scott. Thanks.