Antiquities of California....

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Why would they not want photos?

They'll spin it however they want, but I believe the real reason to not want photos, is so that uneducated people aren't emailing photo's to those that are more knowledgeable to get an opinion. Or worse, posting them on a forum like this.. The only way they can get people to buy this shit, is to do so without having a clue what they're actually getting.

[RichardSimon]

David - my reply was meant to be caustic.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

David - my reply was meant to be caustic.

I know, so was mine. I get a kick out of going all "matter of fact" in situations like that...It's just part of my sense of humor. Honestly though, it doesn't quite come across as well on the internet..

[Brendan]

Their website is interesting. They sell their "autographs" on there too. Seems strange how they don't have any closeup photos...

Drives me nuts how these places keep on running while selling blatant forgeries.

[btcarfagno]

Whomever did that John Hancock must have been drunk. I mean, to say that isn't even close is a masterpiece of understatement. Wow. Just wow.

Tom C

[sayhey24]

I agree with Tom -- even for someone like me who isn't an autograph expert, that John Hancock looks hilarious.

Greg

[RichardSimon]

Could this place be the West Coast branch of a famed auction house?

[steve B]

The Washington may be ok but overpriced. It's a free frank letter, either the whole thing or just a wrapper. There's one on ebay that's not quite as nice and unframed for 11000.

The Hancock may also be ok but more likely secretarial. That sort of document was really common, and not always signed by the president himself.
Probably also overpriced.

At one time I knew a place that had a box full of those documents, all early 1800's. Not too expensive either. I checked with someone I knew who'd be able to help me sell them. I thought I'd found a big score as they only wanted around $20 each.(Early 80's, not cheap if the signatures weren't actual, but way low if they were) He told me anout the secretarial thing, and that I'd have to buy them and send them to experts at a cost.... And that they were almost certain to be secretarial. Even those are more than 20 bucks now, so I'd have done ok eventually. I still wonder if that box held any real ones.

Steve B