Autograph Authentication Questions about PSA and a 1915 letter

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

I just received some new information about PSA from autograph dealer Kevin Keating. It seems he was the winning bidder of what appeared to be a Charles Ebbets (Owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Ebbets Field) 1915 signed letter on Dodger stationery from Steve Verkman. The letter came with a COA from PSA. When Kevin received the letter it turned out to be a letter signed by Charles Ebbets Jr., who was the secretary of the Dodgers, and listed on the letterhead, and not THE Charles Ebbets, who was President of the Dodgers, and also listed on the letterhead. The autograph of Charles Ebbets Jr. was authenticated by PSA as the autograph of Charles Ebbets. Their signatures bear no resemblance to each other. Was this letter examined by someone from PSA with even a cursory look?

Authenticators disagree about the authenticity of various signatures. Authenticators make some honest mistakes. That is going to happen. However, authenticating a Charles Ebbets Jr. signature as his father's signature, authenticating George Bush autopen signatures as genuine, authenticating Bruce Springsteen facsimile signatures as genuine, these are not disagreements over signatures. You can read about these other stories on my website.

http://www.richardsimonsports.com/hofauto2.htm.

These errors were all done for auction house catalogs. Are there other similar errors out there in the hobby? These mistakes are coming from the authentication service that likes to boast in their advertising that the item is not real unless PSA says it's real. What do you, the collecting public, think?

-------

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

Here are comparisons of Charles Ebbets Sr and Charles Ebbets Jr signatures. The Ebbets Jr letter was the one authenticated as Ebbets Sr by PSA.





-------------


I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

[Archive]

Posted By: Judge Dred

Do you have a copy of the COA that can be posted?

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

Here is the COA you asked for.
This was lot #483 in the Verkman Jan 2005 auction,



I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

I understand the bottom row is facismile signatures showing who are the team. But there's no way I would let anyone put my name at the bottom of a LOA where I hadn't personally reviewed the item and approved the letter.

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

David - I could not agree with you more. And I personally know that some of those people behind the facsimile signatures are not happy with what the company is doing with their names.

--------

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

[Archive]

Posted By: Rob L

Again, I feel that many of these auction house LOAs from PSA/DNA are pure crap. Noone is looking at all of these. And with Joe Orlando signing the letter, I believe he is the one who looked at it.

BTW, check this one out. A Ruth signed ball with a bunch of A's and Orlando signs a letter saying it is an A's ball and doesn't mention the Ruth (which is very light on the ball).


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27260&item=5168123975&rd=1

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

Not only does the COA not mention Ruth, but it calls the ball a Philadelphia A's ball, with no mention of the year, and totally neglects all of the Yankees who are also on the ball.
Shoddy, very shoddy. This is not a example of the work done by Jimmy Spence who was very attentive to detail.
Also the COA does not list the specific year of the ball, very lazy work by the authenticator.

-----

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

[Archive]

Posted By: J.McMurry

Richard,

What has Verkman said about this?

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

I have not talked to Verkman about this, as the item is Kevin Keating's, but Kevin Keating told me tonight that he has not heard from Verkman regarding the refund. If I hear a definitive answer from Kevin, as to what Verkman will do, I will post it here.

---------

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.