secretarials

[39special]

When I first started collecting autographs,I bought a Willie Mays signed index card without doing my homework.I found out it was signed by his wife.I wrote wife signed on the back to remined my self to always do my homework when it comes to autographs.$50 lesson learned.

[theshleps]

When my son was a batboy and clubby at the Arizona fall league about a decade ago one player- not a star asked him to autograph all is fan mail for him. I posted that on sportscollectors.net and people laughed at me but his mail was being ghost signed.
There is alot we do not know. Not sure which of my Sid Luckmans are real if any.
I have never knowingly sold a fake. I would though be tempted to sell one I thought wasn't real if it is slabbed.
When I was a kid and I stalked players at the hotels in the 1960's I used to copy players signatures for fun. never sold any. As a result my own signature has probably 4 or 5 versions with hybids incorporating different parts of each style. It would be about impossible to judge mine.
Also awile ago my son was a big Clint Barmes fan and we bought the giant banner of him that used to hang at Coors. We had Clint sign it and his autogrpah was nothing like we have ever seen him sign before or after- giant well formed distinct letters, etc. Even the best authenticators of us and others out there have a probably 10% margin of error or more.
I have a Ned Hanlon that matches no exemplars I have ever seen but has impeccable provenance and got it from Jimm Stinson who is as good and honest as they come. Sometimes I am tempted to sell it just cause it doesn't match.
Look at these two David Newhans
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-BOWMAN-...item19c0590c9e
http://www.ebay.com/itm/David-Newhan...item4d0b7b178e
I have over 50 David Newhans and he is a friend of mine. Look at the differences especially the D. I have watched David sign a stack of cards of mine and gotten both of these styles from him in the same batch in a random type order. Before I saw him do it I thought one was wife signed.
Sometimes I think if someone offered me a million dollars for my collection (I have alot more I haven't posted) I would just take it and buy a nice condo in Hawaii and stop pulling my hair about about judging authenticity. other times I am too addicted so even if someone offered me 1,000,000 just for my Hugh Duffy signed Mayo Plug- I would turn them down

[7nohitter]

Can some of you post your known secraterials?

[RTK]

In my friend's case, the authenticator based his decision on more on how and when he obtained the Ted Williams autograph, not on any real thorough scrutinizing of the signature itself. Frankly, I'm leery of the whole authentication industry. Signatures change over time and in how quickly a player signs something...one formed letter and a squiggle or straight line. The vast majority of current signatures are illegible any way, how can they be authenticated let alone are they worth the effort of collecting?


Who authenticates the authenticators?

[7nohitter]

Rick,

Totally correct stating that signatures change over time....I have three distinctly different signatures that I employ. One may not know of my other versions would would deem them a 'forgery' if seen.

We've seen how Mantle's (as an example) signature evolved from the 50's....can't a player's
s signature vary?

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Can some of you post your known secraterials?

Here is the Campy rubber stamp.
I have many secretarial signatures that I keep as reference. If I get a chance I will post them later.

[7nohitter]

Thanks Richard

[RichardSimon]

I found these three, I know I also have Combs, Dean and a few more. Just have to find them.

[Jerry G]

This is a magazine photo that I sent through the mail to Joe D back around 1966-67. Later, I learned that his sister signed a lot of his mail during that time period. Loved it when I got it. Still like it enough to keep it framed and on my wall.