How many fake autographs out there?

[homerunhitter]

The problem about getting self education on autographs is when you go to sell them unless it has a TPA saying it’s authentic, potential buyers can give a rats ass about the sellers “self education!” Or expertise! For example is I’m looking to buy an autograph on eBay, If it’s unauthenticated, I could give a rats ass if big boy bubba says that his self education says it’s real!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

The problem about getting self education on autographs is when you go to sell them unless it has a TPA saying it’s authentic, potential buyers can give a rats ass about the sellers “self education!” Or expertise! For example is I’m looking to buy an autograph on eBay, If it’s unauthenticated, I could give a rats ass if big boy bubba says that his self education says it’s real!

Yes, and to me, that's the marketplace pretty much deciding that the major TPAs know what they're doing. That sounds like a big generality, but I can't think of a better example of "money talks, and bulls**t walks."

[homerunhitter]

Totally agree with you! However potential customers don’t care what you, me or the man on the moon says about our “Self education” of autographs is. Abs thats a fact Jack! But I totally get it because as a buyer is much rather go with a PSA or jsa authenticated autograph vs the word on Jim Bob that’s been collecting for 40 years! Because I don’t know Jim Bob! And jim bobs opinion is like buttholes, everyone has one!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Totally agree with you! However potential customers don’t care what you, me or the man on the moon says about our “Self education” of autographs is. Abs thats a fact Jack! But I totally get it because as a buyer is much rather go with a PSA or jsa authenticated autograph vs the word on Jim Bob that’s been collecting for 40 years! Because I don’t know Jim Bob! And jim bobs opinion is like buttholes, everyone has one!

Again, true, but if you're going to be spending real money on autographs you at least need to educate yourself on the TPAs. I'm sure Roaches Corner and its ilk all come with some sort of LOA, but they're worthless, whereas the big four or five authenticators offer a reasonable assurance of legitimacy. Your advice basically is to never buy raw, and that's not an unreasonable position to take and in line with today's marketplace. But for those who have made themselves experts in what they collect, like some of the posters here, such restraints needn't apply and they likewise aren't totally dependent on the TPAs.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Couldn't agree more, Hank. I don't see how this hobby could possibly be any fun if I had to have my hand held every time I wanted to add an autograph.

[homerunhitter]

The point is not someone holding anyone’s hand, the point is that no one gives a rats ass how much “autograph education” or “autograph expertise” someone selling “unauthenticated” stuff in the future has. “Autograph experience” is great for one’s own personal collection, however try to sell it and tell someone that your an expert and the autograph is good according to “you” or according to “your expertise or experience”. ain’t no one got time for the autograph opinions of uncle Elmer, cousin Luke and aunt Thelma! That’s a fact..Jack!

[Hankphenom]

Might as well add one more cliche to the pile: it's all good...

[theshleps]

About 5 years ago I had the majority of my collection slabbed by PSA. I did n't do it for me. I knew the stuff was good as I had been collecting on and off since the 1960's. I did it as I am advancing in years and for the sake of my kids. I requested Bill Corcoran fly out (I was in WA) and we got it done in 3 days. Cost per item was low back then. I had a 95-98% pass rate which Bill said was unprecedented and I learned some on the ones that failed. Should I have waited for my kids to send it to an auction house on my demise and do it? Perhaps. Did it up the value of my collection enough to pay for the slabbing? Probably. It has helped as I acquire some dupes to sell them at times and am upgrading. I don't recommend this to everyone and new purchases I send to JSA for speed and alittle more objectivity for some items that PSA won't pass ever (like post stroke Frank Baker). Also spending many hours/days with Bill and with Jim Stinson I acknowledge they know more than me. I do not want any to go to the random newcomers on staff who I probably know more than them and because I have much high end stuff, I have been able to avoid that situation. I wish ebay etc would crack down on the fraudulent listers and I wish the new TPA authenticators would have to sit by the side of the top guys and mentor for many many months and be quizzed until they can get the vast majority right (they are not awful). Some things I keep raw like my signed rare Jewish players and vintage Japanese HOFers as I do not think the TPAs know much there

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by theshleps

About 5 years ago I had the majority of my collection slabbed by PSA. I did n't do it for me. I knew the stuff was good as I had been collecting on and off since the 1960's. I did it as I am advancing in years and for the sake of my kids. I requested Bill Corcoran fly out (I was in WA) and we got it done in 3 days. Cost per item was low back then. I had a 95-98% pass rate which Bill said was unprecedented and I learned some on the ones that failed. Should I have waited for my kids to send it to an auction house on my demise and do it? Perhaps. Did it up the value of my collection enough to pay for the slabbing? Probably. It has helped as I acquire some dupes to sell them at times and am upgrading. I don't recommend this to everyone and new purchases I send to JSA for speed and alittle more objectivity for some items that PSA won't pass ever (like post stroke Frank Baker). Also spending many hours/days with Bill and with Jim Stinson I acknowledge they know more than me. I do not want any to go to the random newcomers on staff who I probably know more than them and because I have much high end stuff, I have been able to avoid that situation. I wish ebay etc would crack down on the fraudulent listers and I wish the new TPA authenticators would have to sit by the side of the top guys and mentor for many many months and be quizzed until they can get the vast majority right (they are not awful). Some things I keep raw like my signed rare Jewish players and vintage Japanese HOFers as I do not think the TPAs know much there

Looks to me like you did just about everything right throughout your collecting experience. Congratulations!

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by theshleps

About 5 years ago I had the majority of my collection slabbed by PSA. I did n't do it for me. I knew the stuff was good as I had been collecting on and off since the 1960's. I did it as I am advancing in years and for the sake of my kids. I requested Bill Corcoran fly out (I was in WA) and we got it done in 3 days. Cost per item was low back then. I had a 95-98% pass rate which Bill said was unprecedented and I learned some on the ones that failed. Should I have waited for my kids to send it to an auction house on my demise and do it? Perhaps. Did it up the value of my collection enough to pay for the slabbing? Probably. It has helped as I acquire some dupes to sell them at times and am upgrading. I don't recommend this to everyone and new purchases I send to JSA for speed and alittle more objectivity for some items that PSA won't pass ever (like post stroke Frank Baker). Also spending many hours/days with Bill and with Jim Stinson I acknowledge they know more than me. I do not want any to go to the random newcomers on staff who I probably know more than them and because I have much high end stuff, I have been able to avoid that situation. I wish ebay etc would crack down on the fraudulent listers and I wish the new TPA authenticators would have to sit by the side of the top guys and mentor for many many months and be quizzed until they can get the vast majority right (they are not awful). Some things I keep raw like my signed rare Jewish players and vintage Japanese HOFers as I do not think the TPAs know much there

Hi Mike, to have a one on one with Bill Cocoran, and Jim Stinson, for a few days, is WELL Worth the price of admission! You can't put a price on education. If you think it's expensive, try ignorance.

[homerunhitter]

anyone care to answer the question?


i knew i read it somewhere, i did a google search and this is what pops up on google. below is a quote from the article that I was reading on google.


“The vast majority of Hall Fame autographs are forged,” claims Ron Keurajian, author of the indispensable reference guide, Baseball Hall of Fame Autographs. When it comes to pre-World War II autographs, Keurajian told me that he believes that 90 percent of the Hall of Famers are not real, particularly those of immortals such as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, and Cy Young."


what is your interpretation of this paragraph? (maybe i misunderstood what i read) what do you say? thanks

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

There's no point in replying to you. Several have tried. Each time, you refute their reasoning with answers of your own. Why keep asking questions when you clearly have all the answers? Enough.

[homerunhitter]

Any new thoughts on this?

[awz50]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Any new thoughts on this?

People will tell you the same thing, that has been said before do your research and verify it will other collectors. The big authenticators do a decent job but things slip through the cracks. It seems like you want an answer that is black and white, when in fact there is not one