Ruth Ball in Mastro

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Posted By: Joe Jesselli

According to an e-mail from a principal at the auction house, the lot was pulled "based on the fact that James Spence determined he was not comfortable with the autograph."

Also, in response to a query as to why PSA failed to provide a letter of authentication, the principal wrote, "authenticators rarely issue letters as to why they are not willing to authenticate items just the fact that they are not rendering an opinion."

It was wise for Mastro to disclose the PSA/Spence conflict in their original description. It was wiser for them to now pull the auction after flags were raised. It would have been wisest if they didn't offer the lot in the first place.