What would you do?

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Posted By: boxingcardman

[Noun; legal slang] When searching for an expert to opine on a matter for money.

It isn't pretty but it sums up the process. Authenticators FUBAR their work regularly, as sting and test repeatedly prove. They also refuse things that are good. I have had autographs I or friends collected in person rejected as fakes; I've had autographs rejected at one time and authenticated at other times. If you are convinced the item is good and you want it, and you trust the authenticator that offered the auction opinion, call the auctioneer and offer to spring for a full LOA from the expert whose auction letter is being used. If they will give you a full LOA and you are happy with the autograph, forget about the history and chalk up the first authenticator's refusal to a bad day. Otherwise, if there is any discomfort, the auction house should allow you to get out. Not that they will; after all, they will say, you didn't bid on a "rejected by A and authenticated by B" item, you bid on an "authenticated by B" item. IMO that's BS, but I can see an auction house standing on that point.

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