The evidence against Barry Halper is mounting

[Matt]

Legendary also stated that it had “destroy(ed) the paperwork that accompanied the jersey…” Those papers included letters of authenticity from Sotheby’s, Grey Flannel Authentication and Robert Lifson , a Halper associate who was lead consultant for the Sotheby’s sale.

big fan of destroying documentation...

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Matt

big fan of destroying documentation...

To be fair the documentation in this case was bad and they destroyed it so nobody else could use it as PROOF of it being genuine.

[scooter729]

Wow, my work won't be happy that I just spent a good amount of time reading that whole article, but I had to keep reading!

Sad to see some of these items likely are not real. It would be awesome to think these treasures have survived, but the evidence definitely seemed stacked against Halper.

It would be interesting to know whether Halper knew the truth, or if he was scammed on purchasing the items, but based on some of his inconsistencies (like the stories about Joe Jackson's widow and the former player who had Wilbert Robinson's jersey), it sounds like he wasn't the one being scammed in all of these cases...

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by scooter729

It would be interesting to know whether Halper knew the truth, or if he was scammed on purchasing the items, but based on some of his inconsistencies (like the stories about Joe Jackson's widow and the former player who had Wilbert Robinson's jersey), it sounds like he wasn't the one being scammed in all of these cases...

Anyone got a running list of "bad" items in this sale?
-Joe Jax jersey
-Wilbert Robinson jersey
-Ty Cobb's Shotgun
-Ty Cobb diaries
-possibly every single Ty Cobb item that originated from Al Stump?
-Radbourn and ?? (Forgot the other guy) cabinet photos in street clothes

[19cbb]

Dan, don't have the catalog at hand, but I think there was a phony Cummings.

[slidekellyslide]

I did a quick scan of the catalogs again this morning and I'm curious as to what kind of documentation some of these jersey's had. There is nothing in the way of provenance offered up in the catalog, and we're talking about Anson, Ewing, Thorpe, McGinnitty, McGraw and bunches of other incredible jerseys.

[canjond]

Originally Posted by 19cbb

Dan, don't have the catalog at hand, but I think there was a phony Cummings.

It was Roger Connor.

[19cbb]

Originally Posted by canjond

It was Roger Connor.

I meant the Cummings in lot 202

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Anyone got a running list of "bad" items in this sale?
-Joe Jax jersey
-Wilbert Robinson jersey
-Ty Cobb's Shotgun
-Ty Cobb diaries
-possibly every single Ty Cobb item that originated from Al Stump?
-Radbourn and ?? (Forgot the other guy) cabinet photos in street clothes

I know Denny Eskin was commenting shortly after the auction that the Mantle glove bought by Billy Crystal was a store model!

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I know Denny Eskin was commenting shortly after the auction that the Mantle glove bought by Billy Crystal was a store model!

This information is incorrect.....It wasn't a store model but rather a glove used by Mantle later in his career and not "circa" 1961 (magic year) as described in the catalog.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

This information is incorrect.....It wasn't a store model but rather a glove used by Mantle later in his career and not "circa" 1961 (magic year) as described in the catalog.

Denny made this statement to me clearly and in person shortly after the auction at the Robert Morris show in Pittsburgh - "it wasn't even a game used glove, it was store model!" That was a number of years ago and I leave room for the possibilty he may have gotten new information or changed his mind - but he said what he said.

-Howard

[Matt]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

To be fair the documentation in this case was bad and they destroyed it so nobody else could use it as PROOF of it being genuine.

That can be done with red marker - destroying the documentation gets rid of any nasty paper trial that could be used as evidence.

[packs]

I agree with you. It destroys culpability. If an auction house was concerned with authentication, destroying the documents doesn't seem like a reasonable action to take. The auction house should issue its own set of papers labeling the item not authentic and should keep the original papers. If you destroy them, it makes it hard for a buyer to make his case for a refund.