Very, very, interesting...

[RichardSimon]

Now the TPA's must be using crystal balls to authenticate the signature of someone who could not write (boxer Tom Sayers).

"Both PSA/DNA and James Spence believe this piece to be authentic, but are unable to issue paperwork due to an absence of exemplars."
-- from the Heritage Auction catalog. and this after the TPA's issued COA's and then withdrew them, when the auction house was called to task on a handwritten piece, allegedly written by Tom Sayers.

Oh, they believe it to be authentic. Well, considering that we are in a hobby that is free of fraud , who can blame them for their beliefs?
The Sayers item sold for over $10K, I guess the person who bought it has the same beliefs as the TPA's. In this case I think I would be an atheist.
Is this just ridiculous or am I being too much of a cynic?
I can accept the fact that mistakes can be made, we have all made them, but this instance cannot be described as a mistake.

[GrayGhost]

That Sayers mess is VERY disturbing. This has got a lot of steam in a real hurry. Again. at some point, this is going to blow up in some people's faces. For those that like Drama, or don't like Certain "authenticators", it'll be kinda satisfying.

For collectors/other dealers who relied, often to the tune of thousands of dollars, on "expert" opinions and got taken, its simply AWFUL.

Oh, BTW, a friend of mine has a handwritten copy of The Gospel. signed by St. Matthew. Should I "send it in". I mean, hey, no reason to NOT believe its real, just because nobody has seen his signature?

[mr2686]

I will be sending in my Adam and Eve signed Fig leaf.