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Author
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Topic: Apollo 11 autographs from Vintage329
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Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-06-2013 09:46 AM
   
A collector asked my opinion on an Apollo 11 crew signed cut piece offered for $3,995 by Vintage329, an autograph and memorabilia shop in New Orleans. On their website, they are offering four Apollo 11 crew signed items, ranging in price from $3,995 to $9,500. They employ UACC member and appraiser, Harold W. "Skip" Hensel, and his LOA accompanies the Apollo 11 cut piece.The four Apollo 11 items, and a signed sketch by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, can be seen here. I believe that any experienced astronaut autograph collector would have grave concern about their space material. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 179
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-06-2013 10:02 AM
WOW! Those are really BAD!!! I think i would "Skip" the purchase. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 05-06-2013 11:19 AM
The cut signatures look better than the others. They look similar to others I have seen signed on From Earth to the Moon. If genuine they probably would have been worth as much(or more) had they not been cut form the book. (unless the book was in really bad condition). The signed pictures are just bad, I think. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-06-2013 12:53 PM
Bob - I don't see mention of the COA on the item(s) - can you share where it is? |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-06-2013 01:24 PM
The collector who contaced me about the Apollo 11 crew signed cut piece asked Vintage some questions about the autographs and they responded stating that Skip Hensel supplied the LOA for that item and sent a scan of it that I have.It's a fairly routine LOA, dated in Sept. 2012, and signed by Skip Hensel. Al, I'll be glad to send it you and/or maybe post it here. Vintage told me that they also supply their own LOA, but can have Skip also provide one. So I don't know if he personally appraised the other three Apollo 11 items, but he did at least supply an LOA for the cut piece one. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-08-2013 07:59 AM
In addition to the four Apollo 11 items, Vintage329 earlier had a "We Seven" book on sale with dubious signatures of the seven Mercury astronauts. Inquiring about it, I was told that it had sold, but another was now available and was sent a scan of the second signed book (below). But now it's been removed from their site and probably has sold for around $7,000 like the first one.  |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-08-2013 08:54 AM
Those are some of the worst Mercury signatures I've EVER seen. As the UACC, we've contacted Skip and are trying to work this out. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 05-08-2013 06:49 PM
Thanks for alerting us to this website, Bob. Unfortunately, some collectors will blindly trust a COA if it appears to come from a trusted source (such as a UACC member). This is a good illustration that obtaining a second opinion is always a good idea.Looking deeper into the website in question, I see many more signatures in other categories that I personally believe to be troublesome (to put it mildly). In my opinion, I would be extremely wary of buying any signature from this site without doing a lot of homework first. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 05-09-2013 04:38 PM
Their bad Apollo 11's have been removed from their website and hopefully future astronaut material will be checked out more carefully. The problems with their Apollo 11 material is a strong indicator that there may be problems with the rest of their autograph inventory. Other collectors have expressed concern about their other autograph material. Skip Hensel is an appraiser for Vintage329 and lives near their shop. He has 50-plus years of autograph experience and could provide a great service to collectors by carefully examining Vintage's autograph inventory and, if need be, requesting assistance from other UACC specialists. Vintage should welcome that, as on their website they state that their commitment is to insure the authenticity of their products and to preserve the integrity of their relationship with their clients. And a great step in that direction would be for them to contact the buyers of their two $7,000 bogus "We Seven" signed books for refunds. |
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