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Author
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Topic: Authenticity of 12 moonwalkers autographs
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Skythings
Member Posts: 263
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 05-27-2022 02:34 PM
   
This week I came across this display at an antique store.It is a rather large (5ft x 5ft) well done presentation of all the astronauts who walked on the moon along with their pictures and cut signatures below each picture. They are asking $12,995CDN or approximately $10,200USD. They have two different COAs — One from Antiquities of California and the other from Authentic Autographs Unlimited. Google searches turn up some questionable history from one of the companies and not much on the other. So I am looking for any insights and advice as to the legitimacy and what type of investment this may be.  
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lspooz
Member Posts: 443
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 05-27-2022 03:17 PM
Just keep away from this - At a glance/my amateur opinion:Looks possibly good: Conrad, Aldrin (but looser + wider than typical) Look very dubious: Irwin (faint), Cernan Probably Forged: Armstrong, Shepard, Scott, Schmitt, Duke Terrible Fakes: Bean, Mitchell, Young
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4464
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-27-2022 03:40 PM
From what I can make out they all look "questionable." To purchase this piece would be an investment in folly. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3444
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 05-27-2022 06:32 PM
OH MY GOSH!!! From what I can see from the third picture scan, ALL ARE BOGUS and not authentic, but I can't see the Conrad too well (very faint). For sure, best to stay away from this one, as I am so confident none are genuine. Just outright criminal in my opinion. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 542
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 05-27-2022 06:38 PM
Completely agree with the prior posts, the signatures are not to be trusted. Phony, fake and false.Shameful that you can get a COA to certify just about anything regardless of reality. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2294
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-27-2022 06:46 PM
I agree with the previous posts -- very bad forgeries. Antiquities of California is owned by Brian Eick, who is the son of Toby Stoffa (who runs Antiquities of Nevada). They have been accused (and sued) many times for selling forgeries. Check out these links: They run these shops in tourist areas where they can sell to people who are not experienced collectors. "Hey, it has a COA so it is good, right?" |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1624
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-27-2022 08:07 PM
100% bad. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 263
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 05-27-2022 08:56 PM
Thanks everyone- You confirmed my suspicions. I was very dubious of the COA's. Having two different companies is suspicious. A Google search on the one of the companies indicated they had a history of bad reviews from people who purchased forgeries in the past. Playing the devils advocate, had these signatures been legitimate, was the asking price reasonable? Your thoughts? I am going to contact the antique store and let them know what the space collecting community has said about this display. It is a consignment piece and I'm sure they won't want the bad experience if they sold it to someone. Thank you - again. |
hbw60
Member Posts: 260
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 05-28-2022 12:43 AM
In addition to the autographs being obvious forgeries, the original designer clearly wasn't very interested in accuracy or consistency with the photos. The "1st Landing" photo is from Apollo 15, not Apollo 11. And it's a strange choice to add a photo of Cernan in his Gemini suit, when everyone else is in their Apollo suits.Even if they were authentic, the price seems too high anyway. The total value of the autographs is probably $3000 or so (with $1000 of that for Armstrong). The frame/display are very nice, and probably worth another $500-$1000. But that's still less than half the asking price. So if you like the display, you'd be much better off collecting the signatures yourself, and then taking them to a frame shop to get a similar display. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1624
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-28-2022 04:31 AM
Couldn't even get the positioning of the commanders and the LMPs right. |
lspooz
Member Posts: 443
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 05-28-2022 05:18 AM
Well, at least the nearby Mickey Mantle signature seems OK.
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bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 222
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-28-2022 05:43 AM
The only COA worth a darn in my opinion is from Steve Zarelli. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2294
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-28-2022 05:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by lspooz:
Well, at least the nearby Mickey Mantle signature seems OK.
I am skeptical about the Mantle too … would need a better picture to tell, but there are a LOT of Mantle forgeries out there. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 263
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 05-28-2022 07:23 AM
The Mantle display is from the same seller, so I would be suspect of that also. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1904
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-28-2022 09:10 AM
Helping a kid go to college with the $10,000 would be a better investment. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 263
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 05-28-2022 05:00 PM
I have notified the folks at the antiques store Where On Earth Antique Mall in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada. It will be interesting if they pull the display. I will keep an eye out to see if they do and if the seller attempts to ever offer this display anywhere else. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 222
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-30-2022 03:34 AM
Let me rephrase that COA's from Gerry Montague and Ken Havekotte are top notch and very acceptable. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 542
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 05-30-2022 09:53 AM
Yep, the expertise comes from years and years of specific experience-- not a cheap gold foil sticker  |
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