posted 12-12-2011 05:34 PM               

Steve Zarelli joins the RR Auction team of authenticators

In RR Auction's continuing mission to deliver 100% guaranteed authentic items to our customers, we are proud to announce the addition of Steve Zarelli to our team of authenticators. With over 15 years of experience collecting and closely studying space and aviation autographs, Zarelli has placed himself at the forefront of identifying deceptive forgeries. His findings have been published in the definitive space-collecting reference, Relics of the Space Race, as well as the UACC's Pen & Quill magazine. Steve was also a contributor to the UACC signature study, Neil Armstrong: The Quest for His Autograph.

"RR has a reputation of offering the finest space material and I am excited to be part of that ongoing tradition," Zarelli noted. "I look forward to using my experience and skills in ensuring RR's clients receive unquestionably authentic material."

Currently serving as the UACC Ethics Director, Zarelli was awarded the UACC Distinguished Service Award in 2006. His expertise and knowledge will prove a valuable asset to our already stellar team, and as a consulting authenticator, he will work closely with our own lead authenticator, Bill White, to filter through the myriad forgeries that have infiltrated the space market, guaranteeing a remarkable experience with RR Auction.

posted 12-12-2011 06:32 PM               

Before the UACC published the wonderful UACC study on Armstrong signatures, Steve and some others well known throughout the community, got together and worked this out.

To me there is no one better for Armstrong signatures.

Also as the Ethics Chair for the UACC, he has exhibited wisdom and integrity dealing with complaints on members and dealers.

posted 12-13-2011 03:05 AM               

Far more worrying were the later high quality 'German' forgeries of Armstrong, Irwin, Young and pretty much all the Apollo astronauts. Some had fairly noticeable traits but many were very close to the mark.

Even more recently we saw a forger based in Spain go from fairly poor Armstrong forgeries to really very convincing signatures in a matter of a few months.

Scott's stint at RR put the forgers on the defensive but you can be sure that following his 'retirement' they'll be back in force.

posted 12-13-2011 07:48 AM               

For the record, as some of the newer members may not be aware, over 10 years ago I was also among the first to blow the whistle on several forgery styles including hooktails and the more deceptive "German" fakes. Those who were around in 2000-2001 will recall the resistance to those findings!

While I have not been active on this message board in recent years, I have been actively collecting and learning and have grown into a much more astute "analyzer" of autographs. I have been privately opining for a few dealers and many collectors for the better part of a decade.

posted 12-13-2011 10:54 AM               

The new forgers won't get past Steve, nor would they have Scott.

posted 12-13-2011 11:53 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by spaced out:
The 'flag test' was a great finding but it must be said that in retrospect many of those early forgeries look painfully obvious today.

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I agree, Chris. The "flag test" was simply one tell of one fairly crude (and prolific) forgery style. Its main selling point was that it was something even the layman could see and put to use. Most forgery tells today are much more subtle and difficult to identify.

The accidental inclusion of three forgeries in the UACC's own Armstrong signature study published earlier this year (which has since been corrected) demonstrates the challenge that lies ahead of an authenticator. Even knowledgeable people in the hobby must stay on top of their game at every moment.

But perhaps an even greater challenge than identifying and discarding the forgeries is to successfully identify (and keep) the authentic signatures with atypical traits. It's fairly easy to throw away every signature that isn't textbook perfect. It's often difficult to keep the atypical signatures that are real.