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  261646426264: Buzz Aldrin signed photograph

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Author Topic:   261646426264: Buzz Aldrin signed photograph
SpaceCell
Member

Posts: 19
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted 11-05-2014 03:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCell   Click Here to Email SpaceCell     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently started collecting astronauts' autographs and I'm new to the group! I'm trying to find Buzz's autograph for a decent price and saw one on eBay that I'm considering. The seller had two more that sold at 200-250USD.

Though he always seems to post the same scan I have confirmed that the signatures are all different — so they seem authentic to me, but... I'm a newbie. Can you advise please?

Is there a list with the 'reliable' eBay sellers? I always get nervous with expensive purchases from sellers I don't know... Thanks!

neo1022
Member

Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted 11-05-2014 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, this piece looks fine to me. Very typical Buzz signature and handwriting. He probably got a number of these signed years back, when the fees were lower. If you like the piece, I see no issues with it...

All his other items look legit as well. Never dealt with the seller before, but looks like a collector who is thinning out the collection...

Happy hunting!

SpaceCell
Member

Posts: 19
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted 11-05-2014 06:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCell   Click Here to Email SpaceCell     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks so much!

jtheoret
Member

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 11-05-2014 06:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As a general rule, while that particular auction photo appears to be a good signature, that doesn't mean much unless you know and trust the seller. I also avoid eBay sellers who hide bidders' identities and have private auctions and comments. There are generally no good reasons for doing that in my opinion unless you are trying to hide something.

Also, that sellers user name, Apollospace, should not be confused with the business I operated for ten or so years under the same name. I emailed the seller letting them know that name might cause confusion, but he didn't seem receptive to providing clarification, and since I do not have the name trademarked, nothing I can do about that - just FYI.

You can always find a lot of great deals in the Buy Sell Trade forum here and many members list items on eBay as well. You also can get good Aldrin buys through the reputable auction houses.

neo1022
Member

Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted 11-05-2014 07:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm not sure I understand your objection. If a signature is good, it's good — regardless of the seller. After all, when you buy a signed photo through an auction house, you're getting one of hundreds of objects that were consigned by all sorts of sellers — none of whom you will ever know anything about.

As far as I'm concerned, all we can do is vet the item based on its own merits. These objects will pass through many hands, and it the integrity of the object that will determine its worth.

As for eBay, I agree that transparency is key. Feedback should be great (although that's no guarantee — lots of shameless forgers have 100% positive feedback, because their clients don't realize they've been scammed...), bids should not be private, etc. That said, if the seller has a good rating and the item (as well as past and current sales) look good, I say pull the trigger. How many of us on here have acquired great items through unknown eBay sellers? I'm willing to be that's most of us...

That said, if the item comes from well-known dealers, that helps to "seal" the provenance (although it still doesn't guarantee authenticity). A nice chain of possession through known collectors/dealers can raise confidence, but still, if the item's good, anyone with experience will recognize that.

capoetc
Member

Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 11-05-2014 07:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I think the concern may be that, even though an item looks okay in a photograph, there are sellers who (knowingly or unknowingly) will sell photo prints of authentic signed items. They can be very hard to tell even in person unless you hold them at an angle to light to see that there is actually ink on the photo instead of the signature being part of the photo.

It is a jungle out thee, so one must act accordingly.

Also, familiarize yourself with astronaut autopen patterns — there are a lot of them.

jtheoret
Member

Posts: 344
From: Albuquerque, NM USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 11-05-2014 10:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Indeed, I've gotten great deals on eBay and gotten burned too. Some of my best deals have come from new sellers because the bidding was lower than for known sellers. I've also seen some sellers selling copies of other sellers items as authentic. The scanned picture at issue looks authentic, that is not autopen or forgery - but without knowing the seller and based on the fact the feedback is private I would be wary that's all. Might be a great deal, but I would rather buy from a seller who doesn't make their feedback private. Patience and research almost always pay off.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 11-06-2014 11:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did buy a Schirra signed photo from him. I was worried that it was just a copy but there was indeed ink on the photo so it was not a copy.

eems
Member

Posts: 49
From: MA, USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 11-06-2014 11:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for eems   Click Here to Email eems     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have also made a few purchases from this seller and have had no issues. The Aldrin silver pen inscription/signature really pops on the photo finish. I also had some reserve given the sale price but I'm happy given the current rate he charges.

SpaceCell
Member

Posts: 19
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted 11-06-2014 12:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCell   Click Here to Email SpaceCell     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you all, that is reassuring!

eems
Member

Posts: 49
From: MA, USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 11-06-2014 01:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for eems   Click Here to Email eems     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Keep in mind I'm still a bit of a space collecting novice.

neo1022
Member

Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013

posted 11-06-2014 06:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You came to the right place for opinions!

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