posted 04-01-2005 05:53 PM               

My question is - Since there seems to be so much fraud involved in autographs, how can one get their autograph collections authenticated? Nobody seems to trust the business, either that or "Joe Blow" certainly shouldn't take anothers word for it...

This forum and reading the posts about autographs on EBay made me think about this subject.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

posted 04-01-2005 06:24 PM               

In my opinion, the covers should be numbered on the back; they should be signed on the back by the preparer and perhaps noratized - all on the back. They should be postmarked clearly.

As for the autographs, that is another matter. There are many books dealing with autograph collecting and how to distinguish an authentic autograph from a forgery. One thing to keep in mind - know your source. Did the cover belong to only one person before you acquired it? Hoes he have a photo of the signing?

I am sure that others who are knowledgable in this field will give you expert advice. But always keep in mind "Let the buyer beware." []

posted 04-01-2005 08:17 PM               

This whole thing began while purusing this particular subject and the autographs on EBay, etc... It got me to thinking about those few autographed covers I have and what would happen down the line when I turn them over to my son..? How would he prove that they were authentic? I happened to trust my source at the time [I even have some autographs that I cannot link to anything NASA at this time! ;-)] and didn't pay a great amount for them back in those days.

But I'm sure you get the drift...

posted 04-03-2005 10:52 AM               

I once sold - not for a whole lot of money - a collection of 1000 entertainment photos and index cards, some in-person (both inscribed and not), some by mail, others through dealers. Unless it had a Score Board certificate taped on back, none had any documentation. So I guess they were satisfied at what they saw.

posted 04-03-2005 12:14 PM               

First and foremost, write down everything you can remember about the sale, the guy that you bought them from, and what he told you. Keep that with the covers. That is their provenance - it will be important down the road, and the kids probably won't remember it if it not written down.

As far as authentication goes, check the signatures against the autopen examples given on CS in the "Resources" section. Maybe you can post some images of the covers (especially any rare-looking autos like Armstrong or Anders) so that the autograph specialists here on CS can ring in with their opinions on authenticity.

As far as authenticating the covers themselves, I would have to respectfully differ with Astro Bill - most cover preparers at that time did not number and sign their covers. There were several instances of backdated or faked covers, and these could be fairly easily checked if you can post or e-mail images of the covers for some of us cover specialists to look at.