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Author
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Topic: Apollo 11 Earth photo: crew-signed or not?
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Space Junk Punk
Member Posts: 60
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Jul 2021
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posted 03-05-2026 04:06 AM
   
I have an Apollo 11 crew-signed Earth photo displayed in a fairly nice presentation, which came with a COA and letter from Authentic Autographs Unlimited dated 2013. I recently was made aware however it looks like a forgery.  Richard from the Space Collective suggested I send to Steve Zarelli to do a quick email opinion of yes or no if these signatures would pass authentication, and Zarelli said no they would not. So this is really bad news for me, and I just want to back up my findings with any input from those who are familiar with Armstrong, Aldrins and Collins' signatures here, and if these look problematic. Also is Steve Z the gold standard for signatures? He says there are issues then there are issues? I'm also curious if anyone has any info on AAU authentications or Drew V. Max, the one who signed off on the original COA? I believe this was originally purchased by an extremely reputable friend of mine somewhere in San Fransisco by Pier 39 where there used to be a big collectibles shop. Any feedback or second, third opinions will help me swallow this bitter news a little bit easier. Thanks for helping me. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4674
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-05-2026 02:08 PM
Not. Certainly the Armstrong and the Collins in my opinion. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56133
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-05-2026 02:36 PM
Drew Max died in April 2020. He appeared on Pawn Stars as an autograph expert, but he and his company Authentic Autographs Unlimited (AAU) were reportedly fired from the show for certifying forgeries. He was sued for misrepresentation, breach of contract, deceptive trade, conspiracy, unjust enrichment, and fraud. The plaintiff, Mr. Daniel Odobas, filed the lawsuit against Drew Max's company, Authentic Autographs Unlimited, Toby Stoffa's Antiquities of Nevada, and Guaranteed Forensic Authenticators, owned by Stephen Rochi.Following the allegations, the Pawn Stars cast dropped Drew Max, and he stopped appearing on the show. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 1442
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 03-05-2026 05:13 PM
With regards to your question, yes, Steve Zarelli is regarded as the gold standard for certifying astronaut signatures. |
astrobock
Member Posts: 260
From: WV, USA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted 03-05-2026 07:10 PM
Sorry... you're not alone. Steve Z. knows. |
EMU
Member Posts: 22
From:
Registered: Sep 2023
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posted 03-06-2026 08:55 AM
From this account: "Authorities in Las Vegas seized the fake memorabilia and auctioned it off."Interesting concept. |
Jeff
Member Posts: 647
From: Fayetteville, NC. USA
Registered: May 2009
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posted 03-09-2026 02:29 PM
Has anyone else looked at this listing on eBay?It certainly looks identical to the above post to me. If this is the item listed above, you should probably change the description accordingly.
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Axman
Member Posts: 896
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 03-09-2026 02:44 PM
Yep. He's definitely trying to sell something he now knows is fake as authentic. Isn't that criminal activity in the States? |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1561
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-09-2026 03:59 PM
Wow-a blatant scam out in the open. Not even tried to change his seller name and location. He must be desperate or in denial. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56133
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-09-2026 05:22 PM
Okay, put the pitchforks down. The listing was created on Dec. 1, 2025, and as Greg (Space Junk Punk) said, he was recently alerted by Richard to it being a possible forgery. He contacted Steve and came here and posted about it. He has not altered the listing yet, but he is clearly making an effort to learn the truth. Greg, I think it is in your best interest to halt the listing. Not that Steve needs any one to back his opinion, but as I told you privately when this topic began, this is not an authentic piece. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56133
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-12-2026 11:26 PM
Greg ended the listing tonight and no longer has any intention of offering it for sale. He told me he plans to ultimately destroy the piece to avoid it ever ending up in another collection. |
Space Junk Punk
Member Posts: 60
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Jul 2021
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posted 03-13-2026 02:59 AM
Just so everyone knows, I have actually had this display listed for a few months, with no interest really. I posted it on Facebook Marketplace recently and the day I did, Richard from the Space Collective messaged me and said it looked like a forgery, and recommended getting Steve Zarelli to give a quick look by email, which I did. Soon after Steve responded with a "Would Not Pass Authentication" verdict. I deleted the listing immediately on FB, and was about to delete the eBay listing but got sidetracked and forgot. So when I sent out automated offers on over a dozen other listings recently, the Apollo 11 display was included unbeknownst to me. So as soon as it was pointed out I deleted it immediately. Now my first thought is to just destroy the whole thing however the matting job and display is actually really nice and I'm thinking that maybe I could find some real Apollo 11 crew signatures, and replace these fraudulent ones, and I'll already have a nice display to present them in. Any thoughts on that? I contacted the original owner and my good friend that I got this from, Tim Pickens, and he was shocked it wasn't real, and he is an aerospace engineering legend who knows many astronauts and NASA icons. It seems like this authenticator Max was running a real good scheme out in San Fransisco with a shop on the pier area, and in 2014 because of the Pawn Stars affiliation, when they were huge, it was easy to sell off all kinds of signed stuff as legit. From pics to instruments they forged it all. Thank god Richard Garner caught this and told me because I would have felt horrible selling it and finding out later. |
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