Well........it took some time, some patience & alot of effort from law enforcement in TX & Florida. But finally. On April 18th, the thief from JSA - Erik Santomauro, an authenticator & their Director of Sales, is due in court in Broward County, Florida, to face the charges & video of him stealing. Finally. Its been a year and a half since the crime occurred. A lot of stress & anxiety. Finally coming to court. 

JSA, its owners & its officers, will be facing charges too, as soon as this case is ruled upon in court. 

Is anyone else having issues with eBay?  They claim to have authenticators but they are either blind, completely stupid or just 100% incompetent.  My friends eBay account was shut down for selling this perfectly genuine 1937 signed Alfalfa photograph.  It's signed in perfect blue fountain pen ink and inscribed to a Beth who passed away 8 years ago.  Beth Raeider collected vintage Hollywood autographs as she was a receptionist for a major film company back in the 1930's.  Her collection is all genuine vintage signed photographs.  eBay is the only lousy company in the world to call this a counterfeit and they are going strictly by the scan.  

Many are leaving eBay in droves because their fee's are high, they have become WOKE (you can sell Hitler but not Dr. Seuss), the bidders are leaving so prices are dropping while eBay is exterminating themselves by playing silly games calling the most genuine autographs as counterfeits.  Many say it's some BOT that does this randomly as surely nobody

When I google it, i no longer see results on the internet

Sir Ian McKellen has warned fans of an impersonator who has been deceiving autograph hunters.

The perpetrator had worn a cap and a mask over his face to disguise himself as the Lord of the Rings star at an “official signing” that swindled 400 fans out of money.

It is reported that fans had paid between £75 and £100 to have their possessions autographed by McKellen in Canary Wharf.

Organizers of the signing event were made to wait outside while the ersatz McKellen signed the items, which were then given the official “Beckett” stamp of authenticity and shipped to fans.

However, fans noticed something awry with the penmanship and started complaining to the event’s organizers, Smugglers Entertainments Ltd.

After the real McKellen was contacted, he issued a statement on Twitter to fans confirming that the event was a hoax.

“I have been made aware that a man impersonating me and two women posing as my representatives have recently approached a promoter in Kent with the offer of a ‘private signing’

Who on here can post who the worst dealer in the autograph industry is?  I've had my bad experiences with a few.  Folks that deny selling items, won't give refunds when wrong, sell mostly fakes and rely only on guesses by those that pass forgeries?

Bear in mind, this is one of the TOP 3 regarded & recognized authentication companies by most if not all auction sites, auction houses & card & collectible stores ! 

How many times should autographed items be submitted for authentication with a certain south florida based authenticator ? Bearing in mind that i am charged each time an item fails, then passes on the 2nd or 3rd submittal. Video proof of the items being failed and the exact same items being passed by the same authentication company in hand. Criminal charges filed for theft also on video of signed items, stolen by a team member for the same authentication company in hand also. 

Does anyone have the same or similar situation ?

Looking forward to sharing the authentication company name, the authenticator's names, the employee's identity that stole my items on camera, and the videos of the theft, unprofessionalism, incompetence & fraud, at a later date. 

The International Autograph Community would  be terrified if they were aware of how many forgeries, preprinted and secretarial signatures that are being sold that come with Certificates Of Authenticty from sellers of autographs that claim to be members of the UACC.

The Certificate of Authenticty Reference Library is associated with PADAH. The library is overwhelmed with autographs that are deemed forgeries by three autograph experts. Each of the forgeries comes with a COA stating that the seller is a member of the UACC.  The following are six more forged signatures donated to the Library that come with COA's from UACC members.  Elizabeth Taylor

 Robert Downey, Jr.

David Duchovney

Brendan Fraser

Roberto Clemente

Michael Jordan

It is always wise before purchasing an  autograph item from someone who claims to be a member of the UACC is to do your homework and get a second opinion.

In today's autograph market and with all the reference books on autograph collecting how can trash like this pass the "experts" at a well known autction house?

There is absolutely no excuse for mistakes like this to take place.  It makes one wonder what ealse has been passed for genuine by the auction house "expert".   

How can this many mistakes be made in one lot?  Obviously these books came from the same consignor.  Wouldn't you love to know who the consignor is?  You got 8 days left to make a bid....

Any one having issues on getting graded 1986 MICHAEL JORDAN rookie autograph from flight school camp.. I have submitted 2 recently to PSA and Beckette and came back not authentic Both are autheticaded by upperdeck  with coa and hologram.. i havespend over spend over 1k on both5 company's.. I feel been rob by the 2 companies.. By the way psa lost one of my certificates from flight camp...

We would like to hear from those who know autographs signed by Mickey Mantle.

Illustrated below are two signed photographs from the same source.

There is a question of their authenticity.

We would like to hear from anyone familiar with his genuine signatures.   Good or Bad or Too close to tell

Most collectors don't realize the work that can go into authenticating an autograph.  We are not talking about those who claim to authenticate at shows. Hired hands go behind a curtain and look at examples on eBay. They would have no clue as to whether the one on ebay is genuine or not. This explains the thousands of mistakes made by all the ABC type authenticating companies.

Most of the mistakes they make are horrific even limited editions of 1,000 copies claimed authentic were obvious forgeries to a professional.

Some of these ABC types even have authenticated names spelled wrong and issued a certificate as authentic. When cornered on TV some of these so-called experts will say the forger did a good job.  $150 down the drain!

We here in Colorado Springs do a fair amount of authenticating for people who really want to know if the item they purchased is genuine.  The other side of this business are the crooks who know their item ins NOT genuine and hope the dummies at ABC type authenticat

Before Herman Darvick came up with all those Joe Jackson signatures how many Jackson signatures has anyone seen sold in the market years before.

In some circles it is said that Jackson could not sign his name yet Darvick mysteriously comes up with a few in a short period of time. You can read about these signatures in Peter Nash's fine articles in Hauls of Shame.

Herman Darvick an admitted forger of autographs can clear up this mystery.  Some believe that the forgeries of Joe Jackson signatures that Darvick sold in his auctions were possibly signed by Darvick.

Darvick who always has a lot to say about him being a forger can easily clarify that those Joe Jackson signatures sold in his auctions are not attributed to him.

Just publish the names of the consignors from those sales made years ago.

Of course you have made public that you will not make refunds based on bogus autographs that you have sold because according to you, you are no longer in the business.  Now, "The Father of the Worthless

Herman Darvick was let go from his job at two different autograph companies.

Herman Darvick no longer honors his Lifetime Guarantee to all those who purchased bogus autographs from Herman Darvick.

Many emails from very unhappy collectors are in the files regarding Darvick selling bogus autographs, not refunding and even claiming he never sold the autograph.

Now Darvick left on his own is trying to find those who know little about him to consign autographs to him.  This is exactly what an autograph group says about Herman Darvick.

Read carefully, "failure to pay a member monies owed from a sale".  "..Failing to return unsold items to the same member.."

This is not a one time example, there are plenty more just like it.  Herman Darvick needs your items....learn from the past!

My one and only interaction with UACC Hecht & NitBert was met with them closing ranks, threats of expulsion (like I gave a rat's ass) and diversionary tactics.  They couldn't even find the membership number - it might as well be a 2nd rate circus sideshow. While a not a fan of UACC leadership; may the road rise to meet you Hecht on your new journey. 

It is with great sadness that I tell you that our president and one of my best friends Michael Hecht has passed away after a long illness. Mike fought a brave battle and never let you feel sorry for him which sums up why he had so many friends. I knew Mike for over 30 years. We talked regularly and emailed a lot. He was the best a man could aspire and will be missed by many.
Al Wittnebert
UACC

Prosecutors say hundreds of victims bought fake autographs, complete with phony certificates of authenticty on eBay between 2010 and 2015. Clifton Panezich, 30, appeared before a judge in Ohio Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. According to local media reports, he pleaded guilty to aggravated theft, identity fraud, telecommunications fraud, money laundering, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and three counts of forgery with a forfeiture specification.

hopefully, at sentencing it's not a slap on the wrist.  Now, I wonder about those buyers of the fakes.

Panezich pleads guilty

Beckett launches authentication services

The new company, Beckett Authentication Services, is immediately positioned as a leader in the $500 million authentic autograph industry. Led by Grad and authenticator Brian Sobrero.

BAS is accepting online submissions effective today at the Beckett Authentication Services website.

Boston Globe article cites US Marshalls office conducting an auction of seized Bulger Items

The proceeds of the auction, being held by the US Marshals Service, will be distributed among the families of 20 people Bulger and his crew were accused of killing, and several of Bulger’s extortion victims.

Bidding will start at 10 a.m. on June 25 at the South Boston convention center, which is offering free admission and holds up to 1,000 people. A Texas auction house, Gaston & Sheehan , will offer a simulcast auction online. Organizers hope to stage the auction room to resemble the layout of the two-bedroom apartment where Bulger and Greig lived.

On June 24, the day before the auction officially opens, the public is invited to wander through a 9,000 square-foot room at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, where hundreds of items seized from the Santa Monica, Calif., apartment Bulger and Catherine Greig shared as fugitives — along with items recovered from a London safe deposit box and f