Some third party authentication companies will glance at your autographed memorbillia and instantly tell you it's not genuine, but not before charging you a huge fee to do so.
Make Sure You Do Not Fall Victim to Third Party Authentication Companies.
More and more autograph collectors and dealers are coming on board requesting Steve Grad of Beckett resign fror authenticating autographs. Mis-authenticated autographs by Steve Grad the senior authenticator at Beckett Authentication is beyond out of hand. The mistakes made by Grad seems unlimited and his ability to authenticate autographs seem to be a scam.
Most of the persons who claim they can authenticate autographs base their fees on the value of the autograph. Guess who determines the value? The person/company who does the so-called authenticting.
The following example was sent in by a concerned autograph collector/dealer.
George Harrison, one of the Beatles, is a very popular signature that is collected world-wide. Over the decades, there seems to be an unlimited amount of his autogarphs that have been offered for sale. Problem is many of the autographs offered for sale, especially on ebay are not genuine.
The following signed photograph of George Harrisson was sent to a few dealers who are members of "PADAH" (Preferred Autograph Dealers & Auction Houses). it is so bad, not one experts thought this example was someone's joke but a very miserable error made by someone who should not be authenticating autographs. Two of the experts stated this is the worst forgery of Gorge Harrison's signature they have ever seen.
We don't know what the person paid for this "signed" photograph, but it is also a damn shame what they paid for the authentication. Many collectors who experience this quality of authentication from rascals, have left the hobby. Ask any person who sells autographs and they will tell you the maket is in shambles. Many believe if serious autograph collecting stays alive, it may take decades for the need of aurthenticating scamers to be licensed.
In the meantime, these incidents will continue to occur unless ignorant collectors avoid supporting these authenticating services and deal with professional autograph dealers who offer a guarantee and issue a properly filled out bill of sale. Your ONLY legal document, The COA's like the one issued above are nothing less that someone's opinion. A judge once said you can even have a parrot give an opinion!
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