Post New News About Autographs

Why, this shouldn't shock the international autograph community?  Not long after the demise of Autograph Collector magazine and the scandal that shook the autograph hobby, Steve Cyrkin, the hobby's documented anti-semite, made room for someone to publish a quality magazine devoted to autograph collectors.

I was contacted by Kevin Martin asking me for my thoughts.  Martin was always looking for a way to get his name in print in a positive way.  His lawyer contacted me in an effort for Martin to purchase the very successful site www.autographalert.com

SEE EMAIL BELOW:

 The site wa so successful that there was no way that he could have his name and reputation associated with Autograph Alert.

This was in April 2013 and shortly after Kevin Martin contacted me with the idea of a new hobby magazine.  I gave him several suggestions including totally leaving all autograph politics a side. Also  with the idea of having informative educational articles and support from respected collectors and dealers it was just what the hobby needed.

Little did I know, Martin had a few ideas of his own that he kept as a secreat for awhile.  I found out that he was telling people that I introduced him to a person by the name of Samuel Xidas.  Xidas would be the owner of Autograph Quarterly. I never heard of a person by the name of Samuel Xidas

After a few successful magazines, Martin apparently felt he wanted to attach his name as the owner of the magazine.  It was at this time Kevin Martin told me the truth that there never was a Samuel Xidas and now that the magazine was growing Martin wanted to  tell the autograph world he is the new owner. BELOW, MARTIN IS STILL LYING TO ME ABOUT THE GHOST HE CREATED BY THE NAME OF SAMUEL XIDAS.

Below, additional proof that Kevin Martin made up the fake name and story.

Above is just another tall tale of a Kevin Martin creation telling Steve Cyrkin that Samuel Xidas exists, yet admitting to an autograph dealer that Xidas was in fact Kevin Martin.

What else is Kevin Martin involved in will be a study of his Certificates of Authenticity, where they contain a minimumof 22 different signatures. You'll learn what Martin has to say about them.

Kevin Martin has had a share of law suits.  In an email, Martin referes to his status. 

Here's another.....

 Apparently Kevin Martin didn't realize he lost the case. The follwoing is an email from Steve Cyrkin.

 

 

The following illustration is just one of the flyers created by Kevin Martin. It's purpose is to find uneducated autograph collectors and new comers to the autograph industry. It hpes to impress those who are not aware of Mr. Martin's long history in the hobby.

This is what Mr. Martin has to say about himself:

read paragraph two....more books than anyone else (total of five)

The following is just one example, there are others.

When the pressure is on Martin regarding his sale of a major forgery, his mind seems to go blank.  A collector having difficulty with Martin regarding the sale and was getting no where finally needs to file a complaint with a clubs ethics committee. The library's file for  this claim is 14 pages long.  Mr. Martin was asked about his sale of a forged "Diana" signature and this was his response about the purchaser.

The following is just page one of Leah Pappas complaint to an Ethics Committee of an autograph organization.

 As you can see, Martin, a self proclaimed expert in autographs, has been selling non-genuine autographs for many years.

Remember Martin's flyer:  "Today the market is crowded with so called "experts" with little or no experience that try to authenticate in all fields...but entertainment collectors know in the field of collectig entertainment one name stands alone....Piece of the Past Inc."

Next story, a few lawsuits involving Kevin Martin.

For decades the high profile company Piece of the Past operated by Kevin Martin now in Las Vegas has been closely watch by some concerend professional autograph dealers. Piece of the Past was on the radar of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2003. However, interest had to be dropped because of the FBI's resources had to be focused on terrrorist activities.

In 2004 an accomplished autograph dealer sent Kevin Martin a serious letter stating in part: ".....After almost 55 years in the Autograph Business, it is important for me to share some of my concerns with you...."  ''...Mike on the phone, he informed me that the Gregory Peck signed picture you sold to me had been resold as an authentic signed picture..."  "I returned the Peck signed picture because four well known autograph dealers had declared the Peck signed picture as not being authentic. The dealers did not know who had sold the picture to me.  If reselling this same picture is true, and Piece of the Past Auctions, Inc. is speaking ill of autograph dealers in generaLL, these acts will in no way improve the reputation....."  "Many moons ago you asked me if you should continue to sell autographs by catalog or go auction. I told you Be Honest-treat people with respect...."  This letter is in the files of the PADAH Library.

On numerous occasons Mr. Martin was asked for his purchase invoices regarding two questionable signatures he was selling. His response on Sep 1, 2022 was "No Steve I do not have invoices from the early to mid 1990's. No I didn't sign that COA...."  Mr. Martin is now admitting that one of his COA's IS NOT SIGNED BY HIM. Martin continues"...and my COA's even the short slips like that one ALL did in fact identify the item...."

If you read the above carefully Mr. Martin states he has no proof that he has purchased autographs that are now questioned as not genuine. Then where could they possibly have come from?

He also states that one of his COA's that was sent to him did not contain his genuine signature.  Then who is signing all of his COA's.

The mystery of what is going on at Piece of the Past coninues. above Martin stated: "and my COA's even the short slips like that one ALL did in fact identify the item..."

The above three issues alone make it diffficult to return a non genuine item!   SEE PROOF BELOW!  Illustrated below are just eight of many Piece of the Past COA's  that show different signatures of Mr. Martin. Not one of the many COA'S the PADAH library has on file indicate the identify of the item.

 Sure seems like Mr Martin is not telling the truth.

Moving along, the following two illustrations are what just some collectors have had to say about Piece of the Past.

NEXT:  What Kevin Martin has to say about himself and PROOF HE GETS CAUGHT IN A MAJOR LIE ABOUT SELLING A NON GENUINE AUTOGRAPH.