EBay &
internet...
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It
is hard to find genuine autographs on EBay and similar auctions! Professionals
would agree that at least 80% are forgeries.
That means that 8 out
of 10 buyers / members of the public are purchasing worthless
items.
The
auction companies are raking in millions from autograph sales, so they have
little interest in attempting to solve the problem. Forgerys are such an
epidemic that they threaten the integrity of the whole hobby for us and future
generations.
EBay
has become a phenomenon with around 15000 autographed items for sale
everyday. These consist of 5000
supposedly certified, 2000 uncertified and 5000 preprints. 80 % at least of
these are fake.
Everyday
to give popular current artist examples there are around 250 Robbie Williams /
250 Madonna / 500 Harry potter / 500 Lord of the Rings; almost all are fake it
is really hard to find a genuine one!
Everyday
I am contacted by someone who has bought “a bargain” Bob Marley for £50 / Kurt
Cobain for £20 / Led Zeppelin for £50 / Jimi Hendrix for £50 / Pink Floyd for
£20 to give just a few examples.
Many of these are bought from the USA with
supposed DNA certification.
The best indication of a fake is always the price; the above
are all around 1/20th of the price of a real one. Inexperienced buyers must realise there
are now very few bargains about as all the professional dealers and collectors
are watching. “If it seems too
cheap there is an obvious reason why” |
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Stick to the following rules as a guide:
a) Do NOT buy on
internet auction sites unless you are an experienced autograph collector
b) Do NOT buy from
anybody with Private ID or using a PO BOX only with no other contact
details.
c) Do NOT buy from anybody
with a very low or negative feedback rating.
d) Do NOT be enticed
by sellers with all types of add ons. i.e.Gold Star Sellers / Power Sellers /
Member of this and that etc / Special Shops / enhanced displays etc. All these
are no contribution to the authenticity of a signature.
e) Sellers saying anything
like “15 years a roadie behind the scenes in the music industry”. “Obtained by
my recently deceased auntie” etc. should be avoided.
f) If a seller
states anywhere in the description “Obtained in person by our professional
hunters in the USA” or similar ask when and where and if there is supporting
evidence. Be aware that if photos are shown of a celebrity actually signing they
could have been printed off another website or used previously. Do not allow the
seller to offer to give this information only after the sale is completed.
g) View Sellers other items.
Always a very good indication. If the seller has many very desirable autographs
listed at low prices such as Marlon Brando / Madonna / Bob Marley etc. unless he
is a dealer of world recognition walk away. “Too good to be true” usually means
just that!
h) Do NOT buy any
multi signed items such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter unless they have
traceable provenance. These types of pieces are rarely authentic and much sought
after. “The Godfather signed by 8” at £29.99? Think about it!
i) Be aware that many signed
clothing items such as football shirts are not authentic. They are easy to forge
due to inconsistency of signature and who they actually are. Also many players
at major football clubs are instructed by the clubs not to sign for dealers
anyway.
j) There are very few bargains
out there. Professional dealers are watching, who know the values of items. If
you have won a signed Jimi Hendrix photo on EBay for £150 it is unlikely to be
genuine or a dealer would have bought it. If it seems cheap there is a reason
why!
k) Ask the seller
searching questions and do your own research if his answer is unconvincing.
l) Do NOT buy 90% of
the so called “prints” offered. In most cases the so called original is not
genuine.
m) Do NOT buy from sellers who
claim to have used American and DNA authentication companies. Many of these are
some of the worst forgeries out there with websites claiming extraordinary
things. Genuine authentication is available from only a handful of recognized
worldwide experts. It costs £50 upwards per item. How can a seller pay for
authentication on an autograph worth £20?
n) Certificates of
Authenticity. Read our section on this.
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