JSA-James Spence. Autograph Industry Embarrassment

What else can you call this guy who has embarrassed himself through PSA/DNA and continues under his own name telling everyone to "follow the leader." Spence has got to be delusional. This self-proclaimed "leader" will help fill your collection with fake autographs or tell you your genuine autographs are fake. He has taken rubber stamped and preprinted signatures and issued his worthless COA stating the item is genuine. What else can you expect from someone impersonating an autograph authenticator?

Spence has made a fool of himself at shows authenticating forged signatures as genuine of a celebrity who was attending the same show as an autograph guest.

A popular item sold on eBay was the taped interview of Spence on Fox News where Spence authenticated as genuine signatures that were specifically forged for Spence to examine.

Another ridiculous situation, James Spence is one of eBay’s authenticators. The above mentioned tape was eventually pulled from being sold by eBay. It was one heck of an embarrassment. With Spence and PSADNA being authenticators for eBay it’s no surprise why so many bad autographs are being sold as genuine on eBay. Not to mention that good autographs are being taken down. These authenticating imposters just don’t know. We can assure you that eBay is very much aware of this autograph authenticating mess. Many are calling these authenticating companies, scams!

If anything imaginable could go wrong authenticating autographs at James Spence Authentication, you can be assured it has many times over. Do you want another reason to avoid anything that comes with a James Spence Authentication?

Go to eBay, item number 220555250928. B-E Collecibles is offering a Chris Short Single signed baseball. B-E Collectibles states in their description that a Certificate of Authenticity is included from reputable JSA". Now, where did B-E hear that JSA was reputable? We have to believe they know better but this is just one more reason to avoid doing business with any seller who sells something authenticated by one of the companies who claims they can authenticate autographs. This ball got 8 bids from 5 uneducated bidders. It sold for $145.50.




A Gary Sheffield Signed Baseball That was
James Spence (JSA) Authenticated as Chris Short Signed Baseball



"Follow the Leader, James Spence" to the bottom of the autograph barrel. Spence at a minimum needs to be tarred and feathered before fleeing this hobby. Whatever happened when an inexperienced authenticator got it wrong by saying a forged autograph was genuine and issued their worthless COA. Just as often, these simpletons failed genuine autographs. It appears those were the good ole days. Let’s "Follow the Leader" to a new lower level. The signature on the ball illustrated above is NOT of Chris Short. It is the fairly common signature of Gary Sheffield. James Spence you hit rock bottom and need to find another vocation. The hobby needs to rid themselves of these quasi-authenticators.

In future B-E Collectibles sales., will they still use James Spence Authentication and state "included from reputable JSA"?

Most card shops and shows that have James Spence Authenticating are well aware of his authenticating incompetence. It’s all about making a buck and these business need to be avoided. They are all contributing to having a continuous flow of mis-authenticated items enter collections.

The hobby is still attempting to self police itself. Collectors need to avoid all shops, shows and the few auction houses left that use these wannabe autograph authenticators!!

Come on Upper Deck!!! Really?

LOOK AT WHAT UPPER DECK DID TO THIS SIGNATURE

Just look at the Maris autograph on this card. I would never offer this type of autograph to my customers. Parts of letters missing all over the Maris autograph and you can have it for only $20,000 on ebay (or make an offer). This is something the card companies have done to create chase cards. Obliterating autographs seems to be a fun thing for them to do. This really should not happen. Even Beckett has criticized the card manufacturers for this practice with this statement: "Many auto cuts of late have been mis-cut, not fitting on the card, and simply, not of top quality presentation." This is a wonderful comment by Beckett on the sad state of these cards. I don't know of any serious autograph collectors who buy these obliterated cards.

News in the Authentication World!

Lawsuit Claims Heritage Auction Galleries Uses Fake Bidder to Manipulate Auctions

An interesting story about one of the largest auction houses in the country, a company that has very large sports auctions. Click the link to read about Heritage Auctions and alleged shill bidding. http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/09/lawsuit_claims_heritage_auctio.php

Beware of single signed baseballs, now more than ever before

A few different sellers are now selling forged single signed "autograph" baseballs on ebay. The quality of most of these forgeries is poor. The sellers are selling them as "replica" baseballs, but the novice collector should be especially careful now when buying single signed baseballs. When buying single signed baseballs (or any autographs) KNOW YOUR SELLER, know that he is a hobby veteran, know that he will honor a lifetime guarantee and that he will stand behind his autographs.

History destroyed by Topps

The trend of card companies placing signatures on trading cards has hit a new low. Even the Beckett Company has made negative comments about what card companies have done on these cards.
In order to make these cards more "valuable", and I use that term valuable in a very derogatory fashion, they place a signature on a trading card and number it 1/1,2/15, 3/1000, etc.

Observe the card illustrated below and see what Topps has done. The signature of Andrew Jackson, a great American President, has been obliterated for the purpose of creating a trading card that is allegedly more "valuable" than his regular signature. Let's look at the facts here. Andrew Jackson always signed his name on one straight line. This signature was cut from a document and then cut in half in order to place it on this card. In addition, note how parts of some of the letters have been destroyed. All for the sake of creating "rare, manufactured memorabilia". In my opinion, this is a pitiful and pathetic practice, you should be ashamed of yourself Topps. This card has appeared on ebay at least twice, the seller has reduced his price, and it has not sold.


American Memorabilia still not paying

It appears that complaints against American Memorabilia are piling up on various internet sites. They still, apparently, are late paying their consignors or in some instances have not paid at all. Various websites and blogs are reporting this. I don't have first hand knowledge of this, but I am seeing reports on websites and blogs. Apparently threats to report them to the BBB or take them to court don't even work anymore. The rating of American Memorabilia with the Better Business Bureau is now an F as of 12/7/09. That is the worst possible grade from the BBB. As of 1/20/10 the grade has been raised to a D+. That is still a pretty awful grade to have from the BBB. I have received several e mails from collectors who have read my info and still are waiting for payment from American Memorabilia for past auctions.

What to beware of on ebay

I am seeing many fake certificates of authenticity on ebay used by sellers of fake autographs. Check out what you see very carefully in ebay auctions. Make sure you get the number of the COA and check the legitimacy of it. Make sure the COA has a name, address and phone number of the person/company that is authenticating the item.

Mastronet still owes consignors from February auction.

Blogs and forums on the Internet are still running threads and posts from nervous and angry consignors who have not been paid for their consignments from the February auction by Mastronet. An auction house that was quick to criticize others is now under intense scrutiny and has created a very difficult situation for many who are still owed serious amounts of money. What goes around comes around.


What is going on here with Mastro/Legendary auctions?

It is now apparent that the reshuffling of Mastro Auctions into another entity Legendary Auctions has created a very unhappy situation for many consignors to Mastro. Forums on the internet have been flooded with complaints from consignors who have not been paid for their consignments. Rumors abound about their business practices. Have they shipped auction lots to winning bidders without being paid? Are they financially capable of paying off consignors? I guess what goes around comes around.

BE CAREFUL!!

With the death of Michael Jackson, the hobby will be flooded with bogus Jackson autographs, especially on internet sites. BE CAREFUL who you buy from.


American Memorabilia update

The Las Vegas auction company American Memorabilia now has a grade of F from the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada. Consignors are posting messages on forums and message boards stating their complaints against this company.

New World Record Set!

World Records Eclipsed During $4.2 Million Heritage Auctions Sports Sale

Babe Ruth, “Pistol Pete” Maravich continue to rewrite record books with huge prices realized

DALLAS, TX -- A Babe Ruth game used bat, dating to the Boston Red Sox' 1918 World Series winning season – arguably the most important bat from baseball's most iconic player - realized $537,750 at Heritage Auctions Oct. 1-2 Signature® Sports Memorabilia Auction. The auction totaled just more than $4.2 million. All prices include 19.5% Buyer's Premium.

"It’s a testament to what happens when you bring the hobby’s best collectibles to the industry’s largest bidding clientele," said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports at Heritage Auctions. "Heritage is able to set new records in every auction because nobody is more aggressive than we are in seeking out bidders willing and able to pay top dollar for special pieces."

The Babe Ruth bat, used by the iconic slugger during the Boston Red Sox’ historic 1918 World Championship season and later returned to the Louisville Slugger factory to be used as a template for future Ruth lumber, became just the second to summit the half-million dollar mark at auction, and is topped only by the model used to club the first home run in Yankee Stadium history on April 18, 1923.

"It’s also worthy of note that the 1923 Yankee Stadium bat was beautifully autographed," said Heritage Auctions' Ivy, "which would give our bat the distinction of holding the World’s Record for the highest price ever paid for an unsigned Ruth gamer."

Much of the pre-auction media coverage focused on a trove of Lenny Dykstra memorabilia, consigned by Beverly Hills, CA "Pawnbroker to the Rich & Famous" Yossi Dina, when the troubled slugger and one-time "financial genius" failed to redeem a ticket at Dina's place of business. As in his playing days, "Nails" didn't disappoint, as his lots were the subject of intense bidding resulting in more than $160,000 realized for 11 lots. It was Dykstra's 1986 New York Mets Championship ring that brought the highest price and the fiercest competition, tripling the pre-auction low estimate by bringing $56,762.

More than 20 years after the sudden and tragic passing of Basketball Hall of Famer “Pistol Pete” Maravich, the beloved cult hero continues to rewrite the record book, eclipsing two longstanding marks for top auction prices realized. Most notable is the ball with which Maravich netted his 68th point during the most dominating performance of his professional career on February 25, 1977.

“The auction result of $131,450 sets a World’s Record as the highest price ever paid at auction for a game used basketball,” said Ivy.

Maravich’s presence on a basketball signed at the 1987 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was also the key to establishing the new world record price on an autographed basketball, $20,315, which exceeded the pre-auction low estimate by a multiple of 10.

The trading card portion of the auction, which closed Thursday Oct. 1 in an Extended Bidding format, carried the auction almost to the midway point of its final tally, with strong showings across all disciplines of tobacco, candy and bubble gum cards, both sports and otherwise.

“The most noteworthy result was arguably the $77,675 result realized for a PSA VG 3 example of the rare T206 Eddie Plank card, a figure well in excess of those achieved for every VG-EX 4 and EX 5 specimen sold by Heritage Auctions' major competitors over the past five years. The same $77,675 figure was garnered by another profound rarity of the T206 set, the coveted Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb Back, exceeding the result of another Fair 1.5 example realized by a top competitor in 2008 by more than $10,000.
Let us know what you think!!