If you're worried about forged autographs, that's good, because you should be. With all of the legitimate possibilities available for dealers, I find it saddening and greatly disappointing that many organizations are short changing the public and insulting the industry with fraudulent paraphernalia and blatant forgeries.
Such practices harm the entire autograph industry by undermining the trust of collectors. The dishonest business practices of these organizations allow them to offer bargain-basement prices to the inexperienced and unwary collector.
I suggest that you NEVER buy anything from anyone whom sells an item by listing the sale with the "PRIVATE FEEDBACK" option. This is a tactic that some sellers are using to sell fraudulent items where they try and make you believe that they are only doing so to help protect the potential buyers' ebay ID and identity.
The true reason that they use the "PRIVATE FEEDBACK" is to hide. Would you bid on anything in a public auction if you could not see whom you were bidding against? If one is selling a genuine autograph, and if any recognized dealer was also bidding upon it, most definitely the final bidding price would be far much higher at auctions' end!!! Another reason for the private auction tactic is that conscientious autograph collectors cannot warn or be warned to place a bid retraction.
Many large companies with substantial advertising budgets say they buy autographs in mass quantities and disperse them to the public at wholesale prices. They have got to be kidding. I find these prices and quantities astounding considering the fact that most celebrities make it a habit to sign only one autograph per person. For a celebrity to sign two or three items at a time is a privilege and great accomplishment.
Do not rely at all on "COA's" as these are absolutely meaningless (THE UACC DOES NOT ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY AND DOES NOT ENDORSE THE USE OF CERTIFICATES) They aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Anyone with a printer can make a COA, and if they're going to forge an autograph, they won't hesitate to make a COA. Here is their response to a couple of questions about COA’s straight from
UACC’s Official Web Site:
Q. Are Certificates of Authenticity endorsed by the UACC?
A. The UACC has been very vocal about the fact that Certificates of Authenticity (COA's for short) are totally worthless. The UACC does not issue COA's, and always encourage collectors to get a signed receipt for merchandise, instead of a COA. Frankly, they aren't worth the paper that they are printed on. A COA is only as good as the dealer that has issued it. If you buy from a UACC Registered Dealer and get a receipt, you are following the correct procedure.
Q. I was looking at some items on Ebay, and I saw that an item came with a UACC Certificate of Authenticity. Is that possible?
A. No it is not. The UACC does not issue 'Certificates of Authenticity'. The person selling that item should immediately be reported to Ebay.
For future reference, Andy Griffith has NEVER attended any fan or reunion gathering. He did come to Mayberry Days in 2004 but did not meet with fans or sign autographs. The fact is he rarely signs anything anymore. Most of the authentic signed photos are not photos from the show but publicity shots and they are most always inscribed.
If you want to see what a real Andy Griffith signature looks like, CLICK HERE
To see examples of other Mayberry stars’ signatures, CLICK HERE
Buying autographs online is a tricky proposition. If you have a minute, please read this page. Remember, this is my opinion. I suggest you do some investigating and come to your own conclusions.
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