Take anonymous complaints or complaints from people using fictitious names with a grain of salt. Whenever possible, ask a reputable dealer or experienced collector for an opinion on the autograph you're considering, and even better, other autographs the seller is offering. There are very few genuine dealers who are not UACC members, but there are many unscrupulous sellers who make the claim that being a member of the UACC proves nothing and so refuse to join. Start with buying from reputable dealers. Finally, real Goebel-made Hummels use a specific color palette defined by Maria Innocentia herself. COA's. For example, some dealers do not accept 3rd party authentication. Since a seller of autograph forgeries can't honestly defend their products, the result is often vehement, personal attacks against those who question them. He has had a deal with Upper Deck for more than a decade. The point is to look for a pattern of behavior. Value: Cut Signature - $125, High-Grade Signed Baseball - $350. For example, one website that sells autographed movie posters always have plenty of Godfather signed posters, even including Marlon Brando's autograph. In particular, many forgers and unethical dealers have used online review to silence or retaliate against anyone who speaks out against them. As you read through these warning signs, you will realize most of these signs apply to, Many suspect dealers have an abundant supply of highly scarce items. Like. Information. Covid Policy, TRUE LEGACY For a good starting point, reference this Hummel Figurine Guide, but note that prices can vary widely depending on certain factors. Facebook But I guess, how high can the risk be through these supposedly "legit" retailers? Like Jordan, Woods and Gretzky, LeBron James currently has an exclusive deal with Upper Deck. What to look for in a dealers presentation, reputation and behavior that may be a red flag that something isn't right. For example, an opinion from one dealer may tick off another reputable dealer and result in a hostile reaction. . Best condition possible (considering above etc.)? Does it have any location stated at all? If a certain sportsman's autograph is going for $500 on several eBay items, but a memorabilia dealer is offering his autographed items for $200, something's fishy. Just in case you are one of those who are only going to read the first few paragraph's, here are the facts on COA's. Sometimes, its just another factory control number. Finally, every genre of collecting or investment has risks (none more than the stock market!). I don't know the answer but would like to hear what others think. I don't know anything about the others. I can across bit I wrote that might be a good counterpoint after locating a source. For obvious reasons, suspicious sellers have an aversion to reputable independent authentication. For obvious reasons, suspicious sellers have an aversion to reputable independent authentication. Copies frequently use cheaper materials like chalk, plaster, or even plastic. Most auction companies organize collectible auctions, advertised to networks of knowledgeable collectors and traders. Speculation and mystery always bear a good price. Look closely again at the one above and you'll begin to see many more flaws than you did before. Why? It the item is too big? If in any doubt use my 'quick opinion' service to find out what is real or not.Most of the forgers tend to concentrate on the current big names, so whatever the latest big film or TV show is, then they will probably have a stack of stuff available, and often at a low start price too. It does not cost anything to monitor signatures at auction and see what has which papers and what actually sells with or without. The Goebel company carefully controls the production process in order to ensure that a Hummel figurine made in 2010 is exactly the same as one made in 1950. Condition Obviously any damage, scratches, fading, etc will reduce the figurines value. I have seen dealers on eBay (and other sites) selling his autograph for $49 and sometimes with the 'make an offer' option on top of that ridiculous price. At the same time, the sometimes volatile competence of 3rdparty authenticators is a legitimate debate that will live on, hopefully for the betterment of the industry. Don't take risks with your money, if an item seems too good to be true, then you can be pretty damn sure that its a fake, if in doubt, then don't! You can go to UACC.ORG to see the directory of active UACC Registered Dealers. But what is. Here are some of the most valuable Hummel figurines on the market. This does not help identify someone who is still selling fakes on eBay, but is another check and balance. I am trying to authenticate a few autographs and I have lost faith in psa they just ripped you off. Nobody can prove who really produced the Beswick figurines, but this is the magic of the collector market. And most, if not all of the time a suspicious autograph seller will have more than one conflict within these guidelines/examples.. Their ranking on the last list is also noted in parentheses. Some websites post fake testimonials which usually have some initials and very generic info like a state. If you are a member of the UACC Registered Dealer Program and they find that you are knowing selling fake autographs, you will be banned. Ask the sellerif you can check out their eBay autographs for sale if you're not dealing with them there. This is the safest place to look for real pieces. Agree 100%. Study the example below: In this image you see a PSA/DNA Certified genuine Frank Sinatra at the top and a blatant forgery on the bottom. If a certain sportsmans autograph is going for $500 on several eBay items, but a memorabilia dealer is offering his autographed items for $200, somethings fishy. Oftentimes, however, forgers will use modern fountain pens to create a signature that looks vintage. If it's an autograph being auctioned, you can ask PSA/DNA for a Quick Opinion. I Google for other things, not additional opinions and claims from faceless folk. selling David Beckham etc signed items which he claims to have got in person! To check their sales simply go to the left hand column and tick the SOLD box, and hey presto you will then see a full list of their past sales. Hummel agreed, reserving the right to choose the official color palette and approve every single figurine. While there's no shortage of authentic autographs from any of the trio, they're popularity has led to a lot of fakes on the market as well. Decoration designator usually appended after the HUM/size number and painted or stamped. These fake Verleihungsliste are so common that they have been assumed to be authentic with CoAs by people with no expertise in the field of wartime autographs. Thus today, both the Dubler figurines and the Beswick figurines are much sought after collector items, even though they are not authentic Hummel figurines. Autograph Live: How to use our Musician-Direct Autograph Sales Forum. Facebook. I am relatively new to this autograph game but, I know that PSA/DNA, JSA are the top COA's (I haven't read about scandals). Some of the early models (tmk-1, tmk-2, and tmk-3) are among the highest-priced Hummel figurines ever. Virtually all credible authenticators and dealerswho have rejected fakes or exposed fake sellers have phony complaints, Steve Vai - Where The Wild Things Are DVD. There was a mountain of paper work. As you know Paige played exhibition ball with the Trotters in the early 1950s and again in the mid 1960s. What Is An Estate Sale (And How Do They Work?). If they only spent as much time removing the sometimes very obvious fraudsters from the site, and stopped creating more and more rules for sellers and obstacles for buyers, then perhaps they would have a site that would do more business and have many more satisfied customers, but then when have eBay ever listened to their customers? But they are the best autograph-related organization that I know of that does take action against members that they find selling forgeries. I use bidnapper.com but there are plenty of others. This is a complex scene with a number of characters and small details. Excellent material to the right seller needs no papers. Many historic autograph dealers rarely use third-party authenticators, and some of dealers in entertainment autographs don't use them that much, but virtually all will give you a refund under the terms of their guarantee if the autograph fails an authenticator respected by the industry. There were some names that thrust into the top ten since the last time we generated this report, like Neil Armstrong and Derek Jeter, and others that fell off the list, like LeBron James. Also consider this, why is a man in Rumania, Spain, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Australia or even Singapore! When shopping for an autograph of the Great One, Upper Deck Authenticated items may be your safest bet as he's been with the company for a long time. Hummel and either Herbert Dubler, Inc. or Ars Sacra incised onto the base of the figurines. Bigger models tend to be valued at higher prices. The point is to look for a pattern of behavior. Although a particular behavioral element may not always indicate dishonest intentions, there have been countless scenarios in my long collecting life that such behaviors have been consistent with suspicious autograph sellers. This time around, PSA has grouped three of baseball's biggest stars and prolific signers together. September 6, 2021 By Rich Mueller. For instance, it can be easy to forge signatures on easy to create mediums such as photos, programs, books and pieces of paper. The natural characteristics of. If the dealer can get such a rare autograph quickly, it's probably being made to order. By that time, Dr. Herbert Dubler and Ars Sacra had already established a New York-based distribution company. 0 Comments 0 Likes, 2023 Created by Steve Cyrkin, Admin. Today, are versatile and universally loved accessories that can add polish and pizzazz to any ensemble. Collectors.com | Most will try to convince you that industry-recognized third-party authentication services are not credible. Buy items that come authenticated from companies like PSA/DNA, JSA or Steiner -- companies with longstanding histories in the hobby. So if you Google my business name you will see a couple of his fake reviews about a fake John Hancock letter he says he bought from me. 100% customer satisfaction. Is the COA issued by the seller? Buyers are often concerned about leaving a negative feedback, so instead leave a negative comment as a positive feedback. There may be as many as 50 different figurines produced by Herbert Dubler Inc. Use the My Signature tool to create your unique signature. If advertised properly, the Hummel figurines can be the main selling point of the event and attract collectors who might buy other items as well. 9:30 - 5:30 Monday - Friday Size?Color cohesion? One popular tactic for sellers of vintage autograph forgeries is to buy old books and tear out the blank pages and use fountain pens to forge the signatures to give them a vintage appearance. For example, Donald Frangipani Frangipani certified fake signatures of all kinds, including presidential forgeries. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. You can see where the forger is tracing slowly at the beginning so the ink is applied heavily in the first few letters. Just wanted to add Autograph COA (ACOA) to this list. Demand Some figurines are just more popular than others, like Stormy Weather #71 and Merry Wanderer #7. When the Nazi regime came into power, all religious schools, including the Sisters of Siessen, were closed down. A real Madonna is a very rare thing indeed (ask any genuine dealer! Here are the most popular ways you can sell your Hummel figurines: A good way to liquidate the value of your Hummel figurine is to sell it at an auction. If a seller can't show you his eBay account, there is a possibility that the seller has been banned by eBay for selling forgeries, or for other fraudulent activity. Don't miss any updates or promotions, sign up to our newsletter today. I think what they meant was, it warned too many people about the problems of buying on eBay! Ten years ago when forgers were even more prolific on eBay than they are today, you could often look at their other items for sale and notice a fishy similarity to their autographs. There is one seller on eBay right now that claims to be a leading light in the "in person" autograph collecting field, but ask any of the well known in person autograph collectors, and they will all tell you they have never heard of him! Check out the lists of who's not allowed on eBay and other who should be on the list. 0 Likes, by Matteo Chinellato If I buy something online, say from a "legitimate" retailer (sportsmemorabilia, pristine auction, fantatics). Demand for his signature transcends the sport. One such instance is the use of secretaries and paid assistants over the years. This does not help identify someone who is. In 1940, Germany stopped sending products for Dubler to sell. CLIENTS If your figurine is made out of plastic, its not a genuine Hummel. It looks like you're new here. Goebel decided to render Hummels drawings as porcelain figurines. Value: Cut Signature - $3,500, High-Grade Signed Baseball - $75,000. Box 1691 Lyle, I have several baseballs,that were gave to me after a persons deathI have no coas,but I need them re-gradedhelp please.thanks. Joe DiMaggio: Baseball - $300. Cross-referencing the HUM number online will easily tell you the name of the figurine and give you additional information about it. Rarity Some Hummels were manufactured for decades, others were limited edition or special series. Check the category its listed in, read the wording carefully and check the feedback, others may have spotted the truth!