Opinion on qualites you want from authentication company

[David]

Beckett just started an autograph authenticating/entombing service and I'm the outside adviser. I don't handle or directly authenticate photos, but answer questions, give distance opinions look at scans, advise and write articles. I met with the Beckett staff in person, bringing with me a suitcase full of photos. Beckett is in Dallas and I live and work in Seattle.

I'm not buying or selling photos, as I understand many collectors don't want that. I'm not an active dealer or an auctioneer anyway, so it's not hard for me to stop.

One thing I'd like to note, however, is that to become an expert you have to physically handle tons of material. Unless you are extremely wealthy or have a skeleton key to a museum, the only way to handle and learn about the material is by dealing in it-- collecting, buying and selling it. Some of the most knowledgeable folks in the hobby are or were dealers or auctioneers-- Rob Lifson (REA), Lew Lipset (vintage baseball card guru, auctioneer and author of Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards), Mike Gutierrez (auctioneer, dealer and respected autograph expert). One reason these guys are so knowledgeable is that they handled so much material as dealers and auctioneers. They are also smart and inquisitive people who studied hard in their fields of expertise, sometimes even before their field were politely considered fields. Rob Lifson told me he long ago had the original paintings for the 1930s Diamond Stars baseball cards and he couldn't find anyone who wanted to buy them. The paintings are worth a small fortune today, but Rob was so far ahead of the curve there wasn't a buyer yet.

I'm happy to informally advise collectors on photos they are considering submitting to Beckett or not submitting to Beckett. Obviously there are limitations with looking at scans, but I can often give a good opinion from a scan and description and give a good guess how Beckett would label it.

There are reprinted, forged, misidentified and misdated photos, but they are bit more 'tangible' in that you don't have to judge game use. As with baseball bats, photos often have stamping and markings that help determine their age and authenticity. That's in part why much can be determined from a scan.

Thanks,
David @ www.cycleback.com

[David]

I made a big error in my fist sentence. It's a photograph authenticating service not autographs. I'm not offering opinions on autographs, please don't send scans of your Mother Teresa signed footballs or your Neil Armstrong signed moon rocks.

[vonbrandingo]

I made a big error in my fist sentence. It's a photograph authenticating service not autographs. I'm not offering opinions on autographs, please don't send scans of your Mother Teresa signed footballs or your Neil Armstrong signed moon rocks.

David, I sent you an email.

[Tay1038]

I'm working on a marketing plan for a fictional authentication company for my Masters. Wanted to get everyone's opinion on what you want in an ideal company. For example when declaring an item game used there must be a photomatch. Thanks alot

I would love to see a copy of your marketing plan when you're all finished. Drop me an email sometime!

Taylor
Tay1038@aol.com