about Autograph Authenticity
A message about Autograph Forgery from Brad Byrne
I have over a decade of experience obtaining in-person authentic autographs. As you can see throughout HoundsTV.com I have been featured in the press and TV documentaries that address the many aspects of the autograph business. I wanted to address you personally about one particularily disturbing aspect of the memorabilia industry - autograph forgery.
My staff and I work very hard to sell only real autographs. I personally ensure where and when each of our items was signed. We call that “In-person” and it means we witness the item being signed and can give you an exact location as well, the circumstances surrounding where and when the item was signed. B.B. Authenticated strives to document each of our celebrity encounters with photo or video evidence of encounter many of which can be found on HoundsTV.com
By providing proof of our celebrity meetings and only selling autographs that we witnessed being signed in-person, we separate ourselves from the many unscrupulous memorabilia dealers who are flooding the marketplace with blatant forged autographs. I have the opinion that if the person who sells autographs is not out on the streets getting signatures in-person, and cannot provide photographic proof and details of celebrity encounters - the autographs that person is selling are probably fake.
A recent investigation conducted by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office code-named “Operation Bullpen” stated: “The sports and celebrity memorabilia market in the United States is approximately one billion dollars per year. Industry experts estimate that upwards of 50% (and perhaps as much as 90%) of the items comprising this market are counterfeit.” The report went on to say: “If the price is too good to be true, it is probably a fake.”
From my ten years of experience collecting autographs. I know that celebrity autographs are not easy to obtain and when they are obtained, it is in extremely limited quantities. The high selling prices commanded by these items reflect and compensate for the difficulty in obtaining these signatures in-person directly from the personalities.
Do not be fooled by sellers that offer you a money back guarantee or a Certificate of Authenticity guaranteeing the autograph to be genuine. These are just gimmicks put in place to try and convince you that what they are selling is real. Dealers who sell fake autographs have no intention to give your money back, mainly because they know you will rarely question the autographs authenticity. Do not think that just because autographs are being sold in credible places like an upscale mall, golf course or even in shops connected to classy hotels (Las Vegas comes to mind here) that what the store is selling is authentic. Many of these outfits move from location to location and stay as long as it takes for them to be found out. Once they inevitably are, they pack up and move to a new unsuspecting location.
Perhaps after reading the above information you are concerned with purchasing autographs. That’s good. As a buyer you should be very concerned with the current state of the autograph market. It breaks my heart to say that most autographs sold in today’s market are probably fake.
You should always question the authenticity of any product that you see for sale - ask the seller where, when and who got the item signed. Can they show some sort of photographic evidence of the item being signed? (and I am not talking about just ANY item being signed, BUT THE ITEM YOU SEE FOR SALE.) Can they demonstrate evidence of the meeting by providing you a picture of the celebrity with that particular autograph dealer. If the seller hesitates or can’t answer any of these questions then you should certainly question the authenticity of that autograph.
At B.B. Authenticated we believe that all customers should be informed and educated with the facts about the autograph industry, whether you choose to buy your memorabilia through us or another company.
If you should have any further questions or concerns about autograph authenticity please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Brad Byrne
