Carrie Fisher - May the Force be with you.

This is a post that is being done decades before its time. A very sad and premature passing.

Buying a short period after a celebrity's death is always a bad idea. Prices are over-inflated and a ton of fakes flood the market. In particular, Carrie Fisher used a secretary for mail requests, so that comes into play as well. As always, do your homework and caveat emptor.

Authentic Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill signed photo. Signed through Official Pix.

Thank you Carrie Fisher for all of your great work. You will be missed.

Removed dedication on baseball. Not looking good.

Almost a year and a half ago, I wrote about signature/dedication removal on baseballs. The signatures or dedications are not actually removed, rather, they are "painted" over by matching color and airbrushing. At the time, I wondered what would happen as the ball continued to age, but the paint stayed white? Would it look like white paint spots on a toned ball?

One thing I did not consider is that baseballs can expand and contract with humidity. Even a fractional change in size could theoretically crack the paint.

I think I found an example of what the "paint job" looks like when a ball has been expanding and contracting. Or maybe the paint wasn't mixed or applied properly.

Either way, it's a mess. And, it should cause anyone to think twice about dedication/extra signature removal.

Joe DiMaggio signed baseball with dedication airbrushed over. Note the white overspray on the red stitches.

Collecting Tip: Avoid Dented Cans

If an item is readily available in good condition, don't buy one with condition issues unless it is at a very steep discount.

Condition issues become less problematic when it is a rare or high cost item. For example, a stain won't hurt a Babe Ruth signed ball badly, but it’ll decimate the desirability of a Mantle signed baseball.

If an item is easily available in excellent condition, forget about the “dented cans.”

Derek Jeter signed baseball

20 years ago today, Derek Jeter hit his first major league homerun and thus began a dynasty that would win four World Series over the next 5 seasons.

Where does the time go?

In my view, earlier Jeter signatures are much more appealing and desirable than the mass-produced signatures through Steiner, which seem to have deteriorated over the past few years.

Derek Jeter signed baseball

Harper Lee autographed photo

Harper Lee (1926-2016) signed photograph

Here is a fairly uncommon signed photograph... a Harper Lee autographed 8x10. I obtained this directly from Ms. Lee many years ago.

Harper Lee was a sporadic mail signer. I write her several times over the years with mixed success. I obtained a signed photo and a signed book. However, the last time I wrote I asked about the movie Capote in which she was portrayed... she refused my request sending back a terse few words scrawled on my request letter. I take it she did not like the movie or any attention it garnered.

Rest in peace, Harper Lee and thanks for a great book.

Abe Vigoda, 1921 - 2016

Farewell to a great actor and a good friend to autograph collectors.

Abe Vigoda signed photo as Detective Phil Fish