tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60336452024-03-14T05:17:38.934-04:00Steve Zarelli presents: The Collecting ObsessionMusings about autographs, comic books and other neat stuff.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.comBlogger485125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-73698290130093095852019-03-19T12:10:00.000-04:002019-03-19T12:10:22.227-04:00Can you prevent stains and spots on your autographed baseballs?
Staining that is not the result of handling or storage.
I was recently looking through my autographed baseballs;
mostly obtained in-person in the 1990s and early 2000s. They are all Rawlings Official
American League, National League or Major League Baseballs.
I am well are of proper storage conditions and they have
been stored in archival cubes in a cool, dry closet since they day they Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-51382896970026262992018-03-13T14:54:00.000-04:002018-03-13T14:54:36.909-04:00How to remove cigarette smoke and musty smells from collectibles
If you are an avid collector, chances are, this has happened to you...
You finally find an item you've been looking for a long time. You count the days until it arrives. When it is delivered, you open the package in glorious anticipation... and then... UGH... it reeks of cigarette smoke or some other musty smell.
If it is a common item, you can return it. But, what about tough-to-find items Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-11561665169665589022017-11-07T13:15:00.000-05:002017-11-07T13:15:05.442-05:00The Quest for Neil Armstrong's AutographA few years old, but a good read. The Quest for #NeilArmstrong #Autographs https://t.co/ermIb2wnT6 #SpaceLOA.com— ๐ Steve Zarelli ๐ (@SteveZarelli) October 7, 2017
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-8520047990416847022017-11-05T14:00:00.000-05:002017-11-05T14:00:07.388-05:00Greg Marino: Watch a forger at workFascinating new interview with Greg Marino in which he demonstrates his forgeries. Fakes are obvious today.https://t.co/bownQP9wm2— ๐ Steve Zarelli ๐ (@SteveZarelli) October 14, 2017
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-85355926935034747432017-11-04T13:12:00.001-04:002017-11-04T13:12:24.109-04:00Poster signed by 30 astronauts sells for $25,640 @ RR AuctionVintage print signed by 30 #astronauts sells for $25,640! ๐ Wow @RRAuction #SpaceLOA #NASA #autographs pic.twitter.com/fKYUUl0vdv— ๐ Steve Zarelli ๐ (@SteveZarelli) October 20, 2017
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-13482078666281459562017-11-04T13:09:00.002-04:002017-11-04T13:09:47.807-04:00Fake Mickey Mantle autographs can sell for more than real!
Authentic #MickeyMantle signed baseball sells for $200. Dreadful #forgery sells for $370. ๐คข #DoYourHomework #Autographs @Yankees @MLB @ebay pic.twitter.com/cuSwgKOOrn
โ ๐ Steve Zarelli ๐ (@SteveZarelli) October 30, 2017
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-13179883036271525102017-07-21T10:06:00.001-04:002017-07-21T10:06:59.507-04:00Photobucket... the land of broken images
The Photobucket image sure to work its way into negative memes for years to come.
Photobucket recently announced that they will no longer allow third party hosting of their images unless you purchase the $399/year plan. What that means is, photos hosted by Photobucket but linked to other sites -- like blogs or chatboards -- will now have the "Upgrade your account" image unless the owner Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-22853901656996336012017-03-06T12:07:00.000-05:002017-03-06T12:07:41.893-05:00Donald Trump Autographs... be very careful!President Donald Trump autographs may be the hottest signature on the market right now, and also the most dangerous. His campaign trail scribbles are a forger's dream. It doesn't exactly take a master forger to imitate that style. My recommendation would be to focus on his older style signatures, which you have a reasonable chance to authenticate with some level of confidence.
To further Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-61913451544943714902016-12-27T17:47:00.000-05:002016-12-27T17:47:32.838-05:00Carrie 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 Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-90817118368296120392016-11-12T12:10:00.003-05:002016-11-12T12:10:54.274-05:00Removed 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 Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-33178218458179612002016-07-17T11:57:00.000-04:002016-07-17T11:57:23.024-04:00Collecting 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 itโll decimate the desirability of a Mantle signed
baseball.
If an item is easily available in
excellent Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-42848345243668320072016-04-02T16:01:00.000-04:002016-04-02T16:01:38.716-04:00Derek Jeter signed baseball20 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
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-76691349521379591912016-02-20T12:27:00.001-05:002016-02-20T12:27:14.043-05:00Harper 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 Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-72279664172142209672016-01-26T20:12:00.000-05:002016-01-26T20:12:12.454-05:00Abe Vigoda, 1921 - 2016Farewell to a great actor and a good friend to autograph collectors.
Abe Vigoda signed photo as Detective Phil Fish
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-61397006954384834622015-09-23T12:35:00.000-04:002015-09-23T12:35:11.487-04:00So long, Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra was truly a one-of-a-kind American icon. An all-time great baseball player as well as a World War II combat veteran. I had the privilege to meet Yogi a few times... my only regret is not getting a photograph with him.
Rest in peace, Yogi. You will be missed.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-5794573394977955672015-08-31T10:25:00.002-04:002015-08-31T10:25:47.310-04:00A fool and his money are soon parted$463.76 for a half of a Mickey Mantle signature on a manufactured 1 of 1 card. For this amount, you could buy three flawlessly signed Mantle 8x10s in mint condition and have money left over.
I always say "collect what you like," but this is truly mind boggling.
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-28526788455709871702015-07-06T19:21:00.000-04:002015-07-06T19:23:08.075-04:00Charlton Heston autographs... more fakes than ever on eBay
Every once in a while I must slow down and observe the car wreck that is Charlton Heston autographs on eBay. Four years after the Charlton Heston secretarial study, they still abound unabated. Of the first 25 listings, at least 13 are not authentic. That is a 52% fake rate.
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-72622708405578451122015-06-22T10:00:00.000-04:002015-06-22T10:00:01.006-04:00How to identify airbrushed signed baseballsThere are resources that will airbrush baseballs to remove personalizations or unwanted signatures to create a "single signed ball." It's important to note that the personalizations or unwanted signatures have not been removed, rather they have been skillfully painted over.
In most cases I have seen, the sellers do not disclose this type of work has been performed. The ethics of that is another Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-50373211684782911432015-06-10T09:36:00.000-04:002015-06-10T09:36:32.243-04:00Forger Greg Marino: Still bringing in the bucks
The FBI busted the Operation Bullpen forgery ring, including
the primary forger, Greg Marino, over 15 years ago. Yet his work still pollutes
the hobby today.
At the time, Marinoโs โMickey Mantlesโ were considered deceptive
fakes; but they are glaringly obvious by todayโs standard. Yet, fish are still
taking the bait.
Here is someone who spent $419.14 on a worthless Greg Marino Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-37476742591549806312015-06-02T18:32:00.000-04:002015-06-02T18:32:23.047-04:00The value of a descriptive auction listing titleHere is a Derek Jeter figurine from the Danbury Mint. A high quality statue that should got for $75 or more all day long.
And this is what happens when it is listed as "Derek Jeter Collectible" with no description on eBay. It sold for $14.82 shipped.
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-35931215833073859462015-03-28T15:06:00.000-04:002015-03-28T15:06:38.259-04:00James "Jimmy" Stewart: Autopen Signature Study
Common Jimmy Stewart Autopen on photo.
Matches pattern #1 below.
James Stewart was a willing through-the-mail signer for many years. However, after suffering medical problems in the 1990s, his office fulfilled mail requests with secretarial signatures and an Autopen machine.
The proxy signatures -- typically signed "James Stewart" -- are obvious to anyone with some familiarity with James Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-333972710830428122015-03-15T19:27:00.002-04:002015-03-15T19:27:20.966-04:00Star Wars: Julian Glover "General Veers" signed photoPleasing addition to my slowly growing Star Wars autograph collection: Julian Glover as "General Veers" from the recent Official Pix signing.
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-65486535845542912062015-03-05T20:42:00.001-05:002015-03-05T20:42:41.264-05:00Leonard Nimoy - Farewell to a friend of autograph collectors
Farewell, Mr. Nimoy and thank you for many years of great entertainment!
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-22139542850728800032015-01-27T19:07:00.000-05:002015-01-27T19:07:30.839-05:00Official Pix Harrison Ford Autographs: Fast sellout!
Official Pix conducted a private signing with Harrison Ford and offered signed 11x14s for $479.99. The inventory sold out in 4 minutes!
The one photo available was the pose of Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca. I tend to avoid group poses because they force you to complete it -- a task and additional expense I don't want -- or you end up with a piece that looks unfinished.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033645.post-9223062002625301882015-01-24T16:15:00.000-05:002015-01-24T16:15:17.174-05:00Ernie Banks: 1931 - 2015Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281484238091642848noreply@blogger.com0