Jeter should have given fan big check for 3,000th hit

Phil Mushnick wrote an interesting article in the NY Post.

Jeter should have given fan big check for 3,000th hit - NYPOST.com

Jeter will probably make more in one month than Christian Lopez will make in his lifetime. Should he have accepted the ball for free? What say you?

Neil Armstrong: Still not signing autographs

Here's an interview with UACC Vice President, Anthony Pizzitola regarding Neil Armstrong's autograph policy. Kudos to Anthony for getting a great interview to plug the UACC Study, Neil Armstrong: The Quest for His Autograph.

Two of the images used in the graphics are items from my collection!

Spotting Real Armstrong in Sea of Phonies: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

James Arness, 1923 - 2011

Gunsmoke is still one of my all-time favorite shows --  a gritty morality tale centered around an iconic American pillar of strength, fortitude and ethics.

Thanks for many, many hours of great entertainment, Mr. Arness.

To a real saddle bum...

Get out of Dodge...

New UACC Signature Study - Neil Armstrong: The Quest for His Autograph

The UACC has released a comprehensive new signature study on Neil Armstrong. Run -- don't walk -- to get your copy today at Amazon.com.

I will first admit that I am not completely unbiased as I contributed one chapter to this study.

The study -- commissioned by the Universal Autograph Collectors' Club (UACC) - is quite comprehensive and includes contributions from a wide range of respected figures in the autograph collecting hobby. It has a multitude of authentic signature examples and will be helpful to any collector looking to learn, authenticate or purchase a Neil Armstrong autograph. It also includes a good deal of narrative and biographical information on Armstrong.

And it is a real "book," not a flimsy pamphlet. I highly recommend this as it belongs on the reference shelf of any serious space or autograph collector.

Charlton Heston signature study update

Top: Obtained through-the-mail
Bottom: Obtained in-person by Mike Sibley in 1999

I've updated my previous study with a few reputable in-person signed photographs obtained by UK collector, Mike Sibley. Thanks to Mike for helping me round out the study.

To date, there has not been any credible evidence of an in-person signature that clearly matches what I have proposed is the secretarial style.

I suspect there will always be a few who do not agree with the theory for various reasons, however, I believe the collecting community in general has accepted these findings. The evidence is pretty stark.

Mickey Mantle signed ball: A minor grail obtained

For the past 10 years or so, I've been under the impression that I had two signed Mickey Mantle photos in my collection. Unfortunately, I recently learned they are both fakes. Well executed and deceptive fakes, but forgeries none-the-less.

Thankfully, one was purchased from a reputable dealer who issued a refund 10 years later!

So, I used the money from the refund, plus a little more, and obtained an undoubtably authentic Mantle signed baseball.

Although, this time around, I didn't wait 10 years to get it authenticated! Top-notch authenticator Richard Simon gave the ball a thumbs-up.

Famous 500 Home Run sheet with fake Babe Ruth

HaulsOfShame.com - Recommended Link

Here is a fascinating analysis of so-called super-collector Barry Halper's 500 Home Run signed sheet. It appears the Babe Ruth and Jimmy Foxx signatures may be fakes.

In recent years, many items in Halper's legendary collection have been revealed to be fakes, including material he sold to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Due to conflicting accounts from Halper himself, some have speculated that Halper was not unwitting and must have known some items were fakes. In death, Halper has gone from super-collector to possible super-scammer.

On the 500 home run page, it's interesting -- yet not surprising -- that Willie Mays signed over a portion of Ruth's [supposed] signature.

GAI Mantle, Williams, DiMaggio, Mays & Jeter Forgeries on eBay

Another informative video from the forgery terminator, TomTresh2.

The Ol' Perfesser

I am very happy to add this Casey Stengel HOF Plaque to my collection.

As he occasionally did, Casey also signed and inscribed a short message on the back of the card.

Nothing like two signatures for the price of one!

And now, the real deal...

Perhaps it's time for something a bit more positive. I was happy to add these absolutely authentic Charlton Heston signed photos to my collection.

This is a rather unique photo, and probably an uncommon dual signed photo. Almost all the Heston + Harrison photos I've seen have the secretarial Heston --including one from my collection previously. Here's the real deal.

And two signed photos from the only [known] private signing conducted with Mr. Heston.

More Chuck Heston

While we are on the subject of Charlton Heston, here is an interesting signed copy of Beijing Diary, apparently signed by Charlton and Lydia Heston. This is the only example I have ever seen signed as "Chuck."

Beijing Diary signed as "Chuck"

James Spence Authentication (JSA) on Heston Secretarial Signatures

After reviewing my Charlton Heston signature study, James Spence has informed me that JSA is updating their files to recognize the secretarial style.

Kudos to JSA for their friendly and professional response.