Buying autographs on eBay?

[therorkstar]

I wasn't sure what forum this should be under, so mods, feel free to move it!

I'm working on a Star Wars main cast 8x10 collection, 2 of which I got in person and one that I got via mail. I'm looking in to picking up Harrison Ford next, but I'm a little wary of the authenticity:

Harrison Ford Star Wars Autograph 8x10 Photo | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/181750494955?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

From the seller:
No COA. Was acquired from a dealer. Thanks!

I guess there's a small chance like everything else. But even ones with COA's there's still a small chance that it couldn't be real. Even the biggest companies have put out fakes. The dealer that I get items from is out of California. There just independent not a company they go to signings shows premieres stuff like that. Thanks!!


The photo for auction:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMTk1/z/jy8AAOSwrklVW6rd/$_57.JPG


Compared to the Masterwork set:
http://www.dacardworld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Harrison-Ford-Masterwork-Autos.png


What's everyone's opinion? It's a low enough bid that if it's fake, I guess it's not a huge loss, but still sketchy.

[Jackg1980]

Does not look good, have you compared them to other 8x10?

[jjsmallvillelvr]

The 'H' doesnt have both bars and the 'F' is totally different. But sigs can change, guess it depends on how far apart they are. The basic letters dont usually change that much imo, but you never know. I wouldn't get it without a COA.

[SDcardguy24]

could be rushed I guess but a lot of the sellers other items dont look good either imo

If I was buying a Ford I'd probably just stick with one from Official Pix, PSA, or K9

[jjsmallvillelvr]

could be rushed I guess but a lot of the sellers other items dont look good either imo

If I was buying a Ford I'd probably just stick with one from Official Pix, PSA, or K9

It doesnt really looked rushed tho, its not sloppy or uneven. Just looks like a terrible attempt at a forgery. Actually, it doesnt even look like an attempt at a forgery, it looks like someone just signed it in their handwriting and figured someone would pay for it. Lol.

[robomole]

I'm the type that if I don't know it's real, then it'll always bug me every time I look at it.

PSA/DNA while not perfect, is extremely trustworthy which is why their certified autos cost a premium.

COA's are meaningless. I can print you one for that photo right now and it would just be a piece of paper.

What I look for on uncertified eBay items is signing proof pictures. Now just like COA's anyone can take a picture of a celebrity and claim they got your item signed. Often you will see pictures of the celebrity signing a different photo and they call it "proof". What I consider proof is the celebrity signing the exact item and I can see that the signature correlates with the eBay item photos. Now I know sellers can't always nail the perfect proof picture, but if most of their items have the adequate proof, then I'm willing to give the rest of their items the benefit of the doubt.

Most signed items on ebay are fake and you have to be extremely careful. Just look at this for example.
Avengers Age of Ultron Cast Signed VIP Movie Poster Hulk Iron Man Thor Comic CGC | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVENGERS-AGE-OF-ULTRON-Cast-Signed-VIP-Movie-Poster-Hulk-Iron-Man-Thor-Comic-CGC-/221783154677?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a34e5ff5)
Seller is gonna make a killing. And while he has a pretty COA and stickers. To my eyes it is clearly fake. Autos look signed by the same person across the board. It's too perfect. Yet people are gonna pay for it. Sad.

EDIT: I looked at your sellers other items. Check out their signed photos for Kate Upton and Kate Beckinsale. The "K" is written exactly the same in both instances. Either the 2 write their K's remarkably similar, or they were all signed by the same person.

[therorkstar]

It doesnt really looked rushed tho, its not sloppy or uneven. Just looks like a terrible attempt at a forgery. Actually, it doesnt even look like an attempt at a forgery, it looks like someone just signed it in their handwriting and figured someone would pay for it. Lol.

Yeah, the seller's response didn't instill a lot of confidence. Just said that he acquired it through a dealer in California. There are other photos that have been authenticated through PSA, but even then, you never know if it's 100% authentic unless you get it yourself or through something like Masterwork or another official source.

[therorkstar]

I'm the type that if I don't know it's real, then it'll always bug me every time I look at it.

PSA/DNA while not perfect, is extremely trustworthy which is why their certified autos cost a premium.

COA's are meaningless. I can print you one for that photo right now and it would just be a piece of paper.

What I look for on uncertified eBay items is signing proof pictures. Now just like COA's anyone can take a picture of a celebrity and claim they got your item signed. Often you will see pictures of the celebrity signing a different photo and they call it "proof". What I consider proof is the celebrity signing the exact item and I can see that the signature correlates with the eBay item photos. Now I know sellers can't always nail the perfect proof picture, but if most of their items have the adequate proof, then I'm willing to give the rest of their items the benefit of the doubt.

Most signed items on ebay are fake and you have to be extremely careful. Just look at this for example.
Avengers Age of Ultron Cast Signed VIP Movie Poster Hulk Iron Man Thor Comic CGC | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVENGERS-AGE-OF-ULTRON-Cast-Signed-VIP-Movie-Poster-Hulk-Iron-Man-Thor-Comic-CGC-/221783154677?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a34e5ff5)
Seller is gonna make a killing. And while he has a pretty COA and stickers. To my eyes it is clearly fake. Autos look signed by the same person across the board. It's too perfect. Yet people are gonna pay for it. Sad.

Both of the VIP Access passes look fake as well as the COA. Anyone can print off a COA and say it's the real deal, myself included, haha. But those passes look really bad.

[therorkstar]

I just found this site, pretty helpful in comparing his various in-person autographs:

Harrison Ford...Real v.s. Fake - Autograph Magazine Live (http://live.autographmagazine.com/profiles/blogs/harrison-fordreal-vs-fake)

[jjsmallvillelvr]

Lmao, if you are going to base your business on forgeries, at least be good at it. :p that auto just isnt really close to any of theM in that link. What a waste. People who do that suck. They make collecting so much harder filling the market with garbage.

[Spider-Fan]

Yeah with autographed pictures verses cards it can be really tough to tell because the signing situation is so much different, even throughout the day. I know at a lot of these signing events in the morning things start off slow and everybody gets to say "hi" and maybe a hand shake, but as the day goes on and they need to push people through the line then everything just gets rushed.

[rittdk01]

I sell autographs online from time to time, but almost never buy. The ones I sell I get from cons and include either a picture of me with the person or a pic of them signing.

I can't buy without seeing the person signing, buying from a private signing or buying from a large company like creation. Too many fakes I would never enjoy it.

[rittdk01]

^^^the studios for television shows give the actors promos to send out ttm. Normally have the name of the show, channel or studio and the actors name in a border. These I would trust too, especially if they r personalized.

[gdelan1]

If you are looking for a reputable seller on ebay, try this one barnhollow on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/usr/barnhollow?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2754)
he has a contract with Celebrity Authentics (I emailed them to check it out since his prices are far below what they ask in their catalogs)

[baytowntex]

^^^the studios for television shows give the actors promos to send out ttm. Normally have the name of the show, channel or studio and the actors name in a border. These I would trust too, especially if they r personalized.

kind of like my BBT signed cast photo..
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjkw/z/DT0AAOSwpDdVUTIr/$_57.JPG

[gdelan1]

For example on the Barnhollow seller (Celebrity Authentics) : I just won a poster (of Conan) signed by Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Steven Lang, and Rose McGowan for $21.50. Momoa alone costs $50 at cons, I'm sure Nichols is similar. With shipping, it's still less than $40. A shitty movie, but good autographs none the less.
Conan The Barbarian Cast Autographed 16x24 Conan The Barbarian Movie Photo CA | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Conan-the-Barbarian-Cast-Autographed-16x24-Conan-the-Barbarian-Movie-Photo-CA-/141834564653?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=TfxM%252BsG0%252FUD64fy7%252Bd3lJFc4Ub4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)

[Wolf8MeVillie]

If you need 8x10s, in 2017 I will be going to the Star Wars Celebration, I can pick up a few if you still need em... Then you know they are legit