Quote:
Originally Posted by bmarlowe1
At least with respect to photo ID, it seems there has been a significant improvement in auction house behavior in recent years. This change is correlated with (and likely influenced by) the emergence of at least several people outside of the AHs who have demonstrated that they are really good at this. That has fostered an increase in both healthy skepticism at auction houses and a general improvement in photo ID skills among the collecting population.
I have been fortunate to participate in all this as a consultant on early baseball photo ID to collectors, auction houses (including Huggins and Scott), major libraries (Library of Congress, Boston Public Library),authors, and most importantly I have written more articles on this subject than I can count for SABR. As such, I am more than willing to match my skills against deluded collectors and German vase enthusiasts.
It is the behavior of the auction house with respect to this photo and the “Fleet Walker” image that is most disturbing. The wholly irrational commentary posted here by the AH in response to arguments of well-known experts is appalling and should be embarrassing. Mike Nola has shown himself to be a high quality researcher and he is probably the preeminent Joe Jackson expert, and Dave Grob is the best memorabilia researcher and authenticator I know of. Add to that the ear discrepancy, and you have one of the worst examples of nonsense that I have seen on net54.
Mar.kFim0ff
co-chairman
SABR – Pictrorial History Committee
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http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=178305
They have had quite a few....
Some other classics that may have been missed.
http://aug14.hugginsandscott.com/cgi...l?itemid=71538
The sign is early 20th at best, a little research will show you that the producer of the sign was Belgian company that wasn't even up and running big till the 20's/30's and was a tin producer of lots of things such as cocoa tins.
Not everything that has the W.D. & H.O. Wills LTD. "Pirate Cigarettes" brand is connected directly to the T215 issue of cards but in the H&S world it is. When the current winner of this sign figures out what he bought and does a little digging overseas....he's going to find he may have paid a tad too much.
I get that not every auction house can do hours of research on every item they sell they may not have the man power etc. But at the very least don't make up stuff, just say early 20th Pirate Cigarettes sign...why jump to T215 era and big stories. Just like with the Wagner partial back...just say miscut Bowerman all the fantasy stuff is really insulting.