A market for "known" forgeries? Anything else like this? (slightly O/T)
 

Aside from sports memorabilia, I also enjoy presidential memorabilia. I am no expert on the topic, but was surprised when I saw RR Auction (a big name in historical autographs) selling known forged George Washington signed documents, including some "authenticated" by PSA/DNA as being known forgeries!

Apparently there is a market for Washington documents which were forged by Robert Spring during the 19th century; I checked the RR archives, and they have sold other items in the past by Spring, who became well-known for his forgeries.

I was shocked that such forgeries would have a place in the market, apparently since they were done 150 years ago? Maybe this gives hope to all of CC's Morales pieces, which might have some value around the year 2160!

My question - Is there anything like this in the sports marketplace? Or for anything else? I can't believe there is such a market for a known forged item, so hopefully someone can educate me on why this is!

Current forged Washington up for bid:
http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=189

FORGED check sold for $1821 in December 2010!! And note, it came (albeit pre-certified) with a PSA/DNA letter. So they can authenticate a known forgery as being from a certain forger??
http://www.rrauction.com/past_auctio...cfm?ID=3218058

The only one I can think of in the sports market that is somewhat comparable is Joe Jackson's wife forgery. That does sell for a low 3 figure sum.

Sonny Liston's signature by his wife often ends up in PSA holders and sells for hundreds. Does this count? :D

It sells for hundreds because it is misidentified not because that signature is worth money.

I know. :D

Sinclair Oil Babe Ruth contest balls might fit the category.

Years ago, there were counterfeit 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookies that had 'counterfeit' stamped on them by court order. I would imagine these might have a bit of financial value as novelties or curiosities. As they're boldly stamped counterfeit, no one one's going to mistake them for real.

In stamps there are loads of forgeries, some excellent some very poor. The best often sell for more than the original stamps. Especially ones by Fournier or Sperati. And I think you can get those expertised (the stamp term for a COA)


Steve B

As far as i know the Roy Campanella stamped signatures still sell pretty well.. I also picked one up somewhat cheap a while back. Heck, I've seen instances of psa authenticating and slabbing 'em, without designating them as stamped(which I despise PSA for). I know for a while he used the stamp himself, as it was easier on him and more legible for the auto seeker. But I also know that a lot of the time his wife did the stamping for him... And I can only imagine that the stamp is still out there somewhere ready to still be used. Any thoughts or opinions on the "Best Wishes Roy Campanella" stamped items?

I'm also aware of some of the silk cachets from the 80's that were originally supposed to have been signed by Pete Rose, that were immediately discovered to be clubhouse signatures, and then returned to Rose to personally sign himself as he was originally contracted to do. Basically, a number of those cachets out there have both an authentic Rose signature and the clubhouse one. I've always found these to be an interesting item, however wouldn't go out of my way to get one.