Autographs - Cancelled Checks

[John V]

I'm curious to hear what autograph collectors think of cancelled checks. Where do they rank in desirability? It would seem to me, they are more likely authentic as compared to a number of other items, such as a 3x5 card. Your thoughts?
John

[docpatlv]

John,

I don't have a lot of cancelled checks, but I do think they are a safer bet than other signed items. I'm sure there are some bad checks out there, but definitely not as prevalent as fake baseballs, cuts, etc. They can also display nicely with photos.



Mike

[ibuysportsephemera]

It is the only kind of autograph that I collect. Just be careful, because it seems that many of the modern athletes checks show up in huge batches. You can really overpay and then see the market flooded. JMO.

[drc]

One thing about a signed bank check or tax form or contract is, even if not an autograph expert, a collecter can at least check out the document itself and see if its seems genuine. Determining that that index card is a genuine index card is not of great help, but that that 1920s Mr. & Mrs. Joe Wood account bank check itself appears to be a genuine bank check and is clearly old (foxing, whatever) is significant visa vie the authenticity of Joe Wood's autograph on it. Unlike the index card, glossy 8x10 color photo or scrap of paper, the check itself is something the collector can put his teeth into. You may find an expert currency and bank notes collector who, while he has no clue what Ty Cobb's autograph looks like and won't offer an opinion on the signature, will tell you that the bank check itself, noted in the upper right as coming from Cobb's personal account, is completely genuine.

[HRBAKER]

One of my favorite ways to collect HOF signatures.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I should have also said that typically I only collect checks with the players name imprinted on them. This was not the case with many of the older players checks.