Honus Wagner Photo - Help please

[jrlebert]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Maybe you didn't learn much from my comment, but some of the other forum members probably did. And while you are trying to gain information, I suspect it's of a different type than what you claim.

And as I pointed out (and you apparently missed), it's not about scan resolution, it's about all the other stuff surrounding this forgery, including the story.

Regarding your "snarky (surprise)" comment, provide us with a clear color scan of a genuine photo of Honus Wagner, and if it's a cool item, I will be one of the first to say so. But if it's forged crap, I will also be one of the first to say so. Forged photos are bad for this hobby, period. Your item description and scan told me right away that you had not done your research and were trying to sell a forgery, knowingly or not. If you know nothing about the item you are trying to sell, why claim that it's an unknown previously unpublished photo? In case you forgot, from your auction: "You will not find another copy anywhere" and the title: "Original photograph Honus Wagner *** NEVER SEEN BEFORE *** unpublished"

This item has ZERO bids, which means you can go update it to add some of the information you've learned here. I'll hold my breath.

OK, Scott. First of all, come off your high horse. As I have stated many times, this is not MY auction, it is my uncle's. And you are absolutely right, we did not do nearly as expansive of research as would be available HERE, which is, again, as I stated several times, EXACTLY why I brought this discussion here.

Here is the whole story, for the skeptic Scott and others. My uncle antiques regularly throughout the Hudson Valley in NY. He was at a flea market, saw a bag of old photos, and paid $5 for a bag of photos, in which this Wagner was. He did a bit of research online, but couldn't find much on the photo.

This was when he contacted me, in L.A. He sent me a link to his auction, and my research began. This was 5 days ago. I was able to find a little info about the studio, J. Nyser, but, like many of you, was immediately skeptical that such a Pittsburgh-centric figure, who was born near Pittsburgh, played in Pittsburgh, died near Pittsburgh, and was, if I remember correctly, sheriff of Allegheny County at one point, would have been doing in a Connecticut studio.

His scanner is only a B/W scanner, so unfortunately, that's the best scan we've got, as of right now. I am going to ask him to send it to me, so that I can get a higher res scan up, as I stated before.

I don't understand this sentence from you, Scott: "And while you are trying to gain information, I suspect it's of a different type than what you claim." I am an extremely reputable member of this hobby, as many on THIS board can attest to, and have no desire to represent this in any other way than as what it is, WHICH IS WHY I CAME TO NET54 FOR MORE INFO.

If it is forged crap, then by all means, tell me its forged crap, and just give me the reasons why, which this thread has certainly provided. I am not arguing with a single finding, and, in fact, am continually amazed at what this board is able to come up with in just a few days. Again, it's why I came here.

I would not recommend to my uncle that we update the auction at all. My only recommendation would be to take it town altogether, so as to not sell what could, and most likely is, a forgery or, as some call, a "fantasy piece".

I hope that clears things up for you, Scott. Thanks.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by jrlebert

OK, Scott. First of all, come off your high horse. As I have stated many times, this is not MY auction, it is my uncle's. And you are absolutely right, we did not do nearly as expansive of research as would be available HERE, which is, again, as I stated several times, EXACTLY why I brought this discussion here.

Here is the whole story, for the skeptic Scott and others. My uncle antiques regularly throughout the Hudson Valley in NY. He was at a flea market, saw a bag of old photos, and paid $5 for a bag of photos, in which this Wagner was. He did a bit of research online, but couldn't find much on the photo.

This was when he contacted me, in L.A. He sent me a link to his auction, and my research began. This was 5 days ago. I was able to find a little info about the studio, J. Nyser, but, like many of you, was immediately skeptical that such a Pittsburgh-centric figure, who was born near Pittsburgh, played in Pittsburgh, died near Pittsburgh, and was, if I remember correctly, sheriff of Allegheny County at one point, would have been doing in a Connecticut studio.

His scanner is only a B/W scanner, so unfortunately, that's the best scan we've got, as of right now. I am going to ask him to send it to me, so that I can get a higher res scan up, as I stated before.

I don't understand this sentence from you, Scott: "And while you are trying to gain information, I suspect it's of a different type than what you claim." I am an extremely reputable member of this hobby, as many on THIS board can attest to, and have no desire to represent this in any other way than as what it is, WHICH IS WHY I CAME TO NET54 FOR MORE INFO.

If it is forged crap, then by all means, tell me its forged crap, and just give me the reasons why, which this thread has certainly provided. I am not arguing with a single finding, and, in fact, am continually amazed at what this board is able to come up with in just a few days. Again, it's why I came here.

I would not recommend to my uncle that we update the auction at all. My only recommendation would be to take it town altogether, so as to not sell what could, and most likely is, a forgery or, as some call, a "fantasy piece".

I hope that clears things up for you, Scott. Thanks.

Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.

(I stopped reading at "high horse")

[jrlebert]

As long as we are quoting Hamlet...

“This above all: to thine own self be true.”

I am not trying to represent anything as genuine, or look for anything more than info and discourse about the photo. Scott, I appreciate the banter, the info, and your time, but making accusations or insinuations about someone's honesty, integrity, or intentions crosses the line a bit.

[Runscott]

Try being true to others.

[jrlebert]

Really? To whom am I being disingenuous?

[slidekellyslide]

Scott, I think your'e off on this one...the auction is in New York, JR's IP address is in Los Angeles, and if you look at JR's profile you see his ebay ID which also shows items listed from Los Angeles. Not everyone is up to date with the junk flowing through our hobby. You looked at this right away and saw it was fake, but you specialize in photographs.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Scott, I think your'e off on this one...the auction is in New York, JR's IP address is in Los Angeles, and if you look at JR's profile you see his ebay ID which also shows items listed from Los Angeles. Not everyone is up to date with the junk flowing through our hobby. You looked at this right away and saw it was fake, but you specialize in photographs.

Dan, I don't know what you mean by your last sentence. I do specialize in photographs, but I also have one of the largest cabinet card collections on this board. Yes, I did look at it right away and saw that it was a fake.

Regarding IP address locations, the OP stated at one point that possibly 'his' price was to high, indicating that he had set up this auction for 'his uncle'. He has since removed that information, but based on his statements I thought that he had put up this auction for 'his uncle'. If that's not the case, then my apologies. Clearer communication would help.

In any event, as you know, these types of items pop up on ebay all the time, and the sellers pop in here all the time to gather validation for their item;e.g-Commiskey, young Honus Wagner, etc.,etc. They generally fail at such attempts. It doesn't bother me at all when such items show up on ebay - it's just part of the game. But when they show up here, on a legitimate board, it is irritating. The fact that some forum members think this piece is legitimate is even more disturbing, but I'll bow out at this point and let you all continue to discuss it, unimpeded.

Also, Dan - I'm not making any assumptions about your own thoughts about this item, so please don't take offense. Thanks.

[thecatspajamas]

JR, it would have raised less suspicion had the photo not been up for bids as you're asking questions about it. At the very least, it should have been taken down as soon as the resounding "it's fake" reply was heard from several here who know what they're talking about. We can all still see the scan after the item is ended, so there is no reason to keep it "active" where there is still the risk of someone being duped by the faulty description and bidding.

If your uncle was sincere about finding the truth of the matter and not perpetuating a forgery, the auction should have been ended about 3 days ago. At the very least, it needs to be ended now, not allowed to run its course under the assumption that nobody will bid. I think you'll find a warmer reception if the potential for fraud on an item like this is not active and staring everyone in the face.