Autograph opinions

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by toyman55

I have been on Net54 now for 5 years and I have found that if you visit the site and get to know the people here who are proficient in autograph collecting you can not go wrong. On Mickey Mantle autographs I will take Shelly's opinion without question. I come here every day and learn something new each time.
good luck.

I have to agree. I've been on here for a few years now and have learned a ton and continue to learn every time im on. You can also search threads on Mickey Mantle autographs and learn his signature yourself. This is the best way (for me) to become pretty good at identifying a good Mantle.

[Duluth Eskimo]

When you ask an opinion, opinions can vary. The only way you can feel comfortable is to do your own homework and rely on the knowledge you have gained over the years. You asked my opinion on the Mantle and Maris and I said I'm not comfortable as they were both very sloppy, but I wanted to check further when I have a chance to look at my examples. I rely on what I think and not necessarily what other people think. That is why PSA and JSA are making so much money and why I make money buying non authenticated signatures and selling them "authenticated" with COA's people feel comfortable with. Yet on Net54 others and I give you an opinion for free coming from years and years of experience. I guess in the end you get what you pay for. Jason

[Lordstan]

Jason,
The Mantle Maris photo Joey has been asking about is mine. When I go home to my parents home, I will usually rummage through boxes of my stuff that I collected starting back as far as 1978, through the 1980s, when my father and I were dealers including having a store, up through around 1992 when we closed the business as I no longer had time for it. Everything was boxed up and stored. Many of the items that I post have not seen the light of day for 15yrs. The last 2 batches of items I brought out included the Mantle Maris and the group below. That is the history of the photo in anutshell.

As I told a couple people that I asked opinions from, this was obtained in the 1980's. While I have seen Mantle at shows maybe 75 times and am sure of it's authenticity, I don't remember when or where specifically I got the Maris. Because I am not as comfortable with Maris, I did ask for some opinions and so far, prior to Joey posting, I only had one negative opinion on the photo from the people I asked. That person's problem was with the Maris and not the Mantle. The one thing that does strike me is why would a forger signed Maris' name on Mantle? Wouldn't a forger want to create one with the best eye appeal possible?