Choice to Make?

[mainemule]

...unless it is/was an obvious, grotesque fake, why would you toss it? I have some autos that I know are real that the TPA's did not authenticate. Enjoy your collection!

[egbeachley]

I would say that first one is NOT good for a few reasons.

1) it says “Best” rather than “Besh” like the others
2) it uses real “n”s in Connie, not “n”s that look like “m”s
3) it has a real “i” in Connie. The others are lost

I think the forger couldn’t help but spell out real letters when Connie just signed like he learned to at a young age and never bothered to fix.

[Case12]

Originally Posted by egbeachley

I would say that first one is NOT good for a few reasons.

1) it says “Best” rather than “Besh” like the others
2) it uses real “n”s in Connie, not “n”s that look like “m”s
3) it has a real “i” in Connie. The others are lost

I think the forger couldn’t help but spell out real letters when Connie just signed like he learned to at a young age and never bothered to fix.

Number 2, and 3 bother me most. The n's and 'i' are always the same throughout his entire life even up until his death. I have examined many of his hand written letters and can find text/letter variations. But never a different 'Connie'.

It's hard for me to shred something so close. On the other hand, looking at it displayed will always leaves me questioning. So I think I'll box it away with a note on it.

I assume this happens to collectors/curators all the time? Whether Mack, Ruth, Cobb, Hornsby, Washington, Lincoln, etc.?

[Bestdj777]

I’d either keep it or send it to me . I grab Mantle autographs occasionally and have two obvious fakes (most likely a parent signing for their kid), and it doesn’t bother me as it is on a vintage medium (I bought it primarily for the item it was in) and it is was it is. If you’ve got a real one already, you’ve checked that box off. Who cares whether this one is fake? For whatever it’s worth, I do share some of your views regarding the similarities between yours and the PSA one.

[keithsky]

If you don't want it I'll take it and get it authenticated

[todeen]

You should send it to a TPA. If it comes back not authentic, you're not out a grotesque amount. If it is authentic, then someone agrees with your opinions as to why it is authentic, and you can sell it in the future if you desire.

As for me, I don't like the starting curl of the W, in both the WITH and WISHES. That is what stuck out to me.