Autograph Hell

Sussing out forgeries demands a lot of skill - sometimes.  Other times, it's quite obvious that an autograph is bogus or highly suspect.  Recent history offers three striking examples. In 2007, Sotheby's Auction offered for sale the "only known autograph" of George Dixon, a 19th Century Bantam and Featherweight World Boxing Champion.  The autograph, in pencil, was on a small slip of paper it hadn't been witnessed, dated or notarized.  An authenticator had signed off on it, though it obviously was impossible to verify.  After all, there were no other known autographs of the boxer.  What could the authenticator have compared it to? In 2006, a well-known authentication company verified that an album page had been signed on the reverse side by "April Chadwick."  A skeptic asked, "Has anyone ever heard of a person or celebrity named April Chadwick?" Nope.  Turned out the authenticator apparently hadn't compared the signature to any other.  H...

Our prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery are with Comedian Gallagher as he recovers from a heart attack.  According to Fox News Gallagher suffered a heart attack before his show in Texas on Wednesday.  Placed in a medical coma to "relax and recover" for the next 24 hours, doctors say his vital signs are good.  I was fortunate enough to meet Gallagher several years ago backstage at a show here in Phoenix.

I shared these pictures on the Irion Books blog and thought I would share them here too since they are part of my massive autograph collection.  One of my favorite shows on T.V. is Celebrity Apprentice.  I enjoy watching the celebrities try to work together with all their huge and clashing personalities, and work on accomplishing the tasks Donald Trump places in front of them.  I've met a few of the personalities that are on the show this season, and I thought it would be fun to share my pictures.  Take a look!  George Takei  Penn Jillette  Lou Ferrigno Michael Andretti To order your copy of Autograph Hell , CLICK HERE

Signed record albums, photos, even lunchboxes and hand puppets are increasingly valuable Davy Jones with a picture of his younger self; signed copies of Monkees items would be particularly valuable now. That dusty Monkees lunchbox in your attic still won't put both your kids through college, but yes, says a pop culture collectibles expert, the death of Davy Jones might make this a good time to cash in on it.  Gary Sohmers, long-time appraiser on PBS' "Antiques Roadshow," says a Monkees lunchbox in good shape could bring $400-$500 or more. That could be 10%-40% more than it brought a week ago, says Sohmers, largely because the publicity around Jones' death has stirred up a flurry of interest in both him and the Monkees. There has been a renewed interest in the Monkees’ music since Jones’ sudden death from a heart attack at the age of 66 on Wednesday. The band’s “The Best of the Monkees” was the No. 3 most downloaded on iTunes, while the so...

Do you ask yourself this question about your autograph collection?  "Should I sell them or not?"   My thoughts - What is the value of the collectible to YOU? Are you really enjoying the item — or is it just sitting in a box under a pile of junk? Many collectors wonder... “When should I sell my stuff??” To be honest, I’ve never regretted selling a single item. I don’t miss the item once it’s gone. I’ve owned that item. I’ve enjoyed it for a period of time – and now I can let go of it and move on to the next item.  Remember: There will ALWAYS be another collectible to own.  Always reevaluate your collection: What do I really want to keep? The truth is many collectors are simply hoarders. They have TOO MUCH stuff laying around their houses or apartments. I understand this mentality.  Selling off your collection, especially when it is very large, is a long, slow, process.  And you know what? I don’t miss a single thing I’ve ever sold. C...

The outside of Larry McLendon's home looks normal, but as soon as the door is opened, it's easy to see that this house isn't like any other. "Every room, including bathrooms, is covered floor to ceiling with autographs and memorabilia," said McLendon. McLendon has been collecting autographs for about 50 years, but he can still name the first one he ever got. "My first grade class was assigned to draw a picture of President Eisenhower," McLendon said. "My teacher sent my picture to the White House, and a few weeks later I actually got a note back from President Eisenhower thanking me for the picture. That was my first autograph." He said he got serious about collecting years later when he got a few more autographs. "I met Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961, right before Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record," McLendon said. "I also met Jack Dempsey, the world heavyweight boxing champion, that year. Since (my fa...

During last year's mesmerizing NBA All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest in Los Angeles, Blake Griffin rocked the entire sports world -- to say nothing of an awestruck Staples Center rim -- by soaring over a Kia Optima SX sedan for one of the single greatest slams in hoops history. Courtesy of Panini America This is the Blake Griffin card that went for more than $38,000. It was one of the many "did that just happen?" highlights of Griffin's inexplicably thunderous debut campaign that provided more-than-adequate support for the staggering prices  his top Panini America Rookie Cards fetched during last season's feeding frenzy. But nothing Griffin did last season could prepare us for what his best trading cards are doing this season. And before you go on, you may want to sit down. Earlier this month, a rare Griffin trading card from Panini America's 2009-10 National Treasures product sold for the   staggering sum of $38,032 . The aptly named national treasure includes...