Autograph authenticity question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr Canada · 08-05-2004, 08:09 PM

some guys are selling happy days autographs on ebay. how can we verify if any are real. are there any ways of contacting less busy ex cast members to ask them.

what do you think? thanks

Shivvy · 08-07-2004, 11:06 AM

If you look on ebay for the autographs, the seller usually has a COA which proves that the autograph is an original and that they got the autograph themselves! Check the seller's feedback, and see what the background is like on item's that are similar!
9 times out of 10 the item's that are on ebay are genuine!!
Hope that's helped!!
Shivvy xXx

Mr Canada · 08-07-2004, 05:15 PM

its just that ive seen a couple of sellers that seem to have numerous identicqal pictures with almost the same autographs. cant anyone type up their own coa and just easily lie? thanks

PZelda · 08-07-2004, 07:35 PM

Okay, see, I collect autographed pictures as a hobby so this thread is perfect for me to reply to.

---

You have to REALLY study the autographs that you find. Go to a Henry Winkler website, whatever...I don't care...See if you can compare autographs that you find. There's a thing called pre-prints, where somebody signs a picture and then they make copies of the same picture, so the signature is a part of the background when you get an autograph from somebody. A good way to tell if you got a pre-printed picture is to stand under a light and move the picture around. If the signature on the picture shines, than that person signed the picture. But if the signature appears to blend in with the background of the picture, it's a pre-print.

There are quite a few celebrities that use secretaries to sign their pictures, and that's the worst kind you can. Try to avoid them at all costs.

Secretaries' signatures look nothing like the actual celebrities'. Three good examples are Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and Tony Danza. They all use secretaries...If you come across an in-person autographed picture of them, their signatures look way different. SJP is a MAJOR one. Her in-persons don't even match the ones signed by her secretary. Secretaries are more common with A-listers, and I haven't heard of any of the Happy Days celebs using secretaries, so it's safe to assume that they sign pictures themselves.

As for buying signed pictures off eBay...I avoid them like the plague (unless it's an old picture that I won't be able to get anywhere...then I buy it). COA's mean nothing. Anybody can buy some special paper and print out a COA...it's really easy to do. Hell, I could do it...But I won't, because I'm not into that kind of stuff. And I've heard about MANY people forging signatures to sell on eBay...So that is why I am STRONGLY suggesting you guys look around first (NOT on eBay) and see if you can find a website that deals with autographed pictures...then compare them to what else you can find.

I would suggest www.stararchive.com , but it's a paying website and is targeted towards people who collect autographed pictures as a hobby, like me (Which is why I have a paid membership there). A good free place with pictures is www.starcollectors.net , I believe. They should have pictures that you can compare.

Did I leave anything out?

I am warning you - PLEASE think carefully about buying signed pictures off eBay...You never know which one is a fake and which one isn't.

snl75 · 09-04-2004, 08:10 PM

henry winkler was a good mail signer at least until a couple of years ago hes slowed down his signing now but there are quite i few good items out there one way you can tell is henry usally inscribes something along the lines of to/persons name/enjoy yourself enjoy your life etc. i would tell all of you the name of the best autograph dealer in the country the one i buy all mine from but they dont allow ads. here

08-05-2004, 08:09 PM	#1
Mr Canada Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 05, 2004 Location: toronto canada Posts: 2	Autograph authenticity question some guys are selling happy days autographs on ebay. how can we verify if any are real. are there any ways of contacting less busy ex cast members to ask them. what do you think? thanks
	__________________ sit on it potsie!

08-07-2004, 11:06 AM	#2
Shivvy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 07, 2004 Location: Leeds, Uk Posts: 11	If you look on ebay for the autographs, the seller usually has a COA which proves that the autograph is an original and that they got the autograph themselves! Check the seller's feedback, and see what the background is like on item's that are similar! 9 times out of 10 the item's that are on ebay are genuine!! Hope that's helped!! Shivvy xXx
	__________________ I am a slug, not just any slug but a cool big orange slug that likes to eat yorkshire puddings and obsesses cheese, not just any cheese but tasty sugar-coated cheese called Sugeese

08-07-2004, 07:35 PM	#4
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Okay, see, I collect autographed pictures as a hobby so this thread is perfect for me to reply to. --- You have to REALLY study the autographs that you find. Go to a Henry Winkler website, whatever...I don't care...See if you can compare autographs that you find. There's a thing called pre-prints, where somebody signs a picture and then they make copies of the same picture, so the signature is a part of the background when you get an autograph from somebody. A good way to tell if you got a pre-printed picture is to stand under a light and move the picture around. If the signature on the picture shines, than that person signed the picture. But if the signature appears to blend in with the background of the picture, it's a pre-print. There are quite a few celebrities that use secretaries to sign their pictures, and that's the worst kind you can. Try to avoid them at all costs. Secretaries' signatures look nothing like the actual celebrities'. Three good examples are Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and Tony Danza. They all use secretaries...If you come across an in-person autographed picture of them, their signatures look way different. SJP is a MAJOR one. Her in-persons don't even match the ones signed by her secretary. Secretaries are more common with A-listers, and I haven't heard of any of the Happy Days celebs using secretaries, so it's safe to assume that they sign pictures themselves. As for buying signed pictures off eBay...I avoid them like the plague (unless it's an old picture that I won't be able to get anywhere...then I buy it). COA's mean nothing. Anybody can buy some special paper and print out a COA...it's really easy to do. Hell, I could do it...But I won't, because I'm not into that kind of stuff. And I've heard about MANY people forging signatures to sell on eBay...So that is why I am STRONGLY suggesting you guys look around first (NOT on eBay) and see if you can find a website that deals with autographed pictures...then compare them to what else you can find. I would suggest www.stararchive.com , but it's a paying website and is targeted towards people who collect autographed pictures as a hobby, like me (Which is why I have a paid membership there). A good free place with pictures is www.starcollectors.net , I believe. They should have pictures that you can compare. Did I leave anything out? I am warning you - PLEASE think carefully about buying signed pictures off eBay...You never know which one is a fake and which one isn't.
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

08-07-2004, 05:15 PM	#3
Mr Canada Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 05, 2004 Location: toronto canada Posts: 2	its just that ive seen a couple of sellers that seem to have numerous identicqal pictures with almost the same autographs. cant anyone type up their own coa and just easily lie? thanks

09-04-2004, 08:10 PM	#5
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	henry winkler was a good mail signer at least until a couple of years ago hes slowed down his signing now but there are quite i few good items out there one way you can tell is henry usally inscribes something along the lines of to/persons name/enjoy yourself enjoy your life etc. i would tell all of you the name of the best autograph dealer in the country the one i buy all mine from but they dont allow ads. here