I began collecting fine art prints 35 years ago. I made a few mistakes along the way. I trusted too many unscrupulous dealers and bought some fakes. But I soon learned that it’s a business and they are all out to make money, at our expense. Therefore, I began to research the signatures and type of work they produced. After a while, I was able to spot the real from fraudulent in a few seconds. In other words, I became my own best expert.
     This is true in everything that has value. Stock investors and bankers want your money, so they will tell you anything to get it. It’s your responsibility to check on the stock or offer and determine if it’s right for you and makes sense.
     Now why not look at autograph collecting the same way? I’ll use myself as an example. I moved from collecting art to obtaining signed music albums and signature of historic figures. I bought a Walt Disney signed check from Phil Sears, who works with Roy Disney as an authenticator. It stands to reason he would sell real Disney items. The moral; buy from established dealers.
     But when it comes to Beatles signatures, for instance, everything changes. Lennon and Harrison are expensive because they are deceased. The group of  the Fab Four on one album or page is far more than most of us can afford. Why? Because a few so-called experts like Frank Caiazzo have figured out a way to drive up the prices. He’s the self-proclaimed expert and sells sigs at inflated prices because he can and then also authenticates other Beatles signatures. But coincidently, most turn out to be fakes. So, if the vast majority of other Beatles signatures he can say are fakes, and only his are real, he can therefore charge just about anything he wants and does. As of this writing, he has a signed album for $125,000. What’s wrong with this picture? Can you say monopoly?
     The reality is that this hobby is strictly opinion based and not all that scientific. Although some groups will also test the ink and paper forensically and that does help. But the signature is simply compared to existing signatures on file. So, couldn’t anyone do that, including you and I? Of course we could and should.
     Which brings me to the basic hobby or purpose of collecting. If you want Barry Bonds or Bill Clinton’s autograph, there are dozens of online places to get one. It will cost you a few hundred dollars and there aren’t too many fakes of those two out there. But, once again, get familiar with the signature first and then check out the dealer. A word of warning; EBay has bunches of fakes so start somewhere else and try to stay with a UACC member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club. They have some basic standards and offer some hope of an honest deal. The trick is to find a reputable dealer that gives a money-back guarantee and a COA or Certificate or Letter of Authenticity that should also state they stand behind the signature.
     But if you are seeking Neil Armstrong, Elvis Presley, John Lennon or even Marilyn Monroe’s autograph and have a few 1000 to spend on each, beware. There are zillions of fakes out there. Compare it to counterfeiting one-dollar bills. You hardly find any. But there are plenty of fake hundreds and that’s where the profit is. So forgers go after the high-ticket items and that is where you have to really do your homework.  Presley, Monroe, and John Lennon died young and have limited signatures out there. Armstrong stopped signing in 1995. There are a few Monroe signed checks produced after she married Joe Dimaggio and they state, “Marilyn DiMaggio” as her signature. Yet her married name was Norma Jean DiMaggio, as written on her marriage license and USO entertainment card. So a check signed Marilyn DiMaggio is an obvious fake. You can also look at Lennon’s signature as it changed with the years and Presley signed very few albums. So, you must do your own background work before writing that big check yourself.
     Finally, autograph collecting can be fun and fascinating. Only spend what you can afford and if you find that incredible deal, like a hand-signed photo of the Beatles or Apollo 11 astronauts for $199, you can be sure it’s a fake. Period. No legitimate dealer who knows the value will dump a real signature for much less than it’s worth. I did buy a few fakes in the beginning because I was greedy and thought I was saving money, Luckily, it only cost me a few hundred bucks but I am older and wiser for it. You can get a quick opinion from a few services like PSA and AMAA for $10 or so and it’s worth it before the purchase. PSA offers it for any Ebay item. So, choose your hero, check out their autograph and get familiar with it first. Compare prices and if it looks suspicious, wait for the real one to come along; it always will. And good luck and happy autograph hunting!