Collecting autographs is a great hobby for many...It is a great passion collecting items that are forever a momento of  heroes and admired idols either celebrities and sports identities...

And so I would like to post a few quick points and notes for you to take into consideration before thinking about buying any autograph namely ones that are so badly forged today like my favourite Muhammad ali...

Because you may be paying an arm and a leg for something that was forged by a teenager in his room and worth nothing whatsoever!!!!

Majorly forged signed autographs on the market and ebay today:

1) Muhammad Ali

2) Michael Jordan

3) Mickey Mantle

4) NBA Basketball Jerseys, trading cards etc.

5) NFL Helmets and Jerseys

6) European Soccer jumpers (EPL/UEFA/FIFA)

7) MLB Bats, helmets, trading cards etc.

8) Boxing Shorts, Gloves Posters etc.

Plus Many well known Hollywood Celebrities...

Before buying...

-Study your autograph from images of their signatures from reputable dealers that are known for selling authenticated/legitimate items. Considering the slant, flow, pressure and overall size of the sigs; remembering that most people sign their autographs at similarly the same sizes each time they sign a piece and sign at the same angle with similarly sized letters in their name each and every time.

-Get to know your sellers; Look and study their feedback for a good 10-15 minutes studying each item that was brought from other members that are similar to the ones you may be buying. For autographs I would never buy from sellers with feedback below 99.3-5%. Just due to their reliability and because of the high prices we pay for these items.

-Buy from sellers that are contactable...Make sure you ask for close-ups of the item and its autograph so that you can see it in detail. A seller that provides a blurry far away picture is already showing signs of illegitimacy. Ask Questions, ask about when and where it was signed if knowledgeable. Ask about full postage, how much and how long it will take to get to you.Ask as much as you need until you are satisfied...

-Beware of photocopies and reprints... Like I said earlier check to see up close as to whether you can see certain fine details of a signature...Save it on your PC then Zoom in. An authentic signature should have certain differences in texture and medium of pen or sharpie in certain areas as to where the signee slowed, quickened and angled his signature when signing.  Another reguarly seen fraud is the autopen.. What is it? It is a machine that has a template of a certain signature that signs signatures in large quantities manually. It is like a 'machine' drawn autograph that your idol has not even touched. Celebrities use these to sign fan mail etc and send them back to them. Its value=worthless.Muhammad Ali has one and even still today you can still find them on ebay being passed off as authentic sigs. Google search "Muhammad Ali Autopen" and you shall see a clear example-The sig is pretty much the same on all of his autopen signings.

 -Look for Authentication. The Golden Rule. The best ways to find good items are by looking for sigs authenticated by either one of the following:

PSA/DNA

UPPER DECK AUTHENTICATED

JAMES SPENCE (JSA)

ONLINE AUTHENTICS

STEINER

or Otherwise from a REGISTERED AUTOGRAPH DEALER that is registered with the UACC (Universal Autograph Collector's Club) that can be checked at the uacc website. uacc.org (UACC Members can be anyone, these are totally different And so are nowhere near as reputable and trustworthy as Registered Dealers)

These are internationally renowned companies that do their business by giving an expert opinion as to whether a signed something is real or not. There are a few different classes of authentication for each of the above companies. Some companies provide stickers that do not have to go through any types of sig analysis or examination process, therefore study each company and their methods/classing of authentication on their website. Atleast ensure that your signed item has been professionally examined by one of their experts, studied and the signed item that has passed authentication comes with a watermarked/holographic sticker bearing LOA(letter of Authenticity) and a matching numbered tamper proof sticker. Bearing in mind that holographic stickers can be forged also and you have an idea of what each company's looks like and what characteristics each bears.These stickers and LOA's have official numbering that can be checked back on the company's website for verification. Now these authenticators do make mistakes and we have heard their flaws in the past, but they are only a legal third party opinion that decides whether or not they are authentic. So in finding an authenticated item, ensure you follow the steps above before placing your bid or buying it straight away.

COA's (Certificates of Authenticity) If ever you come across a COA that are not authenticated by the people above BEWARE. You may find a seller selling items that come with a COA/matching stickers and a lifetime refundable guarantee... All it is is WORDS. Once you've brought your item and you've recieved it, its highly unlikely your seller will refund you your money let alone reply to your claim. COA's can be made by anyone. They can be copied by anyone, they can be altered by anyone. It's called photoshop. A flashy looking COA does not mean a thing unless it bears a public business guarantee (that is known widely in your area or state) or it is from one of the top companies STEINER/ UDA/ PSADNA/ JSA etc etc. Then that way you may have a case if you have a reputable Business Name or Company that you can withhold in a legal case.

Many sellers do not have authentication but have things called 'candid' photos. When you see these BEWARE, depending on a seller's reputation you should always be careful as these photos may have bene copied and resold with several of the same forged autographed items and labelled as 'REAL and SIGNED IN PERSON'. You may come across the "Ali in front of a pile of gloves" picture; DO NOT buy from this seller. That picture has been in circulation on the internet for years now and shonky sellers still continue to try and sell their items away via them.

LOOK FOR PAYPAL GUARANTEED SELLERS: Always make sure that you are eligable for PAYPAL buyer protection when making purchases. They can cover up to $2000 or more whether your item is fraudulent, non described or doesnt arrive and many other wonderful things. Read  the small print on the paypal window of a sellers listing and see if you are protected when buying from your seller according to their feedback and seller ratings. You can't go wrong. It's the best thing in the world and is as secure as a bank vault.

Remember: The only complete and sure way you can get an autograph that is real and authentic is by collecting it yourself and having it signed first hand in front of you... Which may not be possible. So really when you go out there looking to buy your precious momento; please; take the time to study each little detail. Autographs are expensive and you might as well do the time instead of having to recieve the crime once you've already paid for it... 

Trust your gut feeling and your instinct. If you have doubt, then you're probably right. Something would've sparked your doubt and it's probably best to check what may have caused you to.

GOOD LUCK and remember this is a dodgy business. People make millions every year by selling fake stuff that everyone wants. Don't support them; let's put a stop to these money laundering thieves...80% of Muhammad Ali autographs today on ebay are fake and have been forged by money seeking frauds. Report each seller that looks suspicious!