Lawsuit Strikes at Autograph Controversy |
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Sunday, 20 April 2008 |
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A long-time autograph expert's thumbs down vote has raised the ire of a company trying to peddle a piece of signed memorabilia. At the heart of the matter is whether the subjects depicted actually penned the signatures.
The item may be a Beatles album, not a piece of sports memorabilia, but the names "Coach's Corner" and "Christopher Morales" receive significant attention in a newspaper story about the case.
A lawsuit filed in a Florida state court by a music memorabilia company, challenges the credibility and competence of an autograph dealer and authenticator named Frank Caiazzo, actually considered by many collectors as the most knowledgeable Beatles' autograph specialist.
American Royal Arts of Boca Raton is miffed about Caizzo's challenge of the authenticity of an autographed Beatles album they offered for sale.
The subject may be entertainment-related, but the case strikes at the heart of a major issue in the sports memorabilia industry: autograph authentication.
"Lawsuits are used to scare people," says Ron Keurajian, a sports autograph collector and authenticator. "They are used to shut people up."
The New York Daily News delves into the case--and the issues.
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