In Part 1 of a two-part series, long-time autograph dealer and appraiser Les Wolff has some warnings about collections ruined by improper care and discusses his efforts to educate those interested in taking up the hobby. Les Wolff likes to tell the story about a Fortune 500 executive who was eager to show off the memorabilia hanging in his office. While the items were … [Read more...]
New Photo-Matching Service Launches
A group of sports memorabilia industry professionals has launched a new service for authenticating and grading game-used memorabilia. Photo-Matching & Grading (PM&G) is touting itself as the first “panel-based authentication service.” Advanced collectors, auction company executives and others with knowledge of the game-used hobby are part of the … [Read more...]
8 Collecting Tips To Help You Avoid Being Ripped Off
Other than losing a collection of cards or having a prized collection stolen, it may be a collector's worst nightmare. Each year, collectors are duped over and over by purchasing fake or altered cards. With improved printing capabilities and other technologies, it is easier than ever to create authentic-looking forged and altered vintage cards. While no 100% foolproof … [Read more...]
How to Use a Black Light to Identify Reprints and Fakes of Antique Paper Collectibles
For collectors of pre-World War II paper memorabilia—whether it’s sports cards, photographs, scorecards, postcards, advertising posters or booklets— there is a sophisticated yet inexpensive and easy to use tool for quickly identifying many modern reprints and fakes. This tool is called a longwave ultraviolet light, better known as a black light. While there are many uses for … [Read more...]
Vintage Sports Memorabilia Q and A
The following are answers to assorted questions from the proverbial mail bag. QUESTION: I've heard that collectors sometimes soak old cards in water in order to remove album paper and glue from the backs. Won't the water dissolve off or smear the printing ink? ANSWER: I'm not giving advice whether or not you should or shouldn't soak cards, but I can tell you that old card … [Read more...]
Memorabilia Collecting and Authentication Quick Tips: Part 3
This is another in a continuation of columns offering assorted identification, authentication and collecting tips for sports and related memorabilia. These particular tips aren’t all-encompassing but intended to be simple and easy to remember. Tip #1) Crazing, or 'alligator skin,' is strong evidence an oil painting is old. Crazing happens over time when the paint and the … [Read more...]
Antique Prints Collecting Tips and a New Authentication Guide
Whether you're collecting or selling interests are old sports or tobacco cards, movie posters, programs, premiums or publications, I've consolidated many of my past columns on authenticating prints into one free volume, a free pdf e-book titled "Identifying Antique Commercial Printing Processes, And the Basics of Authenticating Antique and Art Prints." Download the guide … [Read more...]
Sports Collector’s Guide to Identifying Glass
This column is a beginner's guide to several common kinds of antique glass for sports and non-sports collectors. Glass is labeled and catalogued in different ways, including by its formula or chemical recipe, how the final shape is formed, its style and genre. The following are standard types of glass, defined by the formula, method and genre. Pressed glass. Most glass … [Read more...]
Identifying Antique Commercial Printing Processes: Part 1 of 6
In the upcoming six-part series, we will look at how to identify the standard antique commercial printing processes used to make everything from sports cards to advertising posters to publications to postcards. There are two main reasons for wanting to able to identify the processes. One is connoisseurship. As a hobbyist, enthusiast or weekend museum visitor, it's good and … [Read more...]
Guide to Authenticating Pre-War Baseball Cards
Several years ago I wrote a short paperback book called 'Judging the Authenticity of Early Baseball Cards.” It covers the basics of authenticating and forgery detecting Pre-War cards, including T206s, Old Judges, Allen & Ginters and all the rest. You can view/download for free the guide in pdf ebook form here. As the book is about eight years old, I re-read it see if … [Read more...]