 |
|
|
Some twenty years ago, the autograph hobby was changed forever.Documents bringing record prices were routine as front-page and feature stories in all media. With this new-found attention came an exodus from other collecting fields to the autograph world. Many of these newbies had nothing in mind other than a fast buck or a quick hustle. Leaving a trail of corruption, scandal and a bad imprint on the hobby, these bottom feeders, mainly stamp and sports industry refugees, left in their wake a trail of confusion, sloppy habits and poor reputations that have downgraded both industries once fine reputations. It was at this time that I decided to put some of my energy into educating autograph collectors and new dealers regarding the newfound scams and wrong doings in the field of autographs. I have done this in several ways. I have tirelessly produced autograph studies for the autograph public to educate them on autopens, secretarial and proxy signatures,and outright forgeries. These studies have been well recieved by the public, and in fact numerous dealers and authenticators call on me to help them seperate the wheat from the chaff in their own business dealings. Collectors and dealers alike know that if they call, write or meet me in person at a show that I will always take time to answer any and all questions they have in an effort to share whatever knowledge I have and make the autograph world just that much better. I have also worked with all levels of Law Enforcement and the judicial system to protect the collecting public from fraud. I have been responsible for helping in the incarceration at the Federal level of a major autograph forger, have saved the reputation of a magazine publisher and helped members of the buying public recieve refunds for fraudlent material.. These cases I mention are well documented and without dispute. They are not exaggerations or posturing on my part. They are indisputable fact. I was also voted into a directorship position by the members of the UACC. In seeing some unusual practices that hurt, not helped, members and asking questions about these practices, questions which went ignored by the club heirarchy, I was finally silenced by the leadership there in a most unusual way. In opposition to their own by-laws I was sanctioned without my club-guaranteed appeal process. This was done cloak-and-dagger style and I discovered these events were in motion on recieving notice of my sanction by the Board. On several occasions I have contacted them to discuss this issue with them and the membership at a balanced forum and have been cast aside on each occasion. In fact, as of this writing, I offered again to meet with them and any interested membership at their upcoming show in Florida and have heard nothing in several weeks since I made the request.The large UACC carpet has once again been lifted and this issue has been swept under it. On the new website AutographAlert.com I have repeatedly exposed to view dealers who sell forgeries and questionable items, or who are so uncaring in their efforts that they market this material in a way that hurts the autograph buying public.I have also exposed the poor business practices of several individuals and groups who authenticate non-legitimate material through either negligence or incompetence in a way that robs the buyer of his money and desire to build a collection. Exposing these wrongdoings embarrases these people and creates enemies.One of them called and threatened to ruin my reputation by building a website with spurious accusations so outrageous they border on the illogical to any reader with basic reading skills. Keeping his word he constructed such a site which would be amusing were it not so child-like. I can't even call the effort childish, as that word brings with it a measure of innocence. This site, and it's writings, are the stuff of malicious fantasy and the worst type of puerile vindictiveness which is far from innocent. Recently, two more of my enemies made every effort to get me disqualified from testifying in a major court case as an expert for the plaintiff. They brought to the court for special consideration the UACC censure material and the hateful website in question. They accomplished nothing but to delay the case. The Judge reviewed this material and found it's accusations baseless, it's content absurd to the point that he allowed me to continue on the case in my role in representation of the plaintiff. Their efforts got exactly what they deserved, a rebuke for spreading lies and (less than) half truths in an effort for personal gain. In
summation, a few hiccups from undesirables will not stop me from
keeping the autograph world litter-free. You can count on me to
continue my efforts to help you directly with court appearances
on your behalf , authentications, appraisals or advice and indirectly
by continuing to expose to public view those whose illegitimate
aims serve themselves and not the public. Every letter of support
or goodwill I get makes it worth the effort to maintain the best
interests of the hobby, a hobby I have loved for almost 40 years |