THE
LATTER FRAUD, INCREDIBLE
By the end of last month we had
knowledge that the auction house of MULLOCK MADELEY
was going to hold a Football Memorabilia auction on April 11
at Shropshire, England. The sale included an important group
of medals, postcards, tickets and other items related to the
First World Cup of 1930.
Interested as always in acquiring this type of memorabilia,
we e-mailed the auction house requesting a catalog.
We received the catalog by the first days of April. What a
big surprise when we observed the seventeen (17) Lots
corresponding to the First World Cup. To the best of our
knowledgeable understanding, four (4) Lots were definitely
false, apocryphal; two (2) others were presumably
adulterated; and, three (3) more Lots raised strong doubts
regarding to their authenticity.
But, what most strongly caught our attention was the
estimated price for one of the Lots that we are not only
certain it is false, but daringly and scandalously false. Lot
417 had an estimated price of between £8,000 to £10,000.
A few days after, an English colleague friend of us asked for
our opinion on this auction. We told him the truth. He
replied that it was difficult for him to believe this, as he
was aware of the good reputation of Mullock Madeley. We
replied back telling that a good reputation can be left
behind when the auction house is surprised by the consignor,
and him by the one who sold the items in the first place.
As a reply, on April 9 we received the attached e-mail:
We replied the above, including our
telephone number. As no answer was received, we send another
message with our opinion, listing the false Lots, and
demanding for a withdrawal from auction.
No reply was received.
We understand that the item sold for £11,000.
£11,000 added to £1,650 for commission plus taxes, amounts
to £12,650, equal to $18,216.00.
But, let's see what these unscrupulous sold for $18,216.00.
Lot 417, the one we are referring to, reads as follows:
The watercolor, of a depressing and
grotesque manufacture, shows the FORGED autographed
signatures of Santos Iriarte, José Leandro Andrade, Héctor
Castro, Héctor Scarone, Enrique Ballestero, (illegible),
Pablo Dorado, Ernesto Mascheroni, Pedro Cea, Lorenzo
Fernández, Luis Greco. Additionally, including the alleged
FINGERPRINT OF MANUEL "NOLO" FERREIRA, the Great
Captain of the Argentine Team. Showing him as an analphabet,
unable to sign his own name.
Manuel "Nolo" Ferreira, Captain of the Argentine
National Team, an unforgettable master-player of World
Soccer, was a great friend of our Great Captain José
Nasazzi. Not only he was an extraordinary football player but
also a Professional graduated at the University of La Plata.
We know of the anecdote that he left the Argentine camp at
Santiago Vazquez a few days before the World Final, to go to
La Plata to give the final exams prior to receiving his
University Diploma. How can these audacious merchants sustain
a dumb show by showing the Argentine Captain as an analphabet
person, unable to sign his own signature?
A coarse medal of a silver plated brass alloy accompanies the
watercolor, a medal easily find at the Montevideo flea
markets for less than $5.00.
Sirs, we are not wasting our time here because we have no
other things to do. We are defending the truth here on behalf
of the future of the Football Memorabilia, and most
important, on behalf of the prestige and interests of the
collectibles from the First World Cup in History. It appears
that there is a concerted boycott, a campaign against the
prestige of these genuine relics of World Soccer Football.
Also, because we are the owners of two Gold Medals awarded to
a Sacred Monster of World Soccer named José Nasazzi. We are
proud owners of his FIFA Gold Medal for the 1930 World Cup,
and a Gold Medal awarded by his team, Club Atlético Bella
Vista, for being World Champion at the Colombes Olympic Games
of 1924 (Paris). No others with more earned right than us to
defend the Historic Truth.
We are enclosing the FALSE MULLOCK WATERCOLOR. For
comparison, we are also enclosing picture of another false
medal, whose weight is of 10.6 grams and that measures 20.9
mm by 33.5 mm.
Cover of the Mullock catalog
False Medal in our hands, used as comparable element
for expertise.
Comparison of both our Medal and the one from Mullock
We are warning Football Memorabilia Collectors to beware of
unscrupulous merchants that are attempting to destroy the
Glory of the Collectibles from the First World Cup in
History. We will not hesitate in our efforts, and we will
continue denunciating these scams.
Montevideo, April 16, 2001
Rony Almeida
ronyalmeida@1930worldcupmuseum.com
