From: dahoov2@cox.net   
      
   PS because people want 8x10's, materprints from C2 or 11x14's, the   
   odds of having rarer names is impossible.  There were none of these   
   things available back in the times these films came out.  People   
   actually collected graphs in things like autograph albums, on shirts   
   or index cards, or promotional items of the day.  There weren't   
   collectors waiting in the wings with 8x10's to sign.  It's way   
   different now.  So now, you'll see more Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness   
   and others on 8x10's which are 'possible' to have on an 8x10, but the   
   rarity is more than people think.  Most are forged; so this new   
   movement towards 8x10's makes the field much more ripe for forgeries.   
      
   On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:20:30 -0500, Sue H  wrote:   
      
   >Yeah, the item I am not interested in (though it's a way cool thing).   
   >It's a money matter (sorry).  thanks for the offer though.   
   >   
   >Second, on this, yes, there's a new thing in the past year or so going   
   >on mostly in the Star Wars realm.  I just explained this to my friend   
   >who emailed and asked if I'd spread the word about his auction he   
   >wants to hold privately.  He doesn't want to do Ebay now (however, I   
   >don't have the connections I once did as all the older collectors   
   >STOPPED collecting as the new collectors came and took over, losing   
   >their ever-loving minds....).  He won't do well in his auction with   
   >the newbies because he's got a lot of what I have (inscribed, lesser   
   >items etc).   
   >   
   >Here's what's going on:  let's say you had 5 years ago a rare sig from   
   >Star Wars like Jack Purvis and it's on a crappy ripped piece of paper   
   >inscribed to someone and hardly worth mounting with a matte but it   
   >could barely be done but not look great.  A collector like myself is   
   >into the rarity of the item.  I'd take that and work it out so that at   
   >minimum, I'd have his sig in my collection (if legit); at least till   
   >another came along.  Now though, if you have a 8x10 good quality photo   
   >of say a common signer like Kenny Baker signed on the sweetspot in the   
   >right marker, against the Jack Purvis, the Baker might sell for more!   
   >People are passing over the rarer names in lieu of "choice" photos   
   >signed "just the right way".   
   >   
   >These new collectors are RIDICULOUS.  How this started is simple:  one   
   >or two collectors started to amass items and their choice was 8x10's   
   >mainly.  They put their items online for others to see.  New   
   >interested parties saw them.  These 8x10 guys became what I was once:   
   >the new fathers of Star Wars collectors.  So now, all the newbies look   
   >up to them.  It's insanity.  The problem lies in the lack of actual   
   >knowledge they have in some areas like forgery.  They are SOOOOO wrong   
   >continually.  Mainly, there are some buying things that are wrong and   
   >getting  seals of approval and there is now MUCH more forgery in the   
   >field.   That's why I am not in it anymore.  If REALLY serious newbies   
   >are into actual signatures and are willing to sacrifice 8x10's and   
   >"choice" for REAL stuff, they know where I am.   
   >   
   >I don't know about the ranking system.  But email me the name of the   
   >person bidding if you know and perhaps I can tell you if he's part of   
   >this new "elitest" crowd who are insane.   
   >   
   >On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:09:09 -0800 (PST),   
   >bigmikefootball2004@yahoo.com wrote:   
   >   
   >>hey sue,   
   >>for starters, i sent you an email a little bit ago about an item i   
   >>have...let me know what you think.   
   >>   
   >>ok, a few months ago, i saw that you were posting a bit about some   
   >>idiots approving star wars autographs and grading them as far as if   
   >>they were a 10, or a 2 based on niceness etc...   
   >>can you tell me which websites you were talking about...   
   >>   
   >>some guy emailed me in regards to a poster that i'm selling for a   
   >>friend and someone gave the item a 2 on the harrison ford (it's real,   
   >>it's just really crappy)...but then, this guy made an offer for the   
   >>poster (wanting it really badly.)...so i wanted to see this stuff you   
   >>were talking about...   
   >>   
   >>just for reference...we were selling the poster for $1500, and then   
   >>this guy gives me a 2 rating on the poster for the ford autograph (he   
   >>gave us higher grades for like fisher, hammill, lucas, daniels, dake   
   >>etc.)...but then the guy who GAVE US the grade called and wanted to   
   >>buy it for $500...obviously, it was a ploy to lower my price...but i   
   >>would like to know where people are getting their information.   
   >>thanks in advance.   
   >>m   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)