subject: Autograph Dealers - What Do I Need To Know? [print this page] Autograph authentication remains a hotly disputed genre of our business. There are third party authentication companies who, originally, declared their expertise was in sports autographed items. These companies now authenticate all autographed items and, for the most part, their performance has left a lot to be desired. We recommend you get your autographed items authenticated by a knowledgeable dealer or collector.
It is generally accepted that a dealer who has knowledge of the autograph you are having authenticated is better and more trustworthy than any third party authentication service.
Entertainment celebrity autographs namely, an autographed 8x10 signed photo of the actor in costume in a well known role or a musician in concert, is a save investment since they are usually in lower supply and in greater demand. If you have questions, feel free to ask your dealer's advice...be specific.
At Strickler's Celebrity Autographs, all autographed items we sell are either signed in our presence or obtained directly from a known & certified source. We go to great lengths to establish authenticity of our autographs, especially in an age of the internet and online auctions that have become a safe haven for forgers and inexperienced sellers of secretarials, facsimiles and forgeries. We provide you 30+ years of experience and integrity.
We sell vintage and unknown signed items only after extensive research and when confirmed as genuine. We have over 30+ years of experience in authenticating and appraising autographs and are trained in forensic handwriting and document examination using techniques that include forensic examination, exemplar comparisons, ink analysis, paper/age testing, pen pressure, etc. In the uncommon event that there is a signature with which we or our associates are unfamiliar, we have access to other recognized experts as well as an extensive library of reference materials and archive of authentic signatures for comparison. We sell ONLY authentic, hand-signed autographed memorabilia. NO REPRODUCTIONS or PREPRINTS are ever offered for sale.
The items we offer for sale are either signed in our presence or for our designated associate in-person at a show, private signing, premiere or other event. Our associates have many years of experience in entertainment including credited work on major motion pictures and television productions, professionals in the music industry, entertainment agents as well as concert and regional fair promoters. Some of our items are also signed by the celebrities in the privacy of their home, office or on working location. In order to obtain a wide variety of quality items, we have trusted contacts across the United States and the UK.
Member of the following organizations:
The Manuscript Society
IADA - International Autograph Dealers Alliance
American Philatelic Society
International Autograph Society (AdA)
The Ephemera Society of America
Antiques and Collectibles National Dealers Association
