56' Ford Panel - Hot Wheels

This truck is made completely from metal, so it’s quite heavy. Too bad we can’t get Ultra Hots series in Malaysia.

Aussie Fans Dark on 'Twilight' Stars Autograph Charges

TWILIGHT excitement turned to anger yesterday as Geelong fans of the cult teen movie lashed out at the $30 charged for Sunday’s autograph signing.

The stars and their management company bagged at least $16,000 from the two hours’ work, thanks to the 542 signatures for eager fans who flooded Ryrie St’s Gifts for the Geek store.

East Geelong mum Jacqui Dawson said the fee was wrong.

“My 13-year-old lined up with her friends and she didn’t know she had to pay $30 til she got to the door,” Ms Dawson said.

“She didn’t have $30; I gave her money for Maccas and that’s it.”

She said her daughter, Shari, was disappointed at the outcome.

“Probably their main audience is young teenage girls, now that’s a lot of money for a teenager.”

Other fans sent the Geelong Advertiser emails to express their disgust.

One fan, Leopold’s Mahayla Goodwin, said she lined up for three hours in the rain before discovering the autograph fee.

“Like most 14 year old teen’s (sic) we have to work for our money and I could not justify spending that much on autographs,” she wrote.

Another fan, Lauren, said the $30 fee was “a total rip off”.

Gifts for the Geek’s Darren Parker was keen to point out the business made no money directly from the signing.

He said the management company of Hollywood stars Kellan Lutz and Edi Gathegi only brought them to town on the condition it would be profitable.

And he said the $30 cost was cheap compared to the standard US$40 the pair charged in the United States, or the 30 in the United Kingdom.

He said the store published a disclaimer about the fee at the bottom of promotional material.

Geelong memorabilia expert, Sportznut store co-owner Ron Harrison, defended what he described as an “appearance fee”.

He said it was common that any celebrity, sports or movie star, was paid to appear at such signings.

And Mr Harrison said the emergence of auction websites such as eBay, on which fans could sell celebrity autographs for their own profit, made stars more wary when giving away their signature for nothing.

On a local celebrity level, Geelong Cats media spokesman Kevin Diggerson said most AFL players were still happy to sign for fans at no cost.

“I think you’d find AFL players are among the most accessible athletes in the world,” Mr Diggerson said.

He said some became wary when the same person requested an autograph multiple times but generally players were happy to give a fan a thrill be signing their autograph if it was for personal use.

First Look: 2009 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball

Upper Deck has released nearly a dozen never before seen images of cards from 2009 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball, which is currently scheduled for release in June.

Each 5-card box of 2009 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball will contain the following:

* (1) Autographed rookie card
* (1) Additional Autographed card
* (1) Additional Autographed card or Game Used Memorabilia card
* (1) Base card
* (1) Autographed, Game Used Memorabilia, Parallel, or Base card.

There will be three boxes per case and all autographs were signed on-card.

New this year are the Career Portfolio booklet cards that combine autographs and memorabilia pieces into one showcase card. Also look for diecut 1/1 autographs from Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Michael Jordan and Player Exclusive Signed Boxes which feature 5 cards of the same player. There are 15 Player Exclusive boxes that include NBA Superstars such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James.

NBC's 'Heroes' Autism Benefit Signing Report - Milo Ventimiglia, Robert Forester, Adrian Pasdar

by Mike Sametz

Today is one of those rare occasions when I get out of the house on Sunday afternoon. LOL… today is a benefit for autism thrown by the cast of NBC's Heroes. There are supposed to be many special guests including Ms. Sheryl Crow who I have been trying to get on my 1996 Rolling Stone magazine forever! Sigh… I also have a Heroes poster I started when the show first premiered (you can check out my previous signing report featuring Milo Ventimiglia here: www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/375/MILO-VENTIMIGLIA–TIM-SALE-SIGNING-REPORT.aspx) and wouldn't mind finishing that as well.

2:00 p.m. – I just arrived in Hollywood and who knew that they changed all the parking meters! It used to be that you could park all day on Sunday for free. I guess not anymore! Grumble.

2:26 p.m. – I found parking, after a half hour of driving around. Sigh… there are about 8 other people already here waiting. I heard Kristen Bell, Ali Larter, and more will be attending. It should be a fun day, but it is so hot, I'm talking like 90 degree's hot. Ugh… I miss those wonderful 70 degree southern California days… I guess no more huh? Sigh, damn global warming!

2:49 p.m. – Erica and her sister Linda are going to swing by after their event at the Paley Fest. They are going to the Pushing Daisies panel. Hopefully, they are cooler than I am.

3:19 p.m. – I heard that there is a reception at 5:00 p.m. and then the bands play at 7:00 p.m. Hopefully, there will be some arrivals beforehand.

3:47 p.m. – There are a few other fans here now. Heroes has a very loyal fan base. Personally, I have fallen out of love with the show in recent years. However, I have caught a few more episodes from the later part of this season and they were really good. Hopefully, the show is back on track, I have hopes, but I don't know if I can make it a regular part of my viewing week. But, I am more than willing to try and give it another shot.

4:13 p.m. – The Band from TV is rehearsing now. Check out their website for more information www.thebandfromtv.com. They have a fun lineup and are really a kick to see live… well, so I'm told. I have never actually seen them live, but I heard they were great.

4:23 p.m. – Still no sign of Sheryl, I was hoping to catch her going in for sound check but it looks like she is not sound checking or she's gone in already, which seems sort of unlikely.

4:49 p.m. – It is so hot. I am really hoping that this event starts soon because I might melt. Plus, I have to catch Desperate Housewives later on!

4:51 p.m. – Erica just showed up with her luscious sister Linda.

5:09 p.m. – Linda has some 8×10 photos and Erica has a fun pamphlet from primatech Paper Company, a faux company featured on Heroes. Very nice.

5:11 p.m. – Oh, Milo Ventimiglia just showed up. He has a very unique hair cut… I'm not sure if it's very flattering on him, Erica doesn't think so. I think I agree with Erica.

5:14 p.m. – Milo is signing a lot I got him on a second Heroes poster which I started just for overlap, and Both Erica and Linda got him as well.

5:18 p.m. – Jack Coleman just showed up and is signing as well. I got Jack on my second poster and the two lovely sisters got him as well.

5:25 p.m. – Milo is still signing his little heart out…

5:27 p.m. – Christine Rose just arrived. She signed like two things and ran inside.

5:31 p.m. – Still no Sheryl Crow… L

5:36 p.m. – Milo just finished signing stuff… lol… He is really good to his fans.

5:42 p.m. - Noah Gray-Cabey just showed up. He played Ali Larter's son in the series during season 1 and 2. All three of us got him on our various pieces of memorabilia. People really collect child signatures. Go figure?

5:51 p.m. – The legendary Robert Forester just arrived and is signing away. I got him on my original Heroes poster. He is such a gentleman, and is quite friendly.

6:04 p.m. – Brea Grant just arrived. She played Greg Grunberg's girlfriend who died a few episodes back. She is so sweet in person and so cute. She signed up and down the line for people.

6:23 p.m. – Greg Grunberg just came out and is signing away. He only has a few minutes he says, he does the line, but I miss him on my second poster. Linda kinda cut me off to get him on her poster. I already have him on my original poster so I'm not holding it against her. Although, if she finds herself sleeping outside tonight don't be shocked!

6:44 p.m. – It seems we have hit quite a lull, and it is still smoking hot. Erica brought us some water so at least we're not going to melt!

6:48 p.m. – Adrian Pasdar is doing the press line. He stops to come over and sign up and down the line. He is such a nice guy. I got him on my original Heroes poster, and he asked me where I would like him to sign because the poster is getting quite full. Lol… that was funny. Linda and Erica got him as well.

This was a hot day, and no Ms. Sheryl Crow did not show up from what I could see. There goes 5 hours I basically spent waiting for her… sigh… oh well, it was still fun and I always enjoy hanging out with Linda and Erica. Plus, we all got reacquainted with Heroes, which was nice. Check out www.heroesforautism.com for more information about the charity, it is a wonderful cause.

NBC's 'Heroes' Autism Benefit Signing Report - Milo Ventimiglia, Robert Forester, Adrian Pasdar

by Mike Sametz

Today is one of those rare occasions when I get out of the house on Sunday afternoon. LOL… today is a benefit for autism thrown by the cast of NBC's Heroes. There are supposed to be many special guests including Ms. Sheryl Crow who I have been trying to get on my 1996 Rolling Stone magazine forever! Sigh… I also have a Heroes poster I started when the show first premiered (you can check out my previous signing report featuring Milo Ventimiglia here: www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/375/MILO-VENTIMIGLIA–TIM-SALE-SIGNING-REPORT.aspx) and wouldn't mind finishing that as well.

2:00 p.m. – I just arrived in Hollywood and who knew that they changed all the parking meters! It used to be that you could park all day on Sunday for free. I guess not anymore! Grumble.

2:26 p.m. – I found parking, after a half hour of driving around. Sigh… there are about 8 other people already here waiting. I heard Kristen Bell, Ali Larter, and more will be attending. It should be a fun day, but it is so hot, I'm talking like 90 degree's hot. Ugh… I miss those wonderful 70 degree southern California days… I guess no more huh? Sigh, damn global warming!

2:49 p.m. – Erica and her sister Linda are going to swing by after their event at the Paley Fest. They are going to the Pushing Daisies panel. Hopefully, they are cooler than I am.

3:19 p.m. – I heard that there is a reception at 5:00 p.m. and then the bands play at 7:00 p.m. Hopefully, there will be some arrivals beforehand.

3:47 p.m. – There are a few other fans here now. Heroes has a very loyal fan base. Personally, I have fallen out of love with the show in recent years. However, I have caught a few more episodes from the later part of this season and they were really good. Hopefully, the show is back on track, I have hopes, but I don't know if I can make it a regular part of my viewing week. But, I am more than willing to try and give it another shot.

4:13 p.m. – The Band from TV is rehearsing now. Check out their website for more information www.thebandfromtv.com. They have a fun lineup and are really a kick to see live… well, so I'm told. I have never actually seen them live, but I heard they were great.

4:23 p.m. – Still no sign of Sheryl, I was hoping to catch her going in for sound check but it looks like she is not sound checking or she's gone in already, which seems sort of unlikely.

4:49 p.m. – It is so hot. I am really hoping that this event starts soon because I might melt. Plus, I have to catch Desperate Housewives later on!

4:51 p.m. – Erica just showed up with her luscious sister Linda.

5:09 p.m. – Linda has some 8×10 photos and Erica has a fun pamphlet from primatech Paper Company, a faux company featured on Heroes. Very nice.

5:11 p.m. – Oh, Milo Ventimiglia just showed up. He has a very unique hair cut… I'm not sure if it's very flattering on him, Erica doesn't think so. I think I agree with Erica.

5:14 p.m. – Milo is signing a lot I got him on a second Heroes poster which I started just for overlap, and Both Erica and Linda got him as well.

5:18 p.m. – Jack Coleman just showed up and is signing as well. I got Jack on my second poster and the two lovely sisters got him as well.

5:25 p.m. – Milo is still signing his little heart out…

5:27 p.m. – Christine Rose just arrived. She signed like two things and ran inside.

5:31 p.m. – Still no Sheryl Crow… L

5:36 p.m. – Milo just finished signing stuff… lol… He is really good to his fans.

5:42 p.m. - Noah Gray-Cabey just showed up. He played Ali Larter's son in the series during season 1 and 2. All three of us got him on our various pieces of memorabilia. People really collect child signatures. Go figure?

5:51 p.m. – The legendary Robert Forester just arrived and is signing away. I got him on my original Heroes poster. He is such a gentleman, and is quite friendly.

6:04 p.m. – Brea Grant just arrived. She played Greg Grunberg's girlfriend who died a few episodes back. She is so sweet in person and so cute. She signed up and down the line for people.

6:23 p.m. – Greg Grunberg just came out and is signing away. He only has a few minutes he says, he does the line, but I miss him on my second poster. Linda kinda cut me off to get him on her poster. I already have him on my original poster so I'm not holding it against her. Although, if she finds herself sleeping outside tonight don't be shocked!

6:44 p.m. – It seems we have hit quite a lull, and it is still smoking hot. Erica brought us some water so at least we're not going to melt!

6:48 p.m. – Adrian Pasdar is doing the press line. He stops to come over and sign up and down the line. He is such a nice guy. I got him on my original Heroes poster, and he asked me where I would like him to sign because the poster is getting quite full. Lol… that was funny. Linda and Erica got him as well.

This was a hot day, and no Ms. Sheryl Crow did not show up from what I could see. There goes 5 hours I basically spent waiting for her… sigh… oh well, it was still fun and I always enjoy hanging out with Linda and Erica. Plus, we all got reacquainted with Heroes, which was nice. Check out www.heroesforautism.com for more information about the charity, it is a wonderful cause.

Autograph Book Stuff of Legends

The book, almost 80 years old, is worn around the edges. It has a green felt cover that now looks and feels like the playing surface on an old pool table, the nap rubbed to the nub. A stylized drawing of a quill overlaps the faded title. Autographs, the title says.

Inside, each page is a different colour. There is pink and green, lemon and cream. Many of the pages remain blank, just as they were when 11-year-old Jim Mitchell was given the book by his uncle Bill in 1932.

Jim lived in North Portal, a village bordering Saskatchewan and North Dakota. This was back in the day when pro sports teams passed through town on train. If an enterprising kid camped out at the CPR Station or in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in North Portal, there is no telling who he might see.

An entry in Jim’s book has him at the station on Oct. 16, 1934, a Tuesday.

The date is recorded in the upper right corner of a page. Across the middle of the page, a name is written large:

Sincerely

Babe Ruth

Jim’s old autograph book is still in the family, stored in a safe-deposit box in Saskatoon, and although his four sons never got to hear the full story of how he met Ruth - Jim died of a heart attack in 1959 at age 38, before the Mitchell boys were old enough to appreciate their father’s brush with baseball history - through the years Craig and Ian and Allan and Robin Mitchell have managed to fill in the blanks.

They know that after the 1934 World Series, a team of 14 American League all- stars was assembled for an exhibition tour of Japan.

As the all-stars took the train to the West Coast, they barnstormed across the prairies, playing games in Winnipeg and North Dakota and Calgary and Edmonton. (In Vancouver, legend has it Lou Gehrig played first base in galoshes and while holding an umbrella.)

Along the way the ball team hit North Portal.

Little Jim Mitchell met big Babe Ruth, who was 39 and coming off his final season with the New York Yankees.

Jim met other members of the American League all-stars that day at the CPR depot, too.

He met pitcher Joe Cascarella and umpire John Quinn.

He talked with Connie Mack, whose career as manager of the Philadelphia Athletics spanned 50 seasons.

Charlie Gehringer was one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball history. His Detroit Tigers had just finished the World Series, losing in seven games to the Gashouse Gang from the St. Louis Cardinals. Gehringer joined the others in signing Jim’s book.

From what the Mitchell sons gather, their dad collected autographs for only two years, but he did a swell job of it. The names in his book were not just stars of that era, but of all time.

One of the pages in his book features 15 signatures from the 1931-32 Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs. There’s Harvey (Busher) Jackson and King Clancy, Ace Bailey and Hap Day, Red Horner and Joe Primeau. That is a Hockey Hall of Fame six-pack right there.

There is more.

Remember Charlie Conacher? He played on the Kid Line on the Maple Leafs with Jackson and Primeau. He led the NHL in goals five times.

Chas Conacher, reads the autograph in Jim’s book.

“It’s just a fascinating piece of history,” said Robin Mitchell, the youngest of Jim’s four sons.

A former history teacher, Robin is the principal at a Saskatoon high school. He has had the autograph book in his safekeeping since he was 15, going back to when he and his brothers lived with their mother, Mary.

A few years ago, Robin contacted a sports memorabilia dealer in San Diego to get a ballpark figure on what the old autograph book is worth.

“He said about $2,000,” said Robin, who added a couple of Hall of Fame signatures to the book when speaking engagements brought goalies Gerry Cheevers and Ken Dryden to Saskatoon.

Robin also went on eBay.

“I’m not a big eBay guy,” he said. “I was just looking. Someone had listed a program (from the 1934 American League All-Star series) in Japan with autographs of all the players. Holy smokes. This guy was asking $1.4 million.

“I recognize the value of what we’ve got. That’s why it’s in a safe-deposit box. If we did sell, we’d have to have a summit meeting of the four of us first. And, sure, if this was something I’d just found in a store somewhere, I’m selling it yesterday.

“Without being too melodramatic this is about more than the names in that book. This is my connection with Dad.

“It’s priceless.”

The 1934 American League all-stars went 17-0 in their exhibition series in Japan. Ruth hit 13 homers. According to the New York Times, he and the team rode from the Tokyo train station to their hotel in open convertibles, Japanese fans lined the route, waving American flags.

“I love Bay-bee,” they shouted. “I love Bay-bee.”

Ruth’s wife, Claire, and his 18-year-old daughter, Julia, accompanied him on the tour. Which is curious, because in Jim’s autograph book, under Babe Ruth’s signature, there is a second name. His companion in North Porta signed her name Judy Ruth.

“Who is Judy Ruth?” Robin Mitchell said. “That’s a mystery. We haven’t figured that one out.”

Upper Deck Looks For Football Card Inscription Ideas

Will Matthew Stafford write “I’m #1′ ? Will Michael Crabtree pen “you’ll regret not taking me”?

This year’s draft class will be adding some collector-requested submissions to its autographed rookie cards next month.

In another effort to get collectors as close to the game – and the players – as possible, Upper Deck is providing an opportunity for gridiron card aficionados.

Through its Facebook page, the company is soliciting collectors’ ideas for inscriptions to be added to its autographed rookie cards.

At this year's NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot on May 16 at the L.A. Coliseum, Upper Deck will be asking some of the top rookies to add those inscriptions as they sign for upcoming Upper Deck football products throughout 2009.

First-round draft picks like Matt Stafford, Aaron Curry, Mark Sanchez and Michael Crabtree will be signing Upper Deck cards with inscriptions dictated by astute football card collectors.

Upper Deck will take the best submissions posted and get the majority of those fulfilled during the fast-approaching NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot. Collectors have until Monday, May 4, to submit their entries.

Upper Deck Looks For Football Card Inscription Ideas

Will Matthew Stafford write “I’m #1′ ? Will Michael Crabtree pen “you’ll regret not taking me”?

This year’s draft class will be adding some collector-requested submissions to its autographed rookie cards next month.

In another effort to get collectors as close to the game – and the players – as possible, Upper Deck is providing an opportunity for gridiron card aficionados.

Through its Facebook page, the company is soliciting collectors’ ideas for inscriptions to be added to its autographed rookie cards.

At this year's NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot on May 16 at the L.A. Coliseum, Upper Deck will be asking some of the top rookies to add those inscriptions as they sign for upcoming Upper Deck football products throughout 2009.

First-round draft picks like Matt Stafford, Aaron Curry, Mark Sanchez and Michael Crabtree will be signing Upper Deck cards with inscriptions dictated by astute football card collectors.

Upper Deck will take the best submissions posted and get the majority of those fulfilled during the fast-approaching NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot. Collectors have until Monday, May 4, to submit their entries.

The 100 Day Volunteer Certificates & the Proliferation of Facsimile Abraham Lincoln Signatures

Reprinted from AutographAlert.com

In the fall of 1864 thousands of Union volunteers who served a hundred days of service that summer were issued a certificate of thanks by the War Department -an impressive looking, partially-printed, engraved document, bearing the signatures of Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and the President, Abraham Lincoln. Other than clerical editing and transcription on the document, all text on the document is printed, including the signatures of Stanton and Lincoln.

In the century and a half that’s followed the issue of the certificate, perhaps no Civil War era document bearing Lincoln’s signature has been the source of more confusion and fraud, and subsequently, bought and sold as authentic by seasoned dealers, auction houses, and collectors. Even more disturbing is the trend over the past decade of destroying the certificates for Lincoln’s, and to a lesser extent, Stanton’s, signatures. Authentic American Civil War documents have been routinely mutilated by a handful of unscrupulous dealers-clipping the facsimile signatures from the documents and selling them as real.

A Hundred Day Certificate for the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Volunteers
The Hundred Days Men, or 100 Day Volunteers, was the nickname for the short-term, volunteer enlistments mustered in the summer of 1864 for 100 days of service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. These lightly trained troops were intended to free veteran units from routine duty to allow them to go to the front lines for combat purposes.

The concept of the hundred-day volunteer was first proposed by the Governor of Ohio, John Brough, in the spring of 1864. Brough was concerned with Confederate incursions and invasions of the North, such as Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan’s cavalry raid into Ohio in 1863. Brough’s idea was to federalize the state militia into service for a period of 100 days to provide short-term troops that would serve as rear echelon guards and laborers to free veteran units for combat duty. This would increase the number of fighting men in the Union armies campaigning in the South, which, ideally, would achieve victory for the North within one hundred days.

Brough contacted the governors of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Jersey to do likewise in an effort to raise 100,000 men. They submitted their plan to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, and the proposal was immediately approved by President Abraham Lincoln.

In total, approximately 81,000 men were mustered for a 100-day period. Over 35,000 were federalized from Ohio alone. The remaining numbers were primarily from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These veterans became known as Hundred Days Men. Unfortunately for the North, the primary objective of the Hundred Days Men-defeating the South within one hundred days-fell short by a few months.

Nevertheless, in recognition of their efforts, at the end of their duty the Hundred Day Volunteers were issued a certificate of service by the War Department. These documents, a “Certificate of Thanks,” were issued to the tens of thousands of men who had volunteered. They were partially-printed, with “THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER SERVICE” arcing across the top margin over an ornately engraved eagle clutching the American flag. There were at least two versions of the document printed. One version recognized the men who volunteered from the states of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin inclusive; another was issued exclusively for the men of Ohio (presumably because of the high volume of volunteers from that state). Signatures of Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and President Abraham Lincoln appear at the bottom of the document.

A Hundred Day Certificate for the Ohio Volunteers
Like other partially-printed, original, presidential documents from the Civil War, personal information-names, dates, rank, etcetera-was filled in by a clerk’s hand. However, not original are the signatures of Edwin M. Stanton and Abraham Lincoln. Their signatures were prepared from traced engravings onto the printing plate as part of the form document.

The Engraved Signatures of Edwin Stanton and Abraham Lincoln
Over the years copies of the Hundred Day Volunteer certificates have gradually entered the autograph marketplace as authentically signed Lincoln documents. It’s understandable why. To the trained or untrained eye, at first glance, without several certificates to compare with, the signatures of Lincoln and Stanton appear to be original. On close inspection, however, what stands out is the contrast in ink between the clerical writing and the rest of the document. The iron-based ink from the clerk’s hand has rusted and turned brown and relatively faded with age. Secondary is the uneven flow and impression one would expect from handwritten script. In comparison, the facsimile signatures of Lincoln and Stanton, perfectly imprinted onto the document, are the same color ink and age-toned as the printed text of the document.

Though naïve, unsuspecting, and yes, unscrupulous dealers and collectors alike have bought and sold the volunteer certificates as original Lincoln Documents Signed, in recent years awareness of the printed signatures on the document has grown. The practice of has been stemmed in large part by the informative efforts of honest dealers and auction houses, and websites like the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency .

The practice that does continue, and what dealers and collectors need to be aware of, is the printed Lincoln signatures that have been cut from the document and sold as authentic full Abraham Lincoln signatures. These signatures were sold into the marketplace in the late 1990s and early 2000s by a handful of unscrupulous dealers via the web. The rise of online auctions, in particular eBay, with no checks, standards, or independent, qualified authenticating authority, allowed for the proliferation of the facsimile Lincoln signatures.

The telltale signs you may have a facsimile Lincoln signature cut from the Hundred Days certificates are:
a) Lincoln placed a period at the end of his name for the engraving
b) The dark, even flow of ink which is common of printed text
c) The faded, browned text common of iron-based ink is absent
d) The full Abraham Lincoln signature

If you’re still uncertain check for traces of possible dot removement. There may be instances where a dealer may have tried to remove the dot to make their signature look different, or may have clipped the period off which would render the “n” in Lincoln at the very edge of the right margin.

It is certain that there are many presidential autograph collections with the facsimile Lincoln signature in them. It’s only a matter of time before the generation of collectors who acquired these signatures as authentic begin to return them to the marketplace. Every effort should be made to trace back to the originating source of the signatures to compensate the victims down the line. If your Lincoln signature matches the one above return the signature to the dealer for a refund. It is important, at this juncture, for the autograph community to recognize and weed out the facsimile Lincoln signatures from the marketplace. Whether intentionally or innocently, the continued selling of the facsimile Lincoln signature by anyone at any level is a discredit and blow to the hobby.

Kevin's Report: Matt Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, Mandy Patinkin, Richard Dreyfuss and Harold Holzer

It’s time to catch-up . . . so here it goes.

On Friday night, I made the cross-state trip to the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy, Illinois, to catch-up with actor Matt Dillon as he arrived for his appearance the next day at Ebertfest in Champaign. Dillon was the second passenger off the plane. I greeted him as he exited the escalator, and for a moment, I believe he thought I was his driver. I asked for a photo and he obliged. As my friend, Mark, asked for a photo, Dillon replied, “OK, let’s just do this.” He posed for Mark and then signed one item for each of us. It was clear that it was a “one” autograph night for Dillon. As he was signing my 8 x 10 from Crash, I tried to chat with him about his running and his favorite places to run in Manhattan. Unfortunately, he didn’t feel much like talking.

On April 17, Legendary singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson stopped by the Bottleneck Blues Bar at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri. And, thanks to my friend, Mark, we got to see his show for free.

Following his 90-minute set, Kristofferson reappeared in the Bar to meet fans who attended the show (you had to have that magical "hand stamp"). He was in a great mood as he chatted up fans, signed autographs, and took photographs.

A few weeks earlier, I was expecting a quick down and back trip to Lambert St. Louis International Airport to meet Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. However, it turned into an extra couple of hours in the terminal as their flight was delayed almost two hours. Upon arrival, I walked with them and several other collectors as the duo made their way to baggage claim. Mandy was accommodating as he posed for this photograph and signed an 8 x 10. Patti, on the other hand, just wouldn’t take a photograph. She said she had no makeup and her hair was a mess. It didn’t look that way to me. She just wouldn’t budge. This made the fourth time I’ve tried for the photo. Maybe next time? Nevertheless, Patti did sign an 8 x 10 for the collection.

Finally, on March 28, Richard Dreyfuss was about a mile from my home. He was appearing, along with Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, at a special Lincoln Bicenntennial program at Illinois College. Following the program, both signed autographs and posed for photos with just about everyone who wanted the opportunity. Dreyfuss signed a photo of us taken two years earlier at a Shakespeare Festival private reception in St. Louis. He had a little trouble recalling the event, but he liked the photo and joked “well, at least we both look good.” Holzer, meanwhile, took a liking to the photograph too. Afterwards, he signed an 8 x 10 shot for me and posed for the picture below. He then said, “Now, you’ll have to find me next year so I can sign OUR photo.”

Thanks again Kevin! Go to Kevin’s Celeb Pics to see all of his personal celebrity encounters

Authentication Stickers: Affixed By Morons?

Reprinted from AutographAlert.com

Much has been said about affixing unsightly self-advertising autograph authentication stickers to autographed material. Nothing said about it is positive. One of our last articles had someone who is a member of one of the high profile companies that claim to authenticate autographs returning an autographed photograph because it had one of these stickers affixed to it. The company he is listed as an authenticator places these type stickers on original autographed items.

No one to date has come to us advising how these horrific stickers can be removed form an autograph without damaging the original item. Many collectors would like to know?

The following is a copy of a email from one of our educated readers and how he feels about the sticker atrocity:

Subj: More PSA/DNA Stupidy
4/25/2009 9:13:14 PM
To: autographalert@aol.com

From their new 2009 Goudey baseball product, they have inserted original Goudey cards that were autographed. As you can see, PSA/DNA has attached their sticker to an original 1934 Goudey card. What a bunch of morons!

Muscle Mania - Hot Wheels

Added a few more Muscle cars into my collection. Enjoy the pics