America's Autograph Auction Houses - By: David Thoreau

America's autograph auction houses offer some of the best autographed memorabilia on the planet. Finding a reputable autograph dealer is essential when buying or selling autographs at auction.

There are many red flags to watch out for on the road to building or selling autographs through an autograph auction house. Knowing some of the red flags will help you avoid painful missteps.

Who owns the auction company?
Be careful when dealing with auction houses that are operated by a dealer but licensed by a friend or family member. Licensed owners of some auction houses issue mass-produced certificates of authenticity with preprinted facsimile signatures from third-party dealers who may not have even examined the autograph. Certificates of Authenticity issued by these dealers are practically worthless because your only recourse is through the auction house that sold you the item. AutographAlert has many informative examples about the uses and abuses of Certificates of Authenticity from auctioneers.

Post-auction bidding
Some auction houses allow bidding after official close of auction. This strategy enhances expenses for bidders and raises profits for seller and the auctioneer.

Extravagant Expense
A survey of seven autograph auction companies by AutographAlert found that certain autograph auction houses had very high buyer's premium. Unless the autographed item has special significance to you or your collection, you are probably much better off spending your hard-earned dollar for autographs at more favorable prices.

Learn as much as possible about autograph auction houses through reputable organizations and recognized experts. An informed autograph collector raises the bar for improving standards in the autograph auction industry.

There are many red flags to watch out for on the road to building or selling autographs through an autograph auction house. Knowing some of the red flags will help you avoid painful missteps.

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