How To Find Out If A Photo You Bought Has An Authentic Autograph - By: Victor Epand

When purchasing an autographed photograph from any source other than directly from the person who signed the photo, you will want to take great care in being sure that the autograph is authentic. If you are attempting to get an autographed signature of a celebrity and you are not present when the photo is signed, you can never be 100% sure that the autograph is not a fake.

A good portion of buyers of celebrity autographed photos make their purchases over the Internet. When doing this you can never be sure that what you are getting is the real deal. So, if you can't actually be there when the celebrity is signing the autograph there are a few things you can do to protect yourself, and to assure that the photo you get has an authentic autograph.

One proven method to acquiring legitimate autographed photos is to consider visiting a local or out of state memorabilia store or dealership that specializes in celebrity and sporting autographs. When going to a trusted dealer they take the leg work out of making sure the signatures are valid. They take investigative measures to make sure that all items they sell in their store are completely authentic. The majority of dealers who operate memorabilia stores actually get the autographs from the celebrity on their own, or have staff members who do so. Some dealers even have direct access to the celebrities or to companies that have direct access to them.

Be sure to research any dealership or memorabilia store that you plan on doing business with. The more you learn about them and the more research you put into learning about them, will help you decide if they are a trusted source. You may even wish to contact the Better Business Bureau and ask them about the store and if they have had any negative reporting.

Sometimes when purchasing autographs they also come with a certificate of authenticity (COA). A COA is a certificate that is supposed to prove the authenticity of an item, in this case the photograph. Buyers must be careful when they see an item with a COA because anyone can issue a COA with an item that has been autographed. This obviously means that this alone is not the best way to find out if your autographed photo is authentic.

What is significant about the certificate of authenticity is who issues it. Again you have to be able to know that the seller of the photograph you are purchasing from is reputable and trustworthy.

If you are still questioning if the autograph is the real deal, there are authentication services that will examine your autographs and should be able to determine if you are holding a legitimate autograph or if it has been forged. There is a small fee but it may be worth it if you are looking to sell the photograph in the future or if it is worth a lot of money.

Be careful when buying from unknown dealers who do not verify their sources. If you stay with purchasing these items from legitimate dealers with good reputations, you should stay in the clear and have an easier time buying.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for autographed celebrity photos, celebrity collectibles, and autographed art. You will find it all at these sites for autographed celebrity photos authenticity, celebrity collectibles, and autographed art.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Victor-Epand/8693

Additional Articles From - Home | Arts & entertainment | Celebrities