The Legend?

Rumor (or maybe fact) has it that a young boy named Cassius Clay asked boxer Ray Robinson for an autograph. He refused to give one. The boy hurt, swore that he would never turn down anyone that asked him for his autograph if he ever became famous.

1992 Pro Line Autograph  4/23/08

This card was inserted into packs of 1992 Pro Line football cards.  There is an unsigned version which means there are possibilities of forgeries so you need to know what you are buying.  There are key things to look out for, such as: The base card has the words "Team NFL" and the number 1 in a teal box in the bottom right corner, the autographed version does not.  The autographed version has a stamped seal which says "Certified Authentic NFL" in the bottom right corner, the base card does not.  Ali also signed some cards 'Cassius Clay', it is unknown exactly how many he signed this way but the book value is roughly double the 'Ali' version.

This card is not cheap, for an un-graded, un-authenticated copy it will cost you between $250-$350 for the Ali version and $800-1200 for the Clay.  If you don't really care about the condition of the card (rounded corners, creases, etc.) and only want one for the signature, you can pick one up for much less than book value.

Be aware of the way that he signed Cassius Clay, I have seen one that I don't believe to be real even though it has the seal in the corner.  It looks to me that someone had the Ali signed version, somehow removed the signature, and then forged 'Cassius Clay' onto the card.  The problem is that the forger signed it as Ali would sign it today (shaky), not as Ali signed in 1992.

Once-in-a-while you will find a Pro Line card being sold that someone got signed later in person or through-the-mail.  Be aware of what you are looking at.  Sometimes the seller won't mention that it's not the certified version or may not know themselves.  This type of card is worth less because part of the value of the certified card is due to the rarity of it.

A signed base version (in person or ttm).                                                 The base card with a forged signature.
       

Hologram Stickers and COA's  12/30/07

Recently forgers and unscrupulous sellers have found a new tool to help them pass their bogus autographs, hologram stickers.  All throughout the internet you can find these holograms used on COA’s and on the autographed items from sellers you never heard of.  Or worse yet, from sellers you know that you can’t trust.  Do a google search for ‘custom holograms’ and see what you find.  There are hundreds of companies that will make you hologram stickers with any picture, name, or number you want; including those dual serial numbered stickers that you see on COA’s and the item.

Quite a few times now I have received an email or spoke to someone who said that the item came with a hologram sticker and COA, which made them feel more comfortable with purchasing the item.  (That's exactly what these sellers want you to think.)  In all of these cases, the autographs that I looked at were fake.  The fact is still the same; most COA’s aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on.  Even if they now come with a shiny sticker on them.

Is my Ali autograph real? Part I

Some people have asked me "How do you know if a Muhammad Ali signature is real?" The truth is some of them (unless you see them being signed) you can never know 100%. But if you are educated in collecting Ali autographs, you can sleep better at night knowing that you most likely didn't get ripped off.  This is the first of a series.

One of the first things that I do is I examine the autograph under UV light (black light). This helps me rule out preprint because you can see the strokes and stop points when a marker is used. On a preprint the signature will be under the gloss of the photo. This is important, I have found several preprints that were thought to be authentic signatures. You can also see if the item has been modified such as removed personalization or a forgery that has been practiced and erased. These types of modifications will usually show up as a dark purple mark under UV light. (See examples below)

                 

                                     This is the original autographed photo.                                    The seller removed the personalization.

                                                                            Under UV light the erased portion looks looks this.

Pamphlets 3/28/07

For the beginner Muhammad Ali autograph collector I would recommend the signed Islamic pamphlets. You may ask, why? Because they are the most reasonably priced Ali autographs on the market and I have not seen one yet that I thought was forged. The Islamic pamphlets that Ali singed are usually dated from the mid 80's to mid 90's. Ali distributed these pamphlets at signings and sent them through-the-mail to people who wrote him asking for his autograph. He even carried them with him to hand out. He signed these pamphlets so people wouldn't throw them away and to make people aware of the Nation of Islam.

Proof shots are the most deceiving things that a dishonest seller can have. In the photo you have Ali signing an autograph. But in reality it has nothing to do with the item you’re about to purchase. When I started to collect Ali autos, I was burned by this type of deception and that is one of the reasons I have made this site. Here are some common things to look out for concerning proof shots on the internet..

Make sure the item in the P.S. is the same as the item being sold. (Example, item advertised is a glove, in the P.S. Ali is signing a magazine.)

If the photo is the same item as in the description, make sure the signatures match and that they are in the same place. If you can’t tell, e-mail the seller to send you some better pics. Most sellers who are honest, will have no problem doing so. If the sell has no other pics, sometimes it's better to stay away.

Also some sellers list proof shots that show Ali signing, but you can’t see what he is signing because the photo is cut off at the pen.

               
                                Actual Proof Shot                                                                                         Cut-off Proof Shot

Look out for proof shots that are taken from a distance. Anyone can take a pic of Ali signing for someone else.

Be aware if a seller has a bunch of autos listed and has the same proof shot for all of them. Especially if the PS is a candid photo (like at a car or in front of a hotel).

Look out for the photo of Ali sitting on the floor in front of a pile of boxing gloves, signing one. Anyone can write Ali’s name on a glove, download and print the photo, and slap it on the internet as authentic.

COA's 11/5/06

It had a Certificate Of Authenticity so it has to be real, right? Wrong. A COA is nothing more than a piece of paper saying that the autograph is real. Most of them (and you'll hear this a lot) aren't worth the paper that they are printed on. Think about it. Would you buy a George Washington autograph signed on today's newspaper just because it had a COA stating it's authentic? Most big name companies offer COA's with a matching serial numbered stickers on the item itself. Even though the COA is from a reputable dealer, the item may have been switched by a dirty seller. Be aware of thing like this. Get to know what these companies offer (like Steiner, UD, PSA, GAI, JSA) and the difference between COA's, LOA's and other forms of authentication.

Some Basics 11/4/06

Ali's autograph has changed so much over the years, maybe more than anyone else's. It's often hard to tell if an item is real or not. You have to use some common sense, do some research, and know who you're dealing with.

Common Sense: If a photo you're looking at is said to be an original from the 60's or 70's and it looks too perfect, it is possible that it might be fake. Remember collecting in the past wasn't like it is today. Now we seal autographs in plastic sleeves, frame them behind UV glass, or use other methods to preserve the autograph. I'm not saying things like this didn't happen in the past, it's just much more common now. Autographs weren't high dollar items back then. Although most of the Ali signed items on the market seem to be from 1987-1994.

Do some research: Get to know what Ali's signature looked like for the period that you're interested in. Ali dated most of his autographs. If you see a autograph that looks big and clear and it's said that the autograph was in person in 2002, I would pass.

Know who you're dealing with: The internet is a great tool for collectors. it also can mean trouble. Because without a storefront or a physical place to go to, you sometimes don't know what to expect. Ebay has a feedback system that can be helpful. If you're unsure about an item, the photo is blurry or too far away. Ask the seller to email you a close-up pic of the signature. Any legit seller would have no problem sending you the photo.