APPRAISALS
How can I get an autograph appraised?
How can I get an autograph appraised?
Autograph Appraisals are a specialty that not everyone can do to the satisfaction of insurance companies, banks or court rooms.
Appraisers have been well credentialed in both their knowledge of autographs and abide by a number of standards required in the reports they write. They also need a firm grasp of the market and what the true value of these collectibles is under certain conditions. These conditions are dependent on customer needs and vary. A good appraiser is one who will state up front that he or she will have no interest purchasing the items they appraise for it is a very obvious conflict of interest.
What are the differant kinds of appraisals?
- Insurance Replacement Value: This appraisal provides a value equal to what it would cost to replace an existing item in your collection or inventory. Retail Value.
- Fair Market Value: This appraisal provides a value as to what the specific item or items would sell for at a well publicized auction.
- Liquidation Value: This appraisal usually used in Barkrupsy action is the price the item would bring at a quick sale.
What is the cost of doing an Autograph Appraisal?
Cost is dependant on the time it takes to examine the items as well as travel expenses and such. Most appraisers will send you a contract of services which will cover everything they will do and their rates.
Is an appraisal the same as authentication?
No. One is assessing a value of an item and the other is rendering an opinion as to the item's genuineness. These are two completely different services.
With the increase of Autograph Authentication by third parties on the rise the UACC's Board of Directors has issued the following policy:
"The UACC does not recognize third party authentication certificates not done to professional standards approved by the courts".
Court approved standard is that which uses chain of evidence. This eliminates so-called quick authentications done without proper research and the supporting data.
Our criteria for accepting autograph authenticators is:
- Proven experience and knowledge of autographs.
- The ability to articulate this knowledge in to a report accepted by the court approved chain of evidence format.
- Be approved as an expert witness by a judge or other recognized authority.
- Show a desire and proof of ongoing education in this field or publication of a scholarly work or works.
UACC APPROVED APPRAISERS AND AUTHENTICATORS
AL WITTNEBERT, has been a member of the UACC for over 40 years, as well as a former member of the prestigious International Society of Appraisers and the Manuscript Society. Mr. Wittnebert has a reference library of over 200 books on autographs as well as a large personal file of exemplars. He has written over 20 signature studies and over 100 articles on autographs. Several judges have approved Mr. Wittnebert as an expert in the autograph field. And a number of insurance companies and institutions have used Mr. Witnebert as an appraiser. He is a UACC approved Authenticator and Appraiser in Popular Cultural figures of the 20th century. Contact him at his website at www.awautographs.com or;
Phone: 352.383.1958
ROBERT P. PALAZZO, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for over 20 years, as well as a member of the State of California Bar. Mr. Palazzo has a reference library of over a 5,000 books. He is the author of several books dealing with the American West. Several judges have already approved Mr. Palazzo as an expert in autograph authenticity. He is a UACC approved authenticator in the area of Western Americana.
Phone: 805.777.7223
JOHN REZNIKOFF, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for over 15 years. He is also a member of the N.E.S.A. Mr. Reznikoff has a reference library of over 10,000 books and catalogs on autograph collecting. He has written several studies on autographs. Several judges have already approved Mr. Reznikoff as an expert in autograph authencity. Insurance companies and institution have use Mr. Reznikoff to appraise autographs. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the area of Famous Figures (excluding sports and entertainment).
Phone: 203.454.0111
KEVIN M KEATING, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for 15 years.Mr. Keating has a reference library of over a 1,000 books and files on autograph examples. He is the author of" The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide". He has provided authentication and appraising services for many government institutions. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in American Sports.
Phone: 800.241.4809
PAUL K CARR, has been a member of the UACC for over 30 years. Mr. Carr has a reference library of over 100 reference works. He is the author of "The Eisenhower File" and contributed over a dozen articles of modern President Signatures. He has provided hundreds of people with help in Presidential autographs. He is a UACC approved authenticator in American Presidents.
Phone: 302.954.8205
J.D. BARDWELL, has been a member of the UACC member for 20 years. Mr. Bardwell has a reference library of over 30 books on autograph collecting, as well as a personal facsimile library of over 50,000 signatures, and records of over 300,000 sells. He is the author of JD Bardwell's In Person Facsimile Guide. He has been authenticator for E-bay. Mr. Bardwell is UACC Registered Dealer #RD001, founder of the Registered Dealer program and owner of AutographWorld.com. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the field of contemporary autographs.
Phone: 603.749.9461
BOB JONES, has been a member of the UACC for 20 years. He has a reference library of over 30 books. He is the co-author of JD Bardwell's Facsimile Guide. In addition to these books he has 50,000 signatures and records of over 300,000 sells. Mr. Jones is UACC Registered Dealer #RD002 and owner of AutographWorld.com. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the field of contemporary autographs.
Phone: 603.749.9461
SKIP HENSEL (Harold W.), has been a collector for over 50 years. A member of the UACC for over 25 years. He is also a member of the Manuscript Society for over 15 years. He has over 50 reference works on autograph collecting and is the author of almost dozen articles on autograph collecting. He authenticated for the Louisiana State Museum and the New Orleans Museum. He is a UACC approved authenticator in the field of American Presidents.
JACK BACON, has been a member of the UACC for over 10 years, a member of the Manuscript Society for over 30 years and a member Roxburghe Club. He was mentored in autograph by the great Doris Harris. In addition, he is a candidate for International Society of Appraisers (ISA). Mr. Bacon has a reference library of over 500 books. He has written on collecting Women Autographs. Mr. Bacon has appraiser estates for City of Reno, Nevada Historical Society and private individuals. He was a consultant for Pacific Book Auctions for over 10 years, and is now a director. He is a UACC approved appraiser in Presidential and American Historical Autographs.
Phone: 775.322.1901
STUART K LUTZ, has been involved in autographs of historic America for over 25 years. His research and published articles have brought insite to a great many aspects of the autograph field. He is a UACC member and Registered Dealer.
BRIAN KATHENES ISA, CAA A Specialist Certified Appraiser of Autographs, Manuscripts and Historical Documents. Mr. Kathenes is the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, a firm specializing in personal property appraisal consulting, appraisal theory, and litigation support. He is also the host of Value This! with Brian and Leon, a weekly Public Radio call-in collectibles talk show. And the co-author of: Betcha Didn't Know That! -- 101 Antique and Collectible Trivia Tips That Could Make You Rich, Famous and the Hit of The Party. Available at: www.BetchaBook.com Mr. Kathenes has also served as an expert witness and consultant in many appraisal-related court cases including: Richard Nixon versus the United States of America -- The Watergate Presidential Papers Trial. He is the past Chairman of the International Society of Appraisers Ethics Committee, and the UACC's First Director of Education and a Life member.
800.323.5996
AL WITTNEBERT, has been a member of the UACC for over 40 years, as well as a former member of the prestigious International Society of Appraisers and the Manuscript Society. Mr. Wittnebert has a reference library of over 200 books on autographs as well as a large personal file of exemplars. He has written over 20 signature studies and over 100 articles on autographs. Several judges have approved Mr. Wittnebert as an expert in the autograph field. And a number of insurance companies and institutions have used Mr. Witnebert as an appraiser. He is a UACC approved Authenticator and Appraiser in Popular Cultural figures of the 20th century. Contact him at his website at www.awautographs.com or;
Phone: 352.383.1958
ROBERT P. PALAZZO, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for over 20 years, as well as a member of the State of California Bar. Mr. Palazzo has a reference library of over a 5,000 books. He is the author of several books dealing with the American West. Several judges have already approved Mr. Palazzo as an expert in autograph authenticity. He is a UACC approved authenticator in the area of Western Americana.
Phone: 805.777.7223
JOHN REZNIKOFF, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for over 15 years. He is also a member of the N.E.S.A. Mr. Reznikoff has a reference library of over 10,000 books and catalogs on autograph collecting. He has written several studies on autographs. Several judges have already approved Mr. Reznikoff as an expert in autograph authencity. Insurance companies and institution have use Mr. Reznikoff to appraise autographs. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the area of Famous Figures (excluding sports and entertainment).
Phone: 203.454.0111
KEVIN M KEATING, has been a member of the UACC and Manuscript Society for 15 years.Mr. Keating has a reference library of over a 1,000 books and files on autograph examples. He is the author of" The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide". He has provided authentication and appraising services for many government institutions. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in American Sports.
Phone: 800.241.4809
PAUL K CARR, has been a member of the UACC for over 30 years. Mr. Carr has a reference library of over 100 reference works. He is the author of "The Eisenhower File" and contributed over a dozen articles of modern President Signatures. He has provided hundreds of people with help in Presidential autographs. He is a UACC approved authenticator in American Presidents.
Phone: 302.954.8205
J.D. BARDWELL, has been a member of the UACC member for 20 years. Mr. Bardwell has a reference library of over 30 books on autograph collecting, as well as a personal facsimile library of over 50,000 signatures, and records of over 300,000 sells. He is the author of JD Bardwell's In Person Facsimile Guide. He has been authenticator for E-bay. Mr. Bardwell is UACC Registered Dealer #RD001, founder of the Registered Dealer program and owner of AutographWorld.com. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the field of contemporary autographs.
Phone: 603.749.9461
BOB JONES, has been a member of the UACC for 20 years. He has a reference library of over 30 books. He is the co-author of JD Bardwell's Facsimile Guide. In addition to these books he has 50,000 signatures and records of over 300,000 sells. Mr. Jones is UACC Registered Dealer #RD002 and owner of AutographWorld.com. He is a UACC approved authenticator and appraiser in the field of contemporary autographs.
Phone: 603.749.9461
SKIP HENSEL (Harold W.), has been a collector for over 50 years. A member of the UACC for over 25 years. He is also a member of the Manuscript Society for over 15 years. He has over 50 reference works on autograph collecting and is the author of almost dozen articles on autograph collecting. He authenticated for the Louisiana State Museum and the New Orleans Museum. He is a UACC approved authenticator in the field of American Presidents.
JACK BACON, has been a member of the UACC for over 10 years, a member of the Manuscript Society for over 30 years and a member Roxburghe Club. He was mentored in autograph by the great Doris Harris. In addition, he is a candidate for International Society of Appraisers (ISA). Mr. Bacon has a reference library of over 500 books. He has written on collecting Women Autographs. Mr. Bacon has appraiser estates for City of Reno, Nevada Historical Society and private individuals. He was a consultant for Pacific Book Auctions for over 10 years, and is now a director. He is a UACC approved appraiser in Presidential and American Historical Autographs.
Phone: 775.322.1901
STUART K LUTZ, has been involved in autographs of historic America for over 25 years. His research and published articles have brought insite to a great many aspects of the autograph field. He is a UACC member and Registered Dealer.
BRIAN KATHENES ISA, CAA A Specialist Certified Appraiser of Autographs, Manuscripts and Historical Documents. Mr. Kathenes is the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, a firm specializing in personal property appraisal consulting, appraisal theory, and litigation support. He is also the host of Value This! with Brian and Leon, a weekly Public Radio call-in collectibles talk show. And the co-author of: Betcha Didn't Know That! -- 101 Antique and Collectible Trivia Tips That Could Make You Rich, Famous and the Hit of The Party. Available at: www.BetchaBook.com Mr. Kathenes has also served as an expert witness and consultant in many appraisal-related court cases including: Richard Nixon versus the United States of America -- The Watergate Presidential Papers Trial. He is the past Chairman of the International Society of Appraisers Ethics Committee, and the UACC's First Director of Education and a Life member.
800.323.5996