Signed decks -vs- "Certificate of Authenticity"

[Mike Ratledge]

(again, this doesn't fit well in any category, since it is definitely not "off topic" : Michael, if you prefer it to be in the "General" category, please feel free to move it)


Guys and gals: If I were to get cards personalized by the artist, would it be better to take the cellophane off and sign the tucks or have a separate card with their "Certificate of Authenticity" and signature?

As far as value, which is preferable?

[MagikFingerz]

I would prefer a certificate of authenticity, but only if the decks are numbered and the certificate states the numbers.

[chach]

In order of preference: Signed on Cellophane / Signed Cert. of Authenticity corresponding to # on Box / Signed on Box / Signed piece of paper saying, "Ya bro, I designed these decks." or something of that ilk.

[Tricky]

Certificate is better i guess. I prefer sealed decks

[montecarlojoe]

Certificate for me too - If a deck is signed directly on the box it's a problem for those that like to keep sealed decks, if you sign on the cello it's a problem for those that like to open the decks.

Certificate gives you the best of all worlds!

[th4mo]

As far as value, which is preferable?

If value is the chief concern, i'd wager that nothing involving opening the cellophane should even be considered.

I'm one of those that opens all my decks, but i do so knowing full well that i am sacrificing future value. That's just not the reason i collect.

[Bikefanatic]

A certificate would be best. I think what if someone has a sealed deck and write the artist's name on it just to sell it for a high price?

[Mike Ratledge]

Personally, I like the "COA" route, but I'm not certain exactly how I can get it done. I'm talking about the "Italian Cats" remainders that I have ordered. They aren't going to ship the balance (I have 6 decks on the way) until they get my payment by International Postal Money Order, but it's on the way. She has offered to sign or certify half of them (and right now I'm not certain if that is 10 or 15) as "the last of a dying breed".

Good input, thanks, all. Keep them coming!

"One of twenty Itailian Cats ("Gatteria" decks) left", maybe? Signed by Evelyne Nicod (C) 1996

I just don't know, she's frail, 77 and not able to do much. I think maybe signing them might be all she's capable of, but I'll run the "COA" idea by her roommate. I understand the thoughts behind the "signed on cellophone" means you can't open the deck, but - maybe these are all going to end up in the hands of collectors? (at least the signed ones, anyway) I expect that 1/2 of them will be unsigned, and about $50 once I get all the orders here that are wanted, maybe $75 signed with Certificate of Authenticity.

I have one deck left of the Red backs "early order" for $40 + actual shipping if anyone hasn't yet expressed interest. The others will likely be here within a few weeks (waiting for my IPMO to arrive before shipping), but the first 6 are on their way now, should be here no later than ten days.

[vasta41]

I bet I stand alone in this category but I would prefer neither. Unless the deck is rare (and I mean rare, not a self-claimed "limited" 2500 run), in which case a certificate would be nice, I would rather just have the deck. IMO, an autograph should be part of a personal experience. It's a nice sentiment but I think in order to be special and mean something, it should require a face-to-face encounter. So I guess an autograph could mean something if I ever meet the creator of a deck and had him sign a previously unsigned deck.

[Mike Ratledge]

I bet I stand alone in this category but I would prefer neither. Unless the deck is rare (and I mean rare, not a self-claimed "limited" 2500 run), in which case a certificate would be nice, I would rather just have the deck. IMO, an autograph should be part of a personal experience. It's a nice sentiment but I think in order to be special and mean something, it should require a face-to-face encounter. So I guess an autograph could mean something if I ever meet the creator of a deck and had him sign a previously unsigned deck.

Yep, I agree mostly. We're going to see if we can't get some of the deck creators to offer exactly that at the 52 Plus Joker 2014 convention here in Charleston. My announcement is posted in another thread here.

[Becky C]

No Vasta you are not alone. Signed decks or COA's don't mean much to me unless I am getting it signed in person. I am that way with all autographs. Yea it's nice to have a signed book/deck/etc. but if I don't have the experience of standing in line or happening upon the artist/author it doesn't mean very much to me.

[Mike Ratledge]

No Vasta you are not alone. Signed decks or COA's don't mean much to me unless I am getting it signed in person. I am that way with all autographs. Yea it's nice to have a signed book/deck/etc. but if I don't have the experience of standing in line or happening upon the artist/author it doesn't mean very much to me.

Well, I totally understand, but in this case I would love to have Evelyne show up at the 52 Plus Joker 2014 convention to sign them for people, but she's almost 80, lives in Milan Italy, and I'm certain that's just not going to happen. Maybe I'll just have her sign or "COA" a few of them instead of half, not sure. I'm not trying to make any serious money here, just provide a service. I'm making less than $10 per deck selling what I consider to be a truly unusual deck, and I have searched everywhere in the world for the commercially available available (issued in 1997, discontinued in 2003) Piatnik # 2177. There just aren't any. There IS one of those sealed tins, if anyone is willing to pay the 250 Euro price + actual shipping to me from Italy and then to wherever the buyer is. That's the price they have put on their last remaining tin except one they are keeping for themselves. None in Italy, Germany, France, Britain, Australia, US, Canada or Japan - and I have tried every possible place I can think of including Amazon and eBay sites in all of the above countries as well as several other card seller sites, sites suggested by them in Italy and Austria, and I came up absolutely empty-handed.

[Emmanuel]

As a collector, I prefer signed decks (with or without cellophane).

As a deck designer, the people I've met have always asked me to sign. If the cellophane is still intact, I'll pull the tab, dispose the top portion of the cellophane, slide the bottom portion of the cellophane down, sign the tuck, then slide the bottom portion up. This way, the signature and majority of the tuck is protected. Other times, people will just tear the cellophane off right in front of me and ask me to sign.

[Mike Ratledge]

Way off topic for this thread, but I can't find the OG "Italian Cats" thread?

Anyway, I found while spring cleaning : seven more sale-able Italian Cats decks of the original type sold by Evelyn Nicod's Gatteria (Cat Gallery in Italian - gatteria.it) singles, not double red & blue deck pairs sold by Piatnik as #1213

Some signed, some not. $40 unsigned, $50 signed on tuck by the artist.

>>UCdecksales<<

[Bikefanatic]

Once again, a COA with my name on it. I think the ink on the cello may wear off.