Advice on authentication process

Whiplashy

I know absolutely nothing about collectibles. I purchased a limited edition signed yearbook edition of a one direction album when it was released years ago, with the intention of sticking it in a drawer and hoping it would increase in value. I stuck it up on ebay recently with a reserve of €250, just to test the waters and see what interest there might be out there. I have since decided to cancel the listing until I can get some advice.

I was messaged on ebay and told that there's a lot of fakes of these around, which I wasn't aware of, and asked what proof I could provide that it was legit. I still have the cardboard shipping box it came in, with the dispatch notice addressed to me with the date and a matching number on both dispatch notice and box. She then asked for a photo of a certain page in the yearbook, and after I sent it to her she said that there's a printing error on the first batch printed, which the signed ones would have been included in, and mine has the misprint, which when I checked she is right. Mine has the wrong date of birth for one of the members. She then wanted to do a deal for €225 which I was considering, but from her messages and the information she seemed to have I began to question her story that she was a massive fan and just wanted to own something signed by them. I think she may have been a collector herself and trying to get the sale through before any bids came in, which made me question if I hold onto it for a few more years will the value increase.

I'm wondering how I would go about getting the album authenticated as my first step. At first she questioned if I already had it done, and then she tried to talk me out of getting it done as "it's very expensive and doesn't really increase value" which just seems weird to me. I'm in absolutely no rush to sell it. It's been sitting in a drawer for years, and I'm happy to stick it back in it. If anyone has any advice on what I should do though it would be very much appreciated.

10-10-20

Generally mistakes or misprints such as this add value rather than detract. I'd say she knows this herself and is keen to capitolise on the bargain before you twig and put the price up. Try list it again for a higher price?

Esel

It's probably worth way more than her offer and that's why she's discouraging you from having it valued yourself!

Do some independent research on the the actual value - so you don't let it go for a lot less than it might be worth.

coylemj

It's always possible that 1D will make a comeback and that may increase the value of older collectibles associated with them. But it's inevitible that their fame will eventually fade, their fans will move on to the next boy band and/or they will simply get older and have less money to spend on this type of merchandise.

Titanic memoribilia is the glaring exception but in general terms, the older an item like yours gets, the less demand there is out there for it. I'm not saying you should sell tomorrow at any price, just suggesting that your asset value is only going to go in one direction. Pun intended.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123426337#Comment_123426337

puntastic and a good assessment. My callcard collection never did attain the hypothetical book value after Eircom ditched them either. 🤣 A passing phase!

Fishdoodle

is it signed by all band members?

Having the box & dispatch note is good confirmation

Whiplashy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123426486#Comment_123426486

Yes signed by all 5

Thanks for the advice everyone. I shall start doing some research on it

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123430843#Comment_123430843

Cool, sounds like the real deal. You could ship it (DHL , not AnPost) to an authenticator -they’ll assign it a unique number & cert. You could get well in excess what you were originally offered with that item!

Ex: JSA https://www.spenceloa.com