I read the following on the Steiner Sports web site:


Each and every hand-signed collectible that carries a tamper-proof hologram is witnessed by a Steiner Sports representative. Once the collectibles have been autographed, they are cataloged and inventoried.

A notarized affidavit is prepared and signed by the athlete and a Steiner Sports representative. The notarized affidavit records the date and location of the signing and also details the items that were signed by the specified athlete. This document is then secured within the Steiner Sports main offices.

Each hand-signed collectible is examined for quality and signature condition. If the collectible meets the Steiner Sports standard of excellence a tamper-proof Steiner Sports hologram is affixed to the product.

Once the hand-signed collectible has passed the steps listed above, a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is created for the collectible. The collectible is then sealed and stored within our main office and is not handled until it is delivered to a sports collectible enthusiast.

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I am concerned about this policy. There have been times Steiner Sports has purchased a collection of autographs and sold them with their certification that they couldn't have possibly seen every item autographed.

The first one I think of is the Gloria Rothestein collection. For those of you who do not know, Gloria Rothestein was a New York card-autograph show promoter for many years during the peek of card shows. She promoted "The East Coast National" and I have no doubt her autographs were authentic, but the news was her collection was sold to Steiner Sports and they added their authenticity to her 3rd party autographs.

I also remember when Walter Payton passed away - Steiner Sports bought autographs certified by The Walter Payton Foundation and Walter Payton's family. I have no doubt the autographs were authentic, but it was public knowledge they bought these autographs after his passing and there was no way the could have witnessed them all being autographed.

What raises my concerns today is the fact that if you search on eBay for "Ali Steiner" you can find over 75 individually autographed items. I am concerned how Steiner Sports doesn't advertise for sale any Muhammad Ali autographed items, but they seem to have released a lot of autographed items by Muhammad Ali recently as the market is suddenly flooded with Steiner Sports Muhammad Ali autographed items.

Here is the clincher, these items do not come with Online Authentics to compliment the Steiner Sports COA. I thought all paid autographs of Muhammad Ali presently come also with Online Authentics certification. I have had PSA/DNA examine some of these new items and they have declined to authenticate a few examples of these items currently found on eBay.

I have no way to know if these Muhammad Ali autographs are genuine - I just find it odd how many have surfaced in the marketplace recently, the fact that they are missing Online Authentics certification and the fact that PSA/DNA will not authenticate such items.

I have emailed Steiner Sports the following questions and below it is their first response and then my reply to them:

I see a lot of Steiner Sports certified Muhammad Ali autographed items on eBay these days but I notice none of the items have Online Authentics certification. I looked on the Steiner Sports web site and I cannot find any Muhammad Ali items for sale. I was wondering if Steiner Sports has an affidavit for when Muhammad Ali autographed all these items that recently appear to have been released on the marketplace. If so, can I be sent a copy of the affidavit and if not can you please advise the date of the signing?

I appreciate your response.

Peace.

Joel

Steiner Sports Reply from Efrain Reyes:

Joel,

If you making a purchase on ebay you will need to ask these questions to that seller. We don’t send out copies of our affidavit and can’t give you signing dates.


...and I am currently awaiting a response from my reply to this email:


So, Steiner Sports doesn’t sell Muhammad Ali autographed items on their web site but the marketplace is suddenly flooded with autographs that Steiner Sports will not release when and where they were autographed? How can I buy Steiner Sports items without knowing that Steiner Sports witnessed the autographs as their published policy states?

If you cannot help me, please explain where the missing Online Authentics certification for these item are since I thought all current Muhammad Ali autographed items came with OA certification. I figure you wish to promote your items and not make a customer feel there is something suspicious going on with your vague email below telling me you do not stand behind your COAs.

There are about 75 items currently listed on eBay of Muhammad Ali certified by Steiner Sports.

Please forward my email to management if your reply will be as vague as your last email response.

Peace.

Joel
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Finally - I do not state that this current marketplace flooding of Steiner Sports Muhammad Ali autographs are or are not genuine - I have no clue about this - I just am trying to figure out the whole story about this sudden flood of autographs on the marketplace.