The Legendary Signatures Inc Collection

Integrity Within The Hobby

In everyday life we hear the term “integrity” tossed around but what does it really mean when put into practical terms? One definition found on dictionary.com is that integrity is the “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character, honesty”. This is a fairly concise expression of the generally accepted definition in the world for this word. On the face of it, it seems pretty straightforward and easy to follow. However, if that is the case, why is it so difficult for so many people to act with integrity?

This may seem an odd topic to some for discussion in an article related to collecting. However, a collector’s integrity can and will at times be tested. The passion with which we pursue our collections is a powerful force which for some borders on obsession. When this force is channeled in a positive fashion it is a wonderful asset to the collector and it can result in a marvelously conceived collection meticulously constructed. Many of the world’s famous collections are a product of just this sort of fervor.

However, when this passion overtakes common sense and decency a collector can be posed with a difficult crossroads. Does one compromise one’s values to land a special piece that is critical to one’s collection? Does the temptation to reap profit cause one to forego their morals? This may sound dramatic to some of you but let’s put it into a couple everyday examples.

Say for instance that an advanced coin collector is searching a dealer’s box of junk coins and finds a rare key date. He then pays the dealer’s asking price and walks away with the coin in hand. This is referred to as a “cherry pick” and is almost universally seen to be fair play and good fortune for the collector. The dealer, who is a professional numismatist, holds himself out as an expert in coins and should know better than to let a valuable piece slip through his fingers. If a coin is sold below value to a collector, good for the collector is the general consensus.

Now let’s change the scenario a bit. That same expert collector is sifting through a box of coins owned by a novice collector. He finds the key date piece, downplays the situation and misleads the owner as to its value, then offers “common” coin money to the newcomer in an effort to take advantage of him. Is this ethical? Some would say “yes, the owner of the coin should know what he has”. However, just as many would say “no, that isn’t the right thing to do”. I personally know of many honest collectors who would educate the novice and then make a reasonable offer fair to both parties. To me, this is acting with integrity.

Let’s consider another situation. A collector buys a baseball card from Dealer A at a show for $50. He goes home happy with his purchase only to determine a few weeks later that the card is a counterfeit. He doesn’t know if the dealer knew this and does not know who the dealer was or how to reach him. A few months pass and he attends another show. He takes the card and shows it to several dealers, offering no information good or bad about the card. The first few who view the card reject it because they identify it as a fake. However, a different dealer offers to buy it for $40 clearly believing it is real. Is it ethical to sell the card? The obvious answer is “no” but you’d be surprised how many people attempt to do such things every day in the hobby. Rather than take their own personal loss and destroy the fake item or pursue a refund which can be difficult if not impossible and time consuming, they simply try to move the item along to someone else. They justify to themselves that the buyer should know what they are buying but the bottom line is that this is blatantly wrong and dishonest.

These are just two very common and very basic examples of ways a person’s integrity can be tested when financial repercussions are involved. The pressure to make the wrong choice can be even greater when a “key” piece that is desperately needed to complete a collection is in play.

Say that Collector A becomes aware of negotiations between a fellow collector, Collector B, and the owner of an item which Collector A would like to own. Collector A and Collector B are acquaintances and discuss the nature of the terms of the proposed deal and the details of the negotiations. With this inside information in hand, Collector A secretly contacts the owner of the item and makes a better offer and buys the item.

At a minimum, this would seem to be the end of a friendship. Passion and the desire to improve his collection have clouded Collector A’s judgment and compromised his integrity. If you think this seems far-fetched, you haven’t collected for very long. These sorts of things can and do happen with alarming frequency.

These are just a few scenarios, there are of course many other ways that a collector’s integrity can be challenged. Like any other aspect in life, each must decide for himself or herself what is right and take responsibility for those decisions. Keep in mind that collecting is a wonderful endeavor which offers many benefits to the collector but if the cost to build one’s collection includes compromising one’s integrity, the cost is too high. A person’s reputation is more valuable and longer lasting than any collection ever could be.

Happy Collecting!