Ex-Wisden cricketer of the year Reeve in dock over selling fake Bradman memorabilia
11 Oct 2009, 1659 Hrs

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London, Oct. 11 Once voted Wisden International Cricketer of the Year, England test and ODI player Dermot Reeve is now facing allegations of selling fake Bradman memorabilia.

The Daily Telegraph quoted Chris Anderson, an international expert on Sir Donald's signature, as saying that Reeve may has been selling Bradman's "non-genuine" autographs.

Reeve's alleged swindle emerged when memorabilia industry figure John Alvarez bought the disputed Bradman signatures from him on eBay last year

Reeve, who is working as a BBC cricket commentator, gave him a signed authentication certificate stating the autographs were "genuine originals of Sir Don Bradman".

Alvarez sent the autographs to Anderson, the forensic document examiner who the Bradman Museum calls a "world authority" on Bradman's signature, to analyse.

"I am certain these Bradman signatures are just not genuine. In fact, they are very poor simulations of a genuine Bradman signature," Anderson concluded.

The controversy comes at a time when Bradman memorabilia is worth more than ever. Prices range from 200 dollars for single autographs to more than 400,000 dollars for the baggy green cap he wore in his final Test.

However, Reeve denies all the charges.

"I'm giving my opinion, these autographs are real. Of course it's not (fake). It's ridiculous," he said adding that he would "never knowingly pass an item on if I did not believe it to be authentic."

Reeve claimed he had every right to personally authenticate the Bradman signatures: "If you had collected Bradman's signature for 15 years, and had letters written by Bradman - handwritten letters - would you not consider yourself a good judge on whether something is authentic?"

But Anderson said: "If someone hasn't seen Bradman sign them, they can't be certifying them as genuine originals of Sir Donald. Dermot Reeve is not a recognised expert on Bradman's signatures." (ANI)

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