HOW AUTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATION WORKS

How many times have you seen an autograph that was “too good to be true”? Maybe it was too clean, too new-looking – or just too inexpensive compared to the usual price for that autograph. Was it a deal? Was it even real? There’s no way to know, unless you authenticate.

The sketchy nature of the autograph market is well documented, yet every year there are countless stories about collectors and investors (sometimes even graders) getting burned by sophisticated fakes. Before you review your own items and before you start researching Autograph Authentication Companies – there are four key things you need to understand about the autograph market and how authentication is done:

1.) NO AUTHENTICATOR IS PERFECT. Fakes are everywhere, and some are very difficult to detect. Despite best efforts and advanced technology, even the best authenticators are occasionally fooled by an item. That’s why you’ll always get back an “opinion” of authenticity – it’s impossible for anyone to make an exact determination unless they’re present at the time of signing.

2.) Some autographs are so fraud-prone that you should NEVER buy them without reliable authentication (think Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, etc.). Resist the temptation to save a couple hundred bucks by buying the autograph that someone claims to have “won in a raffle” or “inherited from a relative.” Plus, many prominent athletes and celebrities only sign for certain authenticators (like Steiner or Upper Deck), so any non-certified auto from this top tier of signers should be viewed as inherently suspicious. I encourage you to follow my rule: No auth, no purchase.

3.) You can do your own research on an autograph before sending it off to an authenticator, just to determine if it’s worthwhile to pay the fees.

a. Ask around in autograph-focused Facebook groups (“Out or Safe” is a favorite of mine that crowdsources analysis on baseball autographs).

b. Look for examples of the same autograph for sale, on eBay or elsewhere. Does that autograph look like yours? If there are several listings where the signature looks one way, but yours looks another way, you can bet yours isn’t authentic.

c. Still not sure? PSA offers a low-cost “authenticator’s opinion” on many eBay listings, and while it’s not a binding certificate of authenticity (COA), it’s good enough for many people.

4.) Not all autographs are worth authenticating. Before paying $25 or more per signature in fees, do some research on eBay and elsewhere to see if the authenticated signature will sell for more than you’re paying in fees. (Of course, if it’s for your personal collection, feel free to ignore me on this point – value is in the eye of the beholder.)

So let’s say you do the research, you decide it’s worth it, and you send your prized autograph(s) to an authentication company. What will they do with it? Likely some version of the following:

1.) Look at it to see if it’s an obvious fake;

2.) Review online libraries of verified signatures (called “exemplars”) and compare the item side by side to determine if the autograph is in line with others from the same person;

3.) Examine the item itself and the ink to look for common signs of alterations or forgeries, and make a final determination of authenticity;

4.) Apply some sort of tamper proof seal and/or invisible marking to the item; and

5.) Produce a certificate of authenticity (COA) or a longer, more detailed letter of authenticity (LOA) to be sent to the customer along with the authenticated item.

There’s a lot to do, both for you and the grader – but don’t let the process drive you crazy! Sure, it takes time, it costs money, and you’ll sometimes get unfavorable results. That’s all part of the game, and you’ll get used to it. If you routinely acquire raw autographs from reliable sources and then send the best ones in for authentication, you can make a nice little side income while also building yourself a great memorabilia collection.