Autograph Authentication

graypoet55 · January 4, 2008 9:32AM

I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseam, but I am relatively new so please bear with me. Today I had two of my prize autographs packaged and ready to send to PSA but did not. I read an article online from the Autograph Business News and Notes that said some bad things about PSA. It claimed PSA had a bad rating from the Better Business Bureau, that some of the best dealers don't use PSA, and importantly for me, "PSA has some weakness authenticating autographs outside the sports field." Since my autographs are writers (Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald) I held back. Not to mention the high price- the six signatures I would like to authenticate would cost almost $500. Honestly, they look real to me. I mean, how many people are out there forging F Scott Fitzgerald's signature? Where's the market for that? However, I must admit that the PSA slab is very attractive. Does everybody have these reservations and fears that they may be spending a lot of money to have PSA say they are not real? What's the possibility that PSA is wrong? Since I have no interest in selling my collection, isn't it better to be satisfied with the illusion of reality? Sorry to sound so wishy-washy. But to spend so much money just be be told your treasures are trash. Thanks for letting me vent. A forum like this can be as good as a shrink.

vintagetoppsguy · January 4, 2008 9:42AM

I agree.

oaktown · January 4, 2008 9:48AM

is a wonderful thing.

Bottom9th · January 4, 2008 10:10AM

I kind of agree with you. It sucks to have your item not authenticated. Especially when you saw it signed. The funny thing is I've had the same item autenticated. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to.
Authentication companies are FAR from perfect....

christopherking · January 4, 2008 12:56PM

<"PSA has some weakness authenticating autographs outside the sports field."

On what evidence are they basing that statement? I always thought Steve Grad of PSA was pretty good at that stuff. I have a very valuable letter handwritten by J.D. Salinger in my collection and Rich Davis authenticated it.

storm888 · January 4, 2008 1:29PM

"Does everybody have these reservations and fears that they may be spending a lot of money to have PSA say they are not real? "

///////////////////////////////

No.

But, if you think they might be fake, don't send them in.

The auth is REALLY only important at the time you buy/sell an item.

hofautos · January 4, 2008 1:36PM

PSA/DNA and JSA are the two best recognized names in the industry. Your signatures will be worth many times more authenticated by PSA/DNA. If you are convinced they are authentic, you would be unwise NOT to get them authenticated.

If you want to take some of the gamble out. Post them on ebay, and for $8, you can get a "quick opinion". I do it ALL the time. Even for $8, your autos would be worth much more than not authenticated at all. You can save the quick opinion email and put a copy of your ebay ad and the quick opinion email from PSA/DNA in a frame or case behind the autos.

Either way, do it if you are convinced your autos are authentic.

TNTonPMS · January 4, 2008 2:00PM

My treasures would not be treasures if they were fake though , they would be junk , it makes a huge difference to me knowing they are authentic .

Heritage recently sold an F. Scott Fitzgerald autographed note , 1673.00, so there is definitely some kind of market for that signature you have .

mrbecker712 · January 4, 2008 2:03PM

<< <i> Since my autographs are writers (Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald) I held back. Not to mention the high price- the six signatures I would like to authenticate would cost almost $500. >>

I'd love to see those autos. Do you have them scanned so we can see?

TNTonPMS · January 4, 2008 2:03PM

I'm clicking on your link , but a coin is comming up ??

I was hoping to see the Signature .

graypoet55 · January 4, 2008 10:51PM

A very helpful collector named Reese posted the scans for me. You can see them on the autograph forum. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Melville, Crane, Twain, and Steinbeck. PSA would charge almost $500 to authenticate and slab them, so you can see why I am hesitant. Buy the way, I don't know where that coin came from.

Reese3333 · January 5, 2008 2:25AM

Here are the scans:

MooseDog · January 5, 2008 11:06AM

Do the PSA/DNA or JSA route only if you plan on selling them soon. If you are keeping them, there are cheaper and easier ways to authenticate a signature, and to pay a company for this service is ONLY PAYING FOR AN OPINION. The signatures you have would sell for several thousand dollars if slabbed and labeled.

A friend of mine likes to have his signatures slabbed, so he sends his stuff in for that.

Honestly, I only recently started sending some things in when I found that it is easier to sell the same autograph in a holder with a label on it for $40 than it is to sell it raw for $10. For that I guess it's worth the price (I submit in bulk so at a discounted rate). However, it is frustrating to get things back that I got in person with "unable to authenticate" letters, especially when they keep the fee.

hofautos · January 5, 2008 1:22PM

that is why i suggest the $8 quick opinion. Every card i sent to them to be slabbed that I first got quick opinion on as "likely genuine" can back slabbed....so it is highly worth the $8 service. Even if you dont get slabbed, if you do plan on selling, to at least be able to advertise it passed PSA quick opinion, will make the item bring in much more than $8 difference than if not authenticated at all.

Autograph Authentication

Comments