Newbie- How do I best get started with selling an autographed memorabilia item?
Yokogaijin
Posts: 4 ✭
Greetings. Not sure if this is the right forum to post or not. I have a FIBA Basketball (the funny colored panel ones) from the 2006 FIBA World Championships signed by the entire team (Lebron, Coach K, D-Wade, CP3, Bosh, Anthony, etc...). I personally got it myself at a luncheon with the team so its never been verified, COA, etc...but its definitely real because I was there myself. Is my next step sending it off to get graded or verified? Is that always the preferred method of the sales process? There are several companies out there that do this and I'm not even sure how much it would be worth (this seems to be a question before sending stuff off for verification). Is there a service that could just ball park it for me to see if its worth going through all the hassle to sell it? I'd only want to part with it if its worth more than my own satisfaction of having it (at least mid to high 4). With Lebron about to be the all time leading scorer and Coach K now retired, was just curious what something like this would be worth. I'm positive its extremely rare because there were only a hand full of these balls signed at the lunch.
Any advice in advance is appreciated!
Comments
A couple options come to mind.
Check authentication prices for PSA multi-signed basketballs, look for comps, then see if you think it’s worth it.
You can try listing it on ebay for something insane (so it doesn’t get bought) and do a PSA quick opinion - check that they’ll do it for multi-signed items (I think they do). This’ll give you an idea (for maybe as low as $10) about whether they’d authenticate it or not (yes, you know they’re real but no one is going to take your word for it).
Contact an auction house - they usually have access to authenticators and can save you that hassle, and they might be able to give you a ballpark. I’ve used Heritage auctions for signed stuff in the past, but Goldin and others are also well thought of on these boards.
Good luck!
Jim
If you sell it un-authenticated, you will sell it for peanuts!. I'd go the Auction House route. Depending where you are located, you drop it at the Auction House and they will take care of the authentication, assuming they consider such an item Auction worthy, which I'd imagine they would.
JSA PSA BAS are the leading third party authenticators. Check their websites or call as all three make appearances at shows/cons/hobby shops and one might be happening near you where you can deal directly (and sometimes at discount) w/o having to mail two directions and wait weeks/months to pay full price.