Is this card authentic? Hank Aaron 2014 Topps Heritage Real One
cooperstownlegends
Posts: 5 ✭
I purchased this card from an auction house, and sent it to PSA to have them dual grade the card. PSA sent it back stating it is a "Factory Mis-Print". It is a 2014 Topps Heritage Real One autograph of Hank Aaron, signed in red Ink. I have see several sites that claim that Topps did not have a red ink signature of Aaron this year. How can I authenticate this card?
0
Answers
Red ink autos are usually hand numbered. This one should say /65 if they even issued red Aaron autos that year.
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Aaron's Red Ink card was an Exchange card, according to Trading Card Database. Like @DBesse27 said, hand-numbered to 65.
I don't see how it could be a factory misprint, I mean if that card wasn't supposed to be signed it wouldn't be numbered ROA-HA on the back.
I would contact Topps for help.
Steve
I have the letter from Topps somewhere, but this was a screwup that year. The /65 autos were blue.
So I have one signed in Red. Where did it come from? It looks legit.
Topps was no help. I spoke to someone on the phone that said "it sounded authentic" I sent pictures to Topps via email. They responded saying they had no records - "Topps does not archive information of any kind on products. Once a product has reached its one year anniversary it is considered memorabilia, in which case all information regarding that product is maintained by memorabilia companies, such as Beckett."
It could be that the card was not issued in packs and was taken by an employee. Or I wonder if PSA took exception to what looks like a major surface scratch from the left border above his hands trough his bat? This should have impacted the grade, but not triggered a “factory misprint” decision. Just a shot with that thought.
Aaron was only issued through redemption that year and he only signed in blue. My guess is that they had a bunch of cards printed that weren’t signed by Aaron since he only did blue and no red…and an employee got one signed.
I guess my question is if an employee did get the card and have it signed, is the card still an authentic card, and is the signature an authentic signature, and if the answer to both is yes, why can't PSA grade both the card and signature?
It's not an authentic card per se if it was never meant to be distributed, in this case without a blue numbered signature... I would just submit it for autograph encapsulation with an auto grade. So instead of identifying and authenticating the card, the flip/label will just say TRADING CARD. Or send it to BGS.
I pulled a Mays redemption for a Special Edition (= red ink #'d to 65) auto in 2014. Below I've posted the redemption, the card graded 9 by PSA (but without the "Red Ink" designation on the flip) and the note Topps sent with the card when they redeemed it. I believe that this was the same situation with all of the Aaron Special Edition autos that year too.
Thanks paleocards. I'm wondering how the card was signed in red and obtained. JSA has authenticated the signature, so I am confident of that. My question is did someone get an unsigned card and have it signed by Aaron, or did Topps have some signed by Aaron but never distributed. And because they were never distributed, does that make the card "unauthentic"?
That is word-for-word the exact same reply I got from Topps when inquiring about a lacrosse card that was printed in 2022.
they can't label it as a ROA since it would be missing the blue auto and numbering. thats why they can't dual service it. all you would be able to do is have the auto graded/authenticated and have it slabbed as "trading card". its probably a real card, but can't be authenticated as such since its basically a backdoored copy, missing the original blue auto.
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