Quick help regarding ASA Authentication

70sToppsGuy

I'm looking to buy a fairly high-end autographed bat, which the seller claims is only at this price through today. Yada, yada, yada... In any event, I don't want to take a chance. The only problem is that the autographs are certified by ASA. Don't know anything about them. Thier website does not even mention anything about autograph authentication.

Anyone have any insight about ASA ?

PoppaJ

jmho ...

PoppaJ

thenavarro

ASA authentication was part of ASA card grading. ASA used to be owned by Alan Hager. Alan wrote a really neat book on cards, but his prices listed were fantasy level. He was the consumate salesman whom in my understanding patented the use of the slabs that all the grading companies use today and they have to pay him royalties. Alan was fun to talk with but it was amazing what would find itself in high grade ASA slabs. They were the first grading company I used to do business with. I would buy raw T206 Cobb's, T202 Cobb's, T205 Cobbs, E95 Cobbs, T227 Cobbs, etc, and submit them to ASA, and they'd come back typically no lower than 4's. He used to publish prices he would pay for ASA graded cards as well (to create a market demand for his cards), so I sent him my Cobb collection. Of course, he wouldn't pay his advertised prices so I didn't sell to him and stopped using ASA. Once they were crossed to PSA, they turned into 1's, 2's and an occasional 3, and rarely a 4. I sold my Cobb collection in 1999 to use as a large down payment on a house, properly graded by PSA. One good thing about ASA, is that they were at least good at identifying alterations, counterfeits, etc, at least in cards. Alan was/is very knowledgeable about cards, he is just the consumate salesman though. I can't speak much to their autograph authentication although I did buy a Michael Jordan ASA authenticated autographed card and it did succesfully cross to PSA/DNA.

Mike