Question about Autograph Authentication

adamcm

Hi all,

Newbie here. Hope I am in the right forum (sorry if I am not).

I was really into the TTM hobby a couple of years ago, took a bit of a break to afford some other things, but am now ready to get back into it again .

I've never really considered authenticating my TTM successes before, and am not really sure what the point would be outside of personal satisfaction? I read somewhere else that authenticating your autographs means a greater re-sale value. I believe this to be true, but when you are paying $20 for each autograph to be authenticated, it doesn't leave much profit on the table for people sending in cards, or 8X10s does it? When I look through various completed auctions on ebay for "psa dna", or "jsa", they don't look to sell for very much (unless the item is really rare).

For instance, here is a Mark Messier PSA/DNA certified autograph.

It sold for just over the authentication price.

Am I missing something? I'm not looking to sell many pieces (if any at all), but i'm wondering how these sellers make money? Are the autogrpahed rookie cards worth more? Any guideance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

hotmush

Ya spins the wheel and ya takes yer chances.

But seriously. Autograph buyers take a lot into account.
In this case, I would think that the aesthetics of this card aren't desirable.
Not a particularly key card. Not that attractive a sig. Signed in red when blue would have popped off the card.
Just my opinion. Of course were this a first or second year (mint) card, signed legibly in bold blue Sharpie, this might have a different price.

jswieton

Those sellers are not paying $20 to have them authenticated.

sideordertodd

Welcome fellow hockey collector.
The general rule of thumb is that rookie cards are always the players most valuable card. Once signed and depending on the rarity of it, meaning how many have ever been authenticated to date and how many have been available for sale in the past, should fetch a better price than one that was not signed. The signed Messier sticker that you have is not rare so it really won't go for that much more than the book value unless you have 2 bidders that both want it and jack up the price. If it were Messier's rookie signed, yes you would get a nice premium for it much more than the book value of just a signed card of his. Look at Psa's population report on any player that you want and you'll see how many of his rookie cards have been PSA DNA certified and card graded to date to get an idea of how many there are out there.
In PSA's pop report there are only 2 of Messier's rookies that have ever been authenticated through PSA and neither one has been card graded just authenticated. So if you were to get his rookie card and have it signed and the card would acheive anything from Psa 1 - Psa 10 you would have the highest graded signed Mark Messier rookie in the world according to PSA's population report and a true 1/1 to date. It would fetch a large price in auction because of its rarity and being its the only one available....
TB

287 Curt Fraser
288 Gary Mcadam
289 Mark Messier
289 Mark Messier Psa/Dna Certified - 2
290 Vic Venasky

hotmush

The other thing you can do (which I have done) is list the autograph without being PSA/DNA slabbed.
BUT you offer a link for potential bidders to get a PSA/DNA Quick Opinion of the autograph. This costs about 8 bucks for the bidder. Though not as guaranteed as a PSA/DNA slab, it is desirable for autographs that will usually sell for less than their authentication fee. Just a thought.

Dboneesq

Yeah, the card sold for $20.00, but did you notice he charged $17.00 for shipping??????

hotmush

But only $2.95 to the US.

adamcm

Thanks all for the comments. It actually wasn't my card that was sold, but was just curious why a person looking to sell autographs would go through all of the trouble (authentication fee of $20), to not make any profit. Someone earlier mentioned that they didn't pay $20. Is there some way to get authenticated cheaper like a group rate?

Glad to hear aesthetics takes a lot into account. There is nothing better than receiving a nicely signed TTM autograph in the mail. Coincidentally, there is nothing worse than receiving a smudged autograph in the mail .

Thanks again everyone for your help!

MULLINS5

<< <i>Welcome fellow hockey collector. >>

Dboneesq

<< <i>But only $2.95 to the US. >>



My mistake ... you are right! Sorry about that!

adamcm

Sorry to bump, but someone mentioned earlier that some people don't pay $20 per authentication. How do you get the cheaper rate ?

Thanks!

thenavarro

<< <i>Sorry to bump, but someone mentioned earlier that some people don't pay $20 per authentication. How do you get the cheaper rate ?

Thanks! >>



Go Here

Mike