Is this Montana auto legit??

Rudedawg

I've gotten burned on a couple of recent PSA/DNA subs with "Questionable Authenticity". So, I will appeal to those with greater knowledge before pulling the tigger. Here is the photo. It looks pretty close to other slabbed examples, but, who knows.



Thanks in advance

onebamafan

Looks a little off to me.........just my two cents.

Dboneesq

<< <i>Looks a little off to me.........just my two cents. >>

Rudedawg

Thanks for the input guys. I'm no expert on autos, but I usually check for "sharpie dots" and slow, solid ink throughout. I like to see some "speed" in the auto, and this one doesn't look like it has that. The only reason I'm even giving it a look is because I specifically collect autos from the Pro Vision sets and they don't come up often. This is the first Montana I've ever seen.

vladguerrero

I'm saying no as well.

MooseDog

Looks like a common autopen. Any time you see Joe's autograph on a trading card at this angle and size it's no good. Joe's autograph is actually very small. I don't have any of my IP autographs from his playing days or I'd be happy to post one.

Rudedawg

Can't tell you guys how much I appreciate the opinions. It sucks because I want it to be real, but I could just as well sign one myself

Dboneesq

<< <i>Looks like a common autopen. Any time you see Joe's autograph on a trading card at this angle and size it's no good. Joe's autograph is actually very small. I don't have any of my IP autographs from his playing days or I'd be happy to post one. >>


Moose ... I just went thru the slabbed ones on eBay and saw exactly what you stated. That comment was SPOT ON and I know it will be helpful to many people!

vintagechris

It's an autopen

Rudedawg

Moose, can you give me a brief explanation of what an "autopen" is?? I have about 5 other Pro Vision raw card autos that I recently purchased (Two from eBay and three from 5starautographs.com) and want to get them assessed before submitting to PSA.

Thanks again!!

MooseDog

Rude -

Autopen is basically what it sounds like. It is a device that once "programmed" will reproduce a signature exactly the same every time. It uses a real pen so hence the name. Very commonly used by Presidents, and members of Congress as well as many other famous people who tend to get a lot of fan mail.

Here's the Wikipedia Page.

It's the bane of the autograph collector's life, however pretty easy to spot because all the signatures are identical and generally the signature is made with the same pressure applied on the pen. I once got two items back from a Senator in two different colors. But when compared the signatures were 100% identical with no variation so I knew that he probably never even saw my request.

People in general have stops and pauses in their writing styles so the ink is kind of thicker at those spots. Montana is probably the sports figure you'll find most with autopen sigs out there. If you're into football due note that the Jack Kemp card in the 1991 Proline autographed card set is auto penned (and certified!) though he never actually signed any himself.

Back to Montana, I've seen a few slabbed ones that were likely signed by his dad, FYI. The third party authenticators are far from infallible.

Rudedawg

Thanks Moose, very helpful. Had no clue what it was before it was brought up here.