PSA/DNA service question
blue227
Posts: 185 ✭✭
Does anyone know if PSA/DNA offers a service in which a person can send in their encapsulated PSA/DNA "Authentic" cards and pay an additional fee to have the quality of the autograph graded? I have some autographed cards in PSA/DNA slabs in which, IMO, the quality of the autograph is really exceptional. I'd like to get the signature graded and am OK with having to pay some sort of nominal re-holdering charge but I'd like to avoid having to pay to have the sig re-authenticated. Any shared insight would be appreciated. thx.
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But to answer your question, I haven't seen anything like that...you should email them.
I have wondered if I send 'authentic' auto cards in for card grading and reslab for an additional (non reauthenticating) fee.
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<< <i>I just received my first order back from PSA/DNA and from my understanding you can pay for a grade to be applied to the encapsulated item but they will grade the whole card, not just the auto and they usually come back with a low grade. That is why so many low graded auto's exist that were not issued by the authenticator. >>
You can pay for it when you submit, but we are talking about after that fact, without having to pay for the auto authentication again.
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<< <i>I just received my first order back from PSA/DNA and from my understanding you can pay for a grade to be applied to the encapsulated item but they will grade the whole card, not just the auto and they usually come back with a low grade. That is why so many low graded auto's exist that were not issued by the authenticator. >>
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I think you're right. For the $20 fee which applies to most players, you can opt to have the sig authenticated with or w/o a grade. If you opt to have them issue a grade, the grade is based on the condition of the card, not the autograph.
I have some older signed cards that would probably grade a 4 or less on the merits of the card by itself. However, the sig is absolutely beautiful -- dark, legible, ballpoint or fountain pen, that doesn't ruin the image on the card.
I know i'm willing to pay more for signed cards with those types of premium characteristics and wouldn't mind paying a reasonable amount to have PSA/DNA issue a numeric grade to the sig only in order to distinguish it from a run-of-the-mill AUTHENTIC sig which could be an autograph that actually detracts from the card's overall eye appeal -- i.e a sig that is barely visible, illegible, smeared, etc.
The current Madec auction has a '58 Topps Mantle All Star auto card with a grade of PSA/DNA 10 assigned to the sig only. I've seen other copies of the same card (with a comparable quality autograph) graded as by PSA/DNA as Authentic or with a grade in the PSA 4-5 range (assigned to the condition of the card) sell in the range of $600-$700. Although the current bid for the Madec Mantle auto card is less than $400, my guess is that the superior eye appeal of the card will help it more than double in price before the end of the auction (and that the sig grade of 10 will only help boost the final hammer price).
Now while the merits of the visually superior sig could explain any price premium above $600-700, as the secondary market for graded sigs matures over time, we might end up seeing huge premiums paid for a sig graded a 10 vs. those that have no sig grade or have a grade based solely on the condition of the card.
Who knows? I could be dead wrong about this but, based on some recent auction results for PSA/DNA autographed baseballs, it sure seems like some people are willing to pay huge premiums for certain sigs graded 9 or higher. I don't mind paying for the sig grading fee and/or the cost to re-holder the card, i just don't want to have to re-pay to have the the sig re-authenticated.
If you have an autographed cut or card, or any autographed item for that matter, that has been authenticated by PSA/DNA you can send it back in for autograph grading. If the item is currently encapsulated with a BLUE flip, you will send it back in the holder and pay just the grading fees and return shipping. If the item is not in a holder you must send back the COA or LOA that PSA/DNA issued at the time of authentication. Any licensed trading card in a holder with a BLUE PSA/DNA flip has not had the card looked at by our card graders. We are making no comment about the card itself.
If the item is a licensed trading card and has been authenticated by PSA/DNA as well as having the card graded and is in a PSA holder (RED flip) you can also send in that item to have the autograph graded. You would be responsible for the grading of the autograph as well as return shipping. If you requesting only the autograph be graded on this item, the card will be removed from the PSA holder (RED flip) and placed in a new holder with the PSA/DNA flip (BLUE flip). At this time we do not offer a service which shows the card grade as well as an autograph grade on the label in the holder.
There are ways to do both with a letter upgrade so if you are interested in that please call customer service for additional information.
We can not grade any autograph that PSA/DNA has not authenticated.
Autographed cards issued from the manufacturer from 1998 to present do not need to go through any PSA/DNA unless you are requesting to have the autograph graded. Any autographed cards issued from the manufacturer prior to 1998 or if the autograph was obtained in person, the card does need to go through one of our PSA/DNA authentication processes.
Here is a link to the autograph grading on the website. LINK
If you have additional questions please contact customer service.
Carol