Autograph autentication advice!

[yoyosh]

Hope this is in the right place, if not I'll delete/move.
So, I've amassed a nice collection of autographs in person of musicians/performers over the years. All done in person.
A few are from artists who are no longer with us and I'm thinking about getting thing authenticated. Many are CD or vinyl record covers, others 8x10 pix.
What's the best way to authenticate these? Any links and/or info on pricing is appreciated! I'm hoping to send the stuff to a reputable company to have the work done and sent back to me
Thanks in advance!

[LRV]

PSA:
Autograph Authentication

JSA:
JSA :: Autograph Authentication Services

Beckett (BSA):
Beckett Authentication Services

[yoyosh]

Thanks. I'm aware of all these companies and what they do for sports cards, I was hoping for more specific advice regarding a service specific to music memoribilia/authentication.
Anyone with specific experience/advice?

[AceGambit3]

They cover all of those too.....

[SDcardguy24]

For celebrities I think the best would be to go with Steve Grad his new BAS company.

[AceGambit3]

Originally Posted by SDcardguy24

For celebrities I think the best would be to go with Steve Grad his new BAS company.

He's got a company doing authentication now?

[SDcardguy24]

Originally Posted by AceGambit3

He's got a company doing authentication now?

Yes I meant he's one of the top guys at for Beckett Authentication.

[crazymj]

I think Beckett used to Be tied and use JSA authentication. That's why sometimes if u send in a card in that's signed in person or something it comes back with JSA case.
And Steve gad i thought used to work for PSA, but I guess he decided to be his own boss and created Beckett authentication now?
I always wonder how these Authenticator can authenticate ALL the autograph in the world since there's thousands of music artists, sports players, movie celebrities, politicians and list goes on and on. Sometimes I can't even recognize something I signed couple years ago, how can anyone know for certain some random celebrity autograph is authentic. I mean sure people like Michael Jordan would have a more consistent autograph and probably characteristics you can look out for, but what about other smaller celebrities?
I remember hearing story that someone forged a known sports star autograph and submitted to JSA and PSA and both of them came back authentic...
And I have submitted some autographs I gotten in person that I know for sure is real and most times 50% of them come back as not authenticated... so I take these COA with a grain of sand.

[rickstaman05]

I personally don't really trust them (on the authenticity opinion). It's all about their opinion. Some of the "crap" they've authenticated is nonsensical as many are scribbles. Not saying the more elaborate signatures can't be authenticated fairly accurately by them but look at ebay listings of Al Pacino PSA....lol. That's just one, I've seen many on ebay that I wouldn't touch. Just because it "could" be authentic and, I'm assuming (yes assumptions suck), they trust their source, doesn't mean it's good. (My opinion) They also get their examples of signatures from somewhere. Are the sources completely honest? Too many possibilities for error. However PSA/JSA witnessed is a different story...

From what I understand of their "epic" fails, it's mainly due to a NEW expert forger of a specific signature. A few might get through until they have enough examples of that specific forger's work to catch it...

To me, PSA/JSA might push me over the edge to buying only after I "mostly" trust the person who obtained/submitted the piece. It does add resell value.

Originally Posted by crazymj

I think Beckett used to Be tied and use JSA authentication. That's why sometimes if u send in a card in that's signed in person or something it comes back with JSA case.
And Steve gad i thought used to work for PSA, but I guess he decided to be his own boss and created Beckett authentication now?
I always wonder how these Authenticator can authenticate ALL the autograph in the world since there's thousands of music artists, sports players, movie celebrities, politicians and list goes on and on. Sometimes I can't even recognize something I signed couple years ago, how can anyone know for certain some random celebrity autograph is authentic. I mean sure people like Michael Jordan would have a more consistent autograph and probably characteristics you can look out for, but what about other smaller celebrities?
I remember hearing story that someone forged a known sports star autograph and submitted to JSA and PSA and both of them came back authentic...
And I have submitted some autographs I gotten in person that I know for sure is real and most times 50% of them come back as not authenticated... so I take these COA with a grain of sand.

[crazymj]

Yea in the future will probably just depend on the source. And yes I know exactly what you mean on al Pacino. He is one of my favorite actor but he give the crappiest autograph especially now that he is older.

I was able to get 2 funko signed by him but it's pretty much just a swirl and I don't know how psa can authenticate it but they did anyways lol



That's why I try to take picture of the exact item with the celebrity when I do get them


Stallone is another one that have the worst autograph and psa have failed it twice even tho I show them picture of Stallone with it!

[jjsmallvillelvr]

There are expert forgers. People who can replicate nearly anything. It is a talent, but not a very useful one unless you want to be a criminal. And some of them choose to do this. Fake autos and sell them. Luckily most of the people who do that actually such at it. But unless you got the auto yourself, in person, it's always hard to tell for sure.

[Spider-Fan]

Originally Posted by crazymj

I think Beckett used to Be tied and use JSA authentication. That's why sometimes if u send in a card in that's signed in person or something it comes back with JSA case.
And Steve gad i thought used to work for PSA, but I guess he decided to be his own boss and created Beckett authentication now?
I always wonder how these Authenticator can authenticate ALL the autograph in the world since there's thousands of music artists, sports players, movie celebrities, politicians and list goes on and on. Sometimes I can't even recognize something I signed couple years ago, how can anyone know for certain some random celebrity autograph is authentic. I mean sure people like Michael Jordan would have a more consistent autograph and probably characteristics you can look out for, but what about other smaller celebrities?
I remember hearing story that someone forged a known sports star autograph and submitted to JSA and PSA and both of them came back authentic...
And I have submitted some autographs I gotten in person that I know for sure is real and most times 50% of them come back as not authenticated... so I take these COA with a grain of sand

It's not "certain", it is their professional opinion.

Are you considering those images you've posted as "photo proof"?

[yoyosh]

I appreciate all the posts. So those of you who have a lot of experience with these things, who do you use and/or who do you trust when buying?
Are they easy to deal with? I found JSA's online form really confusing to be honest

[aces]

Roger Epperson is a good authenticator for music autos. He also offers $15 quick opinions that I've found very helpful.

REAL - Roger Epperson Authentication Ltd.

[Branesergen]

I submit thru JSA only because they're at shows I attend and get it done on the spot. When I purchase I buy psa and jsa both. Check both websites to see if either are appearing around you and submit in person if you can. Also if you do that and any come back inconclusive they may not charge you. At least JSA never charged me for them.

[Sapphire Sports]

I recommend PSA Because they hold the largest share of the market as perceived as the acceptable form of authentication. Once you go beyond ITP or witness authentication it is all opinion based. If you going to base authentication on a opinion at least get the opinion that is accepted by the public. These companies make a killing because they have the public buying into there system.

[crazymj]

Originally Posted by Spider-Fan

It's not "certain", it is their professional opinion.

Are you considering those images you've posted as "photo proof"?

Sorry if I offended u if u work with the company or something. I guess it's just an opinion except it's pretty expensive. I think jsa charges like $100 for Michael Jordan opinion. I mean I'm just warning people that it's not certain, as you can see I still do get some stuff authenticated by PSA so obviously I believe there is some value in it. And you didn't like my "photo proof" but I believe they're better than any other COA that people can offer. I mean would I really forge an autograph, take it to the event and get close to the celebrity as they're signing real autograph just to take a picture so that later I can try to scam people with it?

And it's so hard to even try to take picture like this because there's hundreds of people pushing and I'm holding my camera in one hand the item in the other hand. It's the best I can do just for my record

[Spider-Fan]

Originally Posted by crazymj

Sorry if I offended u if u work with the company or something. I guess it's just an opinion except it's pretty expensive. I think jsa charges like $100 for Michael Jordan opinion. I mean I'm just warning people that it's not certain, as you can see I still do get some stuff authenticated by PSA so obviously I believe there is some value in it. And you didn't like my "photo proof" but I believe they're better than any other COA that people can offer. I mean would I really forge an autograph, take it to the event and get close to the celebrity as they're signing real autograph just to take a picture so that later I can try to scam people with it?

And it's so hard to even try to take picture like this because there's hundreds of people pushing and I'm holding my camera in one hand the item in the other hand. It's the best I can do just for my record

I would take a PSA COA any day over a blurry picture of Al Pacino or a picture of Sly signing something else.

Would you accept this picture as proof that Alex Kingston signed this item?



Of course not? All that picture is proof of is that somebody got close enough to Alex Kingston to take a picture. I see "photo proof" from Ebay sellers all the time showing the signer autographing some other item. If you want to say something is proof then at the very least you need to have a picture of the signer autographing the actual item. The more unique the item, the better proof it is. That poster... I could have had her sign one and the sold 10 forgeries swearing that I had "photo proof". Its a picture, its not proof. And yours are barely evidence.

[crazymj]

Originally Posted by Spider-Fan

I would take a PSA COA any day over a blurry picture of Al Pacino or a picture of Sly signing something else.

Would you accept this picture as proof that Alex Kingston signed this item?



Of course not? All that picture is proof of is that somebody got close enough to Alex Kingston to take a picture. I see "photo proof" from Ebay sellers all the time showing the signer autographing some other item. If you want to say something is proof then at the very least you need to have a picture of the signer autographing the actual item. The more unique the item, the better proof it is. That poster... I could have had her sign one and the sold 10 forgeries swearing that I had "photo proof". Its a picture, its not proof. And yours are barely evidence.

If there is an exact picture of the item with the actress.
And yes u need to have the exact item with the actor for proof. U may not see it the first time but in my al Pacino picture, I'm holding the exact pop in the picture with al Pacino in the background, maybe that's why we are having this disagreement. And in the sly u can see the autograph with sly. It's not 100%, but I was saying it's still better than most COA when it comes to autograph that's simple to forge.
I agree it's 100% bogus if someone just use a generic picture of the celebrity without the item in the picture.
And again it's only my personal opinion on this matter.

Obviously this would be better




But sometimes this is the best I can do

[Spider-Fan]

Yes I can see the items are in the same picture, but that is meaningless to me. The item is in the foreground and the celebrity is in the background. That does not tell me the celebrity signed the item. It would be easy to bring an item with a forged autograph and snap those pictures.

[crazymj]

Beautiful doctor who piece tho, love the inscriptions, I'm working on one too and missing David Tennent, Christopher eccleson and Clara. Got most of the others

[Spider-Fan]

Originally Posted by crazymj

Beautiful doctor who piece tho, love the inscriptions, I'm working on one too and missing David Tennent, Christopher eccleson and Clara. Got most of the others

I just want to get Arthur Darvill "the last centurion" and then this piece will be complete.

I had another page done to get Tennent and some of his cast on. May end up doing a page for Peter Capaldi. Not sure yet.

Clara/Jenna Coleman does a lot of signings. She shouldn't be tough to get.

[rickstaman05]

Originally Posted by Spider-Fan

I just want to get Arthur Darvill "the last centurion" and then this piece will be complete.

I had another page done to get Tennent and some of his cast on. May end up doing a page for Peter Capaldi. Not sure yet.

Clara/Jenna Coleman does a lot of signings. She shouldn't be tough to get.

Yeah, I just stay away from PSA/JSA for the most part. Trust them over some random ebay source any day, just stay away because...stuff like the Pacino...lol. The fact that they okay some of the stuff they do...meh. In person is best I do like PSA witnessed though

Awesome Doctor Who Piece. I couldn't think of the right photo/poster to get signed when Kingston/Darville/Smith/Barrowman (though I don't think Barrowman was at the same time as SMith?) showed up to Portland. Sadly had to get individual photos done. At least got a few Custom Cards done Oh well. Who did you commission for the art?

[Spider-Fan]

The artist is Sara Richard

[Branesergen]

Yeah picture proof does nothing for me. Too easy to pull those pics from the internet, sign a bunch of pops and say "Here's my proof!" Talking of random purchases mind you. Someone like Spider-Fan and Crazymj who are reputable members of this board I would have no issues buying from, but if you're on ebay and I don't know its you guys, I'm not buying. All authentications that isn't WP or ITP is just a very educated guess. But for something that hangs on my walls until I either die or am forced to sell it, I'll stick with JSA or PSA since its a trusted brand.