New Forensic Autograph Authentication Company

[sycks22]

My favorite part of the website was listing that one guy testified in 127 court cases as a cop. I guess that helps him authenticate huge names like Willie Stargell.

[thecatspajamas]

From their website, Service Level III Extras:

"Ink analysis, Document analysis (when possible), Chain of custody of the item, background of when the item was signed (if possible). It will also include a Letter of Authenticity, describing the item, the signature, what type of ink was used, a biography of the signer, a photograph, and GFA’s full guarantee of authenticity"

I'd be curious to know what their "chain of custody" investigation entails? Is that just asking the submitter where they got it and making phone calls back up the line? Or does it only go as far as a line on the submission form of "where did you get this?" How far back do they go with that? May be another one of those things that experience will show, but it's got me curious.

[drc]

If you can show you got it from a good dealer or auction house that is relevant info.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

From their website, Service Level III Extras:

"Ink analysis, Document analysis (when possible), Chain of custody of the item, background of when the item was signed (if possible). It will also include a Letter of Authenticity, describing the item, the signature, what type of ink was used, a biography of the signer, a photograph, and GFA’s full guarantee of authenticity"

I'd be curious to know what their "chain of custody" investigation entails? Is that just asking the submitter where they got it and making phone calls back up the line? Or does it only go as far as a line on the submission form of "where did you get this?" How far back do they go with that? May be another one of those things that experience will show, but it's got me curious.

All this for $30??
Something is very different with this company but I cannot put my finger on it yet.
Forensic examiners that you cannot find on Google, investigators? for what purpose?, no ability to communicate with them, COA's showing up on a website with no ability to discern the COA number or no place to check it even if you could see the number.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

All this for $30??
Something is very different with this company but I cannot put my finger on it yet.
Forensic examiners that you cannot find on Google, investigators? for what purpose?, no ability to communicate with them, COA's showing up on a website with no ability to discern the COA number or no place to check it even if you could see the number.

Another "Forensic" authentication company. You gotta be kidding me!!!

When I first found them I was like "Holy crap!!!" Then I tried to contact them via their website, but to no avail. Then I tried to print out a "submission" form, but there's no option for that.

But yet their "authenticated" items show up on a particular auction site with blurry photographs ans serial numbers on the COAs that read "GFAA-####."

Wow!!!

[travrosty]

The verbiage doesn't matter, whether they say forensics or not, it's whether or not they are good at authenticating autographs. The bar is already set pretty low so they can't do much worse than what is already out there.

J. Spence touts his forensics credentials (mail order correspondence course), so either forensics is bad for spence and everyone, or is a credit to jsa and everyone, but not selective good for one guy and bad for another.

I see Spence didn't have flattering things to say about forensics when he participated in an autograph authentiction forum, but then he likes to say he has forensic credentials himself, so which is it? Even PSA's self-describing paragraphs say that they are trained in and use forensics too. So shame on them too I guess.

It's the result of their work that matters, we haven't seen enough of GFA work to make a determination. I couldn't endorse or not endorse them based on the work I have seen. To be fair we would have to see a quantity of their work over a good period of time.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by travrosty

It's the result of their work that matters, we haven't seen enough of GFA work to make a determination.

We are watching for that.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Travis writes "The verbiage doesn't matter, whether they say forensics or not, it's whether or not they are good at authenticating autographs. The bar is already set pretty low so they can't do much worse than what is already out there."

The below was certed by Todd Mueller and sold on his website. A pitiful Derek Jeter forgery. When confronted about certing the below Jeter, Mr. Mueller replies "That was obtained in person by Danny Tuliebitz. His cousin is the New York Yankee's travelling secretary." Really?

So, Travis, when you write "The bar is already set pretty low so they can't do much worse than what is already out there." you are absolutely correct. This is a great example of "the bar is already set pretty low."

TM-Jeter-Forgery-1.jpg

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

All this for $30??
Something is very different with this company but I cannot put my finger on it yet.
Forensic examiners that you cannot find on Google, investigators? for what purpose?, no ability to communicate with them, COA's showing up on a website with no ability to discern the COA number or no place to check it even if you could see the number.

I think they just misspelled the name on the web site - try again using John Gorajczyk.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Karl Mattson

I think they just misspelled the name on the web site - try again using John Gorajczyk.

Great. They can't even spell their own names, and we're supposed to expect them to correctly authenticate an autograph...

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Great. They can't even spell their own names, and we're supposed to expect them to correctly authenticate an autograph...

Pretty sure the website programmers who put the site together are not the same folks doing the authentication. As someone with a weird last name, I can relate to folks misspelling it more often than not.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

Pretty sure the website programmers who put the site together are not the same folks doing the authentication. As someone with a weird last name, I can relate to folks misspelling it more often than not.

I was just joking. But yes, I can relate to the misspellings and mispronunciations as well..

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Karl Mattson

I think they just misspelled the name on the web site - try again using John Gorajczyk.

You are correct Karl , that spelling does bring up several pages about him.
Unusual in that Google usually corrects spelling errors but did not in his case.
Sorry to GFA for that, but we are still watching.