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Posted By: hankron

Whether from Mike Gutierrez or Lelands or PSA/DNA, a letter of authenticy almost never says "This is 100 percent authentic." The LOAs say something like "We have examined the whatever and in our opnion it is genuine" or "these autographs are consistant with the exemplars in our library." Obviously, they would not give out an LOA if they didn't beleive it to be genuine, but they are writing down their opinions.

It's the collectors, sellers and auction houses who represent the LOAs as "authenticated" and "guaranteed 100 percent genuine by PSA/DNA."

For example Scharfman's daughter's letter may simply say, and with 100 percent honesty and candor and accuracy, "My dad gave me this glove and he told me he got it from Sandy Koufax. Daddy said that this was the glove used by Koufax to pitch the No Hitter. I know that Daddy and Sandy Koufax were good friends, and I met Mr. Koufax numerous times as a kid. Mr. Koufax was always very nice to me and once had my whole family over to his house for latkes with apple sauce on Haunukka. I promise you that everything I just wrote is true." Even if the glove turned out to be a fake, everything she wrote was honest, candid and accurate.

You can only judge the LOA by reading the LOA, not by hearing how the seller or collector charectorizes it in a half-sentence during sale.