Is JSA a trustworty company

[Fuddjcal]

Yea, those Joe DiFakeio's make me puke every time I see them. I have almost always seen them with the "yankee clipper enterprises" sticker and fake letter from that Morris Crookberg guy.....Joe's so called agent/friend???

Anyway you slice it, you need to buy the autograph and not the sticker. All of the authentication companies are prone to mistakes and fraud at some point.

It's the others that never have a real autograph associated to it...The names are just to many to try and list. Moby Dick is shorter these days. Like that Tony Podsada clown has about 10 different ones to support all the FAKES he's been pedaling for at least 30 years that I know of.

[Snapolit1]

I don't buy autographed items. Period. I am sure I could practice Babe Ruth for, oh maybe 2 weeks, and do a really great one. Just sayin.

I've seen autograph experts square off in a court of law on opposite sides of a case, both credentialed up to their eyeballs, both seemingly honest players, completely at odds as to whether a signature is genuine. If two "professionals" with long track records of doing this can't agree I'm dubious about anyone's call.

[Frank A]

If your their friend or have a couple hundred items it will go through. I don't trust them at all.

[Klrdds]

The question of "trustworthiness" is really an open -ended matter of opinion question. I don't think any TPA is deliberately not trustworthy but with the glaringly obvious mistakes that TPAs make I don't trust them any farther than i can throw them; but yet the market is such that many people will not buy an autograph without an LOA from JSA or PSA , whether they have written that LOA for a bad/forged/non-authentic autograph.
I find LOAs give a false sense of security to the buyer ...so trustworthiness is really a matter of opinion.

[1963Topps Set]

The best way to get an really genuine autograph is on a bank check (that has been cancelled by the bank) or a contract.

Even if you were to get an autograph from the person who got it personally, it could be secretarial or manager signed (or clubhouse)

Research is recommended and always be VERY careful, one mistake can be VERY costly.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I don't buy autographed items. Period. I am sure I could practice Babe Ruth for, oh maybe 2 weeks, and do a really great one. Just sayin.

I sincerely doubt that.
Just sayin',

[Tradegeek]

"That is not necessarily so.
Based on a detailed e mail from Jimmy Spence (when at PSA) to me, Steve Rocchi made a deal with a B&J and PSA certed Joe DiMaggio autographs as being in person witnessed. They were not in person witnessed. They were also bogus."

That is ridiculous, and disappointing. I am very paranoid. Even the item I have with "witnessed" certificates, I have done additional research. As an example, I purchased Bo Jackson autographed bat which came up for a good price. I traced the witnessed COA (and the date on the registry) to a public signing he did in the City of Industry (Frank and Sons) on that date. Which I keep as provenance (because I am concerned that one day people may have zero faith in any of these companies). Combined with a good examination of the autograph, I am very confident it's the real deal.


The primary reason I don't like any of the third party authentication companies is how they have cozy relationships with certain dealers/companies; like your example.

At the end of last year I wanted to buy a Matt Smith (Dr. Who) autograph for my daughter. I ran into this abysmal piece of crap (see attached). The autograph is on a dark area (hard to really look at) and it's a freaking scribble. I could forge that signature with my feet. Yet, PSA slapped a sticker on it. Very high volume seller. If I sent that in, I would guarantee it would be rejected. This is why I won't put much faith in their certs. They are reasonably respected now, but who knows if they will be 10 years from now?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I sincerely doubt that.
Just sayin',

I don't know. This dude doesn't look like a Rhodes scholar to me.

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...ls-part-deaux/

[RichardSimon]

I would like to see the fake COA'S. Wonder which company they faked?

[Snapolit1]

PSA.

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/26042776-story

[Lordstan]

The one thing I find interesting is that all the place hit were Pawn Shops. I didn't see any actual sports mem dealers. These people are relying on the validity of the certs and not analysis of the sig above a cursory knowledge they might have.
It's the blind faith in certs that helped this criminal succeed for the time he did.

[w7imel]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I sincerely doubt that.
Just sayin',

+1 Richard, I have tried to sign Ruth Cobb and Mantle for my own entertainment my whole life and cant even come close...lol, not sure 2 weeks is gonna get it...

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by w7imel

+1 Richard, I have tried to sign Ruth Cobb and Mantle for my own entertainment my whole life and cant even come close...lol, not sure 2 weeks is gonna get it...

When you get them down, I'd really like a photo of the three of them signed and inscribed to me if possible? Thanks!

[Snapolit1]

Ruth's entire signature is, obviously enough, 8 letters. From a pure forensic point of view, is a remarkably easy signature to fake. Second maybe to Ed Ott. And a lot easier than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Besides pure fakes, I am also sure for most HOFs there are so many secreterial signatures that by now the vast majority of them have just blended into the mix.

I'll amend my initial comment, which was a little exaggerated. I would never by a single signed ball or card by Ruth or anyone else. I would consider something like a check or official contract of some kind, or maybe something with multiple signatures that can be evaluated. Or something with iron clad provenance. A single signed Ruth ball or photo? Not a chance.

[prewarsports]

Rhodes scholar... Love it!

I am always saying that to my kids when they are hanging out with shady looking kids at school. "Who's the Rhodes Scholar you are hanging out with over there" etc.

Put a smile on my face.

[w7imel]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Ruth's entire signature is, obviously enough, 8 letters. From a pure forensic point of view, is a remarkably easy signature to fake. Second maybe to Ed Ott. And a lot easier than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Besides pure fakes, I am also sure for most HOFs there are so many secreterial signatures that by now the vast majority of them have just blended into the mix.

I'll amend my initial comment, which was a little exaggerated. I would never by a single signed ball or card by Ruth or anyone else. I would consider something like a check or official contract of some kind, or maybe something with multiple signatures that can be evaluated. Or something with iron clad provenance. A single signed Ruth ball or photo? Not a chance.

I have a Ruth check that im very happy with!! And while his signature looks easy to duplicate its the flow and pressuere point that make it a hard one.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

When you get them down, I'd really like a photo of the three of them signed and inscribed to me if possible? Thanks!

Piece a cake for a certain bunch of scum bags in Pennsylvania.
I am sure if you wrote to them you would get what you wanted.

[Tradegeek]

"The one thing I find interesting is that all the place hit were Pawn Shops. I didn't see any actual sports mem dealers. These people are relying on the validity of the certs and not analysis of the sig above a cursory knowledge they might have.
It's the blind faith in certs that helped this criminal succeed for the time he did."

I think they are hitting up pawn shops because of their lack of knowledge about sports memorabilia prices. Any sports memorabilia dealer would see a MASSIVE red flag if somebody walked in offering a PSA certed Ruth ball for $1,000. The assumption would be that it's either fake or stolen. Either way they'd pass.