JSA's "Witnessed Protection Program"

[djson1]

I know we don't like to give much (if any at all) credibility to many of the TPAs on this forum (I'm one myself), but does anybody have any input on the "Witnessed Protection" label on some of the JSA COAs? Are these reliable and do they only issue them if somebody was actually there, like at a show signing? And if they were there, why don't they add additional info on the cert like the day and location of the signing? Just wondering if anybody had input on this. Thanks.

[RelicSports]

I have never used this service, but as I understand it, you purchase and receive the cert before leaving the in-person autograph line/booth area. I don't completely see the point as it would be easy for someone to swap out that sig for something bogus. Just my 2 cents

[David Atkatz]

"Some rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen."--Woody Guthrie

[chaddurbin]

if it's anything like psa/dna's IN THE PRESENCE i wouldn't put much stock in it. i went to a magic johnson signing and psa was in a separate booth away from the signing area doing those ITP certs.

edit to add: i'm a fan of the services psa/dna provides but just like anything u need to do ur own homework.

[Kco]

The reason they don't add anything to the actual cert is because of the time it would take to type it in. The few witness protected items I have all have dates and some have signing locations too.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

i went to a magic johnson signing and psa was in a separate booth away from the signing area doing those ITP certs.

Theoretically, they don't need to be. All that's needed is a PSA rep accompanying you on line so that he can witness the signature, then you and the rep go back to the PSA booth and process the authentication documents.

[chaddurbin]

that's not how it worked, there was no psa rep. i could've walked in with my own magic item and have an ITP cert, that's what i was trying to say.

[Maddog]

I was at one of those. it was a freebie by Spence. JSA had someone at the Table with their little stickers. They supposedly wrote down what was signed next to the sticker number and put the sticker on your item. I saw some people actually just take the sticker and not put it on the item. They didn't seem to care one way or the other.