Quote:
Originally Posted by shelly
The second someone other than the player touches that signiture the ball should not be graded or authenticated.
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Agree with both Shelly and Richard. That said, I would still buy such an autograph if:
1.) it was extremely uncommon / rarely encountered (obscure ballplayer),
2.) a significant portion of the actual, original autograph was discernable under close inspection
3.) I did not have that autograph in my collection, and therefore needed it.
You ask "who would enhance the autograph of a obscure ballplayer"? I have found far more ink-enhanced, lightly signed pencil signatures of common ballplayers on album pages than I could shake a stick at. Doesn't seem to matter who the name was. Some collectors just wanted to make those signatures "pop" on the album page. All personal preference I guess. As a collector I avoid purchasing enhanced autographs whenever possible. But every once in a great, great while, a really tough autograph is located that has been enhanced (or taped over, etc). If I can discern that the actual signature still is visible/exists under the enhancement, I will buy it, for a fair price. Some might ask why bother, if you cannot easily see the original signature. All I can say that ballplayer signed that item, and that signature is still there in some capacity, and I am willing to accept less inorder to have it. I want to cross that name off a want list, rather then have potentially nothing at all. I like the idea of buying the best quality you can afford. But sometimes there are few other choices; especially in my limited budget. Just my two cents worth, as a collector