Question on PSA Re-encapsulation of Honus Wagner Autograph
 

I recently bought a Honus Wagner autograph which had been removed from an autograph book which PSA had authenticated as a complete book. The PSA verification page shows this Wagner autograph as authentic (see image attached). I asked PSA about encapsulating the page and they said I would have to submit it again for authentication and pay the normal Wanger fee of $150. I was wondering if I should pay up and do this, or is my unslabbed autograph with PSA certification is just as good.

Second Question: This Wagner autograph is on a page with another autograph I have no interest in. If I get another PSA authentication and encapsulation, should I cut off the second autograph so I have only the Wagner in the new slab? Would that make the autograph more valuable? I believe I can cut the second autograph off cleanly and have a good remaining Wagner only autograph. See image for how I might be able do that cleanly.

I would appreciate any thoughts and suggestions.

I would not pay PSA any more money. You have their authentication which covers the entire autograph book.

I would mat the signature with a "window" exactly as you have done with the red line, and frame it with your favorite image of Wagner. Your preference may vary, but I would not even consider sending them $150 to do what has already been done.

I realize I didn't answer your question about the value of cutting away the Cy Blanton auto and submitting just the Wagner auto by itself. It may be more valuable that way, but depends on whether you're in it only for the money, or to keep it in your collection.

If it's the latter, I would definitely leave it un-mutilated and in tact, and would display it framed (as described above). If you want to sell it and realize as much money as you can, I will step aside for the flippers to weigh in.

What's a Cy Blanton worth? It certainly adds nothing to the Wagner, and might actually detract from it, as your question implies. Me, I'd cut it out and get what I could for it.

Of course they did, haha, what a bunch of...

I would not cut it up. The Blanton may not be worth much, but it is a nice large page. If you want to mat it out that is great, but why make the clip smaller that it needs to be? It also gives the page some perspective. If something happens while being matted or after that you would still have nice large margins. I have cut up album pages before and have a few now that I will do it to, but those are ones where each signature will sell for a good price separately. Ones where there is a good signature and one not so much I leave it be.

100% agree

Agree agree agree. I've matted out plenty of unwanted sigs without having to cut them...in fact, it's easier to mat them out.

Sure, assuming the Blanton is worthless. Otherwise, the effect on the Wagner of matting him out will be basically the same as cutting him out; nobody will know about the Blanton, little or no difference in appearance of the final product, but with some extra cash. And if anybody's being a purist about keeping an old autograph page intact, it's already been removed from the original book. I suspect that most collectors would want to pay for this very desirable autograph to get into a slab even though it does have a letter, but of course the OP should weigh all the options and do what he thinks will be the best outcome for him.

Regardless of your decision, I will say that that is one GORGEOUS example of Honus Wagner's signature!
Truly a unicorn, that you should really appreciate owning. Congrats! ;):cool: