[Archive]

Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

In regards to the Nixon question posed by DJ:

I have a pretty good handle on presidential items, but, if need be, both JSA and PSA employ the expertise of John Reznikoff at University Archives for his opinion on historical items. Both companies also outsource autographs from other fields to people who have spent their lives learning about those areas like we spent our lives immersed in our areas of proficiency. There are consultants for presidential/historical, entertainment (vintage and modern), music, Japanese baseball, and even individuals who specialize in just one person (such as a man named Frank Kukla, who is considered to be one of, if not THE most knowledgable people in regards to the evolution of Muhammed Ali's signature). Believe me (and I can only speak for the time when I was employed by Spence), the authentication team at JSA did all it could to ensure that its customers were getting the best, most thorough service possible.

To answer your other question (when two different auth. teams were at different sites on the same day): EVERY full LOA item exmained by JSA is viewed by EVERY authenticator on staff. High-res images are taken of each item so that authenticators not present at the initial time of examination can render their personal score [on a scale of +2 (pass with flying colors) to -2 (outright terrible)]. In some cases, where an item asks more questions than it answers (such as a baseball with possible signature removals), said item is brought back to the office so that the entire JSA staff can examine it together, look at it under the high-tech video spectral comparator, and then have a group discussion about everyone's feelings regarding the item. Trust me, it's not as bad as that news report made it out to be.

This is all I plan on answering to in regards to my old job. I have far more improtant business matters to deal with right now, and it's not as if I'm being paid to stick up for my old employer. If you have more questions, why not ask JSA yourselves? The website is www.spenceloa.com.