Posted By:
warshawlawI look at it from the standpoint of a collector. I'd like to have some of my cards authenticated and encapsulated so they fit with my sets, etc. For example, I have a T3 Jack Johnson that appears to have a vintage trim at one side (I did not trim it so I don't know for sure). I'd love to have that card encapsulated as "authentic" by one of the services with decent holders. I's love the authentication option for low grade cards. I'd rather have the card authenticated than slabbed in a "1". After all, that grade doesn't do me any good anyhow.
One thing I would like to see, however, is consistent application of the authentic label--PSA seems to use it some times and with some cards but not others. If the authentic label is going to be given, why not let anyone have the label for their cards? Why all the big secrecy?
There will always be the question to be answered as to how far an alteration goes before the card is not "authentic"; like pornography, the answer may be that I don't know how to define it but I know it when I see it.