Posted By:
warshawlawAutographed and non-autographed cards.
The Authentic label for autographed cards indicates that the autograph is authentic. With SGC's new set-up, you can ask that the card not be graded but merely that the autograph be authenticated. PSA/DNA too. Since autograph collectorw generally care more about the signature than the card condition, I am fine with that.
I agree that Authentic on unsigned cards can mean any number of things and that it has evolved to be perceived to mean that the card is ungradeable. I had some low grade cards slabbed Authentic over the summer instead of 1; I would not do so now, knowing what I know about how the perception of those labels has evolved. What I would like to see is the grader write on the front of the label any specific defects that make it impossible to grade (trimming, recoloring, etc.) to differentiate altered cards from cards that have been authenticated instead of numerically graded.