JSA exemplars

[HexsHeroes]

.

. . . asking whether they had an exemplar(s) on a particular (obscure) ballplayer's signature. It took alittle hounding with each of them, but I eventually got a response from each. JSA stated they have an exemplar(s) to use, PSA/DNA stated they did not. PSA/DNA scored afew points with me for owning up to not having an exemplar to use, before I sent the item to them (with no disrespect to JSA for actually having an example).

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by HexsHeroes

.

. . . asking whether they had an exemplar(s) on a particular (obscure) ballplayer's signature. It took alittle hounding with each of them, but I eventually got a response from each. JSA stated they have an exemplar(s) to use, PSA/DNA stated they did not. PSA/DNA scored afew points with me for owning up to not having an exemplar to use, before I sent the item to them (with no disrespect to JSA for actually having an example).

Vince - I can understand you appreciating the actions of PSA here.
I tell people that when they ask me to authenticate an autograph that I have no familiarity with or no exemplars.
My question to you is, why did you send the item to PSA when they had no exemplars?

[HexsHeroes]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Vince - I can understand you appreciating the actions of PSA here.
I tell people that when they ask me to authenticate an autograph that I have no familiarity with or no exemplars.
My question to you is, why did you send the item to PSA when they had no exemplars?

Richard - wrong choice of words on my part. I did not send my autograph to either PSA/DNA or JSA. I just wanted to recognize (in a positive way) that PSA/DNA at least admitted to not having an exemplar.

My inquiry to PSA/DNA and JSA was based on my inability to locate the ballplayer's name among the respective fee schedules on each of the websites. When I initially contacted both companies, each responded with a price to authenticate. Given the obscure nature of the autograph, I wanted to avoid a situation where I submitted my item (therefore paying for an opinion + postage & insurance), only to find out later they were unable to authenticate due to failure to have the necessary exemplar(s). Worse yet, the refund policy was unclear to my feeble mind. In cases where authentication was not possible, would I only be offered credit towards future authentication services, instead of a cash refund? Since I rarely use these services, a credit would have been useless to me.

Long story short, I just wanted to avoid a possible situation where I'm out cash, and failed to get the pursued opinion.

[Big Dave]

If you send in your item and they are unable to authenticate, you will not get your money back, but only a voucher for a future authentication. Can you see that working on eBay...buy something and return it, but instead of getting your money back, you get a voucher toward a future purchase.

What a deal!

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

If you send in your item and they are unable to authenticate, you will not get your money back, but only a voucher for a future authentication. Can you see that working on eBay...buy something and return it, but instead of getting your money back, you get a voucher toward a future purchase.

What a deal!

That reminds me of when I sent away $75.00 to Sports Americana (I believe) around 1975 for a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle... I worked all summer, gave my parents the money I saved a d made them write a check. My dad thought it was a stupid idea.

After looking in the mailbox every day for 2-3 weeks the package came. There was a 1956 Koufax, Jackie Robinson & Warren Spahn, but NO MANTLE......

and a $50.00 credit memo

some things never change I guess

[mcgwirecom]

man do you know what that Mantle would be worth now? Even in a conservatively managed portfolio...LOL

[JimStinson]

I see alot of emphasis being placed on examplars, and while it is an important facit of determining an autograph's authenticity, keep in mind that crooks who counterfeit currency, can draw a twenty dollar bill FREEHAND. So how difficult to reproduce an autograph ?
Also the people who do that with autographs are USING KNOWN EXAMPLARS to replicate their product. So in determining authenticity its important to be looking at OTHER factors as well.....THESE are the so called "trade secrets" that any authenticator worth his salt will keep "close to the vest". Speaking from over 30 years experience , yes there are a certain percentage of autographs that are "no brainers" both good and bad , but its the middle maybe 30% that require the work involved. As for keeping an "examplar file" , back in the "stone age" I mean ....before the information age
That was pretty important and maybe still is (kinda). But there are data bases that are available by subscription now a days that in about 30 seconds I can find in most cases multiple examplars housed in institutions of any notable in any field who ever breathed a breath. Maybe its an oversimplified "take" on it but ANY autograph authenticator ESPECIALLY one who charges money for his opinion better be aware of more than just examplars. And even THEN know a few good people who specialize in certain areas of collecting to get a 2nd , 3rd or even 4th opinion. And ultimately after all that still be humble enough to say "I don't know"
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