JSA Team...

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have no idea but would guess that the grading companies have the same type of employees to grade cards.

That is probably true, but telling authentic autos from fake ones take a lot more skill than deciding on whether or not a corner is creased or the image is off center.

[travrosty]

i am sure they are listed on the website as autograph authenticators. whats the world come to?

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

That is probably true, but telling authentic autos from fake ones take a lot more skill than deciding on whether or not a corner is creased or the image is off center.

I agree with this, as grading cards and authenticating autographs are VERY different enterprises. I think it would be fairly easy to train an intelligent young person with sharp eyes to grade cards well and consistently. They wouldn't even have to have any prior knowledge of sports or sports cards at all, really. Becoming an autograph expert, on the other hand (and as pointed out here regularly and correctly), takes years and years of experience and a breadth of knowledge. What you (or in this case, Spence) could teach someone in a three-month training program would only help identify the silliest and most blatant of forgeries (think the snow white baseballs with wet sharpie Martin Dihigo autos in roaches corner auctions), not the sophisticated and well-done stuff that regularly gets submitted to large auction houses.

While ageism generally makes me wince, it is doubtful that the guys in that picture have had anything but the most perfunctory of authentication training, which is not very helpful. This is a field where experience trumps all.

[mighty bombjack]

I will add this for argument's sake: Maybe those guys simply collect and tag stuff to take in to JSA? Or are only there to do the "signed in the presence" stuff? Would their age make difference in those circumstances? I have never submitted anything in person, so I don't know for sure, but I didn't think you could get anything cert-ed on the spot like that.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

That is probably true, but telling authentic autos from fake ones take a lot more skill than deciding on whether or not a corner is creased or the image is off center.

+++

[Leon]

I would hope they are taking in submissions.

[polakoff]

The one on the right is their director of authentication.

http://www.spenceloa.com/OurExperts

[travrosty]

He must be an expert then. If someone searches his name and can find no hobby history, writeups or any type of background in the hobby at all, besides the bio at jsa website, it's a sign of something.

[polakoff]

Seems to have a pretty lengthy background to me

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert..._(Philadelphia)

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by polakoff

Seems to have a pretty lengthy background to me

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert..._(Philadelphia)

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by travrosty

He must be an expert then. If someone searches his name and can find no hobby history, writeups or any type of background in the hobby at all, besides the bio at jsa website, it's a sign of something.

+1. And the writeup on the JSA site itself is not very impressive.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by polakoff

The one on the right is their director of authentication.

http://www.spenceloa.com/OurExperts

If he is the "director of authentication" then is he there taking submissions or examining autographs? I would think the "director" should do more then take submissions.

[travrosty]

I have seen schedules of authenticators from companies (no names please!) going to 3 and even 4 locations across the country in the same day. How many world experts they got?


from the website

Robert Wharton - Director of Authentication / Authenticator

[jgmp123]

Originally Posted by travrosty

I have seen schedules of authenticators from companies (no names please!) going to 3 and even 4 locations across the country in the same day. How many world experts they got?


from the website

Robert Wharton - Director of Authentication / Authenticator

I think it's sad to say that this is what this is all about....

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Leon

I would hope they are taking in submissions.

I would hope that too.