Modern Day Autograph Insert Cards - Do You Trust Them?

[Topnotchsy]

As someone who collected modern cards for 20 years:

1) I think in 99% of cases the autographs are legit.
2) Often the cards have slightly different versions that are numbered to different numbers. It's artificial scarcity, but people have accepted it for the most part. Though since so many sets are made, and many have a large number of parallels, the value of low-numbered cards is usually pretty low unless there is something significant about the set or card. (One example is the Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs and parallels.)

[Kco]

They are legitimate, there are scarce instances where athletes have had friends or managers sign on their behalf, but those have usually been sniffed out and exposed quickly. I’m those instances, the card companies have always made it right. I’d is Topps or Panini certified you’re fine.

[Steve D]

On the numbering, the company will have the player sign say, five cards with a red sharpie...those will be numbered to 5. Then, they'll have the player sign 25 cards with a blue sharpie.....numbered to 25. 10 cards signed with a silver sharpie, and 20 cards signed in gold ink.

The company will also issue the same card, with different colored borders.....100 cards with a white border; 75 cards with a blue border, etc...

They will also vary the color of the foil on the card; some will use silver foil, and others will use gold foil; or the color of the ink used to print the wording will differ.

They are all the same basic card, just with different colors used.

In my case, I just go with the one that I like best, regardless of what that particular card is numbered to. Sometimes, I best like the version that's numbered to 10, other times the version numbered to 75 or 100 or whatever.

Rarely will I go after multiple or all versions of the card.

Regarding authenticity, I try to stick with Topps, as they say they have someone witness each and every signing.

Steve

[vintagechris]

I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not but some of these the autographs are on card and some are just on a sticker or tape affixed to the card. I personally only like the ones that are signed on card.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by vintagechris

I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not but some of these the autographs are on card and some are just on a sticker or tape affixed to the card. I personally only like the ones that are signed on card.

Yes, I have noticed this. I like the on card signatures a lot better and have noticed some of those stickers don’t even catch the whole signature.

[slidekellyslide]

Thanks for the replies. A lot of helpful info here.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Steve D

On the numbering, the company will have the player sign say, five cards with a red sharpie...those will be numbered to 5. Then, they'll have the player sign 25 cards with a blue sharpie.....numbered to 25. 10 cards signed with a silver sharpie, and 20 cards signed in gold ink.

The company will also issue the same card, with different colored borders.....100 cards with a white border; 75 cards with a blue border, etc...

They will also vary the color of the foil on the card; some will use silver foil, and others will use gold foil; or the color of the ink used to print the wording will differ.

They are all the same basic card, just with different colors used.

In my case, I just go with the one that I like best, regardless of what that particular card is numbered to. Sometimes, I best like the version that's numbered to 10, other times the version numbered to 75 or 100 or whatever.

Rarely will I go after multiple or all versions of the card.

Regarding authenticity, I try to stick with Topps, as they say they have someone witness each and every signing.

Steve

Upper Deck also witnesses every signature. I have done this in the past for them. They have Jordan and LeBron exclusives, so you would be safe with their autos.

[SetBuilder]

How many times have "game used" jersey patch and bat relic cards been proven to be highly suspect, or downright fake? Several times.

Recently, even Eli Manning was caught selling fake used jerseys and helmets. Link here: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/14/gian...d-helmets.html

If they're not 100% honest with GU jerseys, helmets, relics, and patches, I wouldn't trust autographs either.

There's two types of autographs: old ones, and the modern ones. The modern ones are easy. You can probably trust companies like UD to certify that they witnessed the athlete signing the card or piece of memorabilia. I don't think we have any reason to believe a serious fraudulent operation is taking place at UD or Steiner.

The old autographs are a different story. People are human, and just like TPA's they make mistakes. Because the athletes that signed the cuts are dead, there can be no witness to the signing, and someone at the trading card companies has to go out and bid/buy the autographs in the secondary market. This means forgeries will inevitably slip by due to the fact that the buyers at these companies don't have any magical authentication powers, and they can be just as fallible as the rest of us.

Do I think they're purposely creating or buying fake autographs, or have in the past, to create insert cards? I can't make that assertion.