Your opinions on PSA/DNA quick opinion?

[benjulmag]

One aspect of authentication often overlooked pertains to the genuiness of the comps on which the opinion is based. If those comps are forgeries themselves, then any opinion based on them is worthless. Many valuable signatures/documents are valuable because of their scarcity. This therefore should raise a legitimate concern about how the authenticator (be it PSA/DNA or anyone else) knows the comps are authentic. It is one thing to respect the ability of the authenticator to undertake handwriting analysis. It is quite another to feel they have expertise in baseball history or forensic analysis, tools that are crucial in judging the worth of the comps.

This concern is hardly theoretical. Some great frauds were perpetrated by the forger first creating the comps, then from that point forward having those comps used as the means of comparison.

So for my nickel at least, if someone is looking to sell me a document with scare penmanship, I would need more than a piece of paper from a recognized authentication service saying the signature/handwriting is consistent with other examples. I would also require a detailed description of the comps used and their provenance. And if that is not possible to obtain, then I would make my purchase contingent on my ability to provide the comps.

[drc]

The Quick Opinion is just that, a quick opinion. It isn't intended to be a LOA, but a look for a bidder who is considering bidding on eBay and wants a quick second opinion. My opinion is that, all things considered (they are just looking at an eBay image, etc), their quick opinions are generally reliable.

[drc]

One other thing, when I did the Quick Opinion on the Dr. Mike Marshall ball, I was given an email confirmation plus the opinion was posted on an online web page at PSA/DNA's site-- listing the eBay auction #. I don't know how long the page lasted, but, for the then near future at least, the opinion could be confirmed by others. It was a while ago I did this, but I think there was a serial number you had to type in to view it. So, if you have question, ask if you can view the web page confirmation.

[drc]

Added to say, I think Quick Opinion confirmation may include the serial code. So if someone gives you a print out copy of the email, you might be able to confirm.