Would JSA or PSA not pass a card that was signed in person for any reason?

[HRBAKER]

Maybe PSA/DNA is wrong. WOuldn't be the first time.

[Vintagedegu]

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[MooseDog]

I have a signed Thurman Munson card I got in person in Oakland as a kid that was not passed by both JSA and PSA. I wanted to sell the card as I needed the cash, but all it did was put me further in the hole as they don't refund fees if items don't pass...

[Griffins]

There was a documentary on JSA, where he didn't pass a Sal Bando autograph that was signed a few feet away. If you search on the old board there should be some info on there. Perhaps on an HBO special?
I've had a few friends that have had stuff signed in person that was rejected as well.
Bottom line is that is an opinion, and not always the best one at that. You should be able to find a lot of info on this if you run a few searches.

[Lordstan]

Anthony,
The story you are talking about goes a little differently.
The reporter and crew got a picture signed by Bando, who was at the show. JSA was there doing show autograph authentication. The crew then filmed the reporter signing a blank picture of Bando in the parking lot. She used the real one as a guide.
The reporter then went back to the authenticator table, who glanced quickly at the sig. He told her she looked honest and gave her a cert.
Right after that, they showed the video to the authenticator, who had no defense. They even showed it to bando, who was, needless to say, shocked.

Mark

[Griffins]

Mark- thanks for the clarification. Certainly damning, and it seems hobby authenticators are not held to the same standards of competence that forensic ones are.

[perezfan]

There is more to that story than can be quickly summed up here. Bando was signing at that very show (a few feet away), and nobody in their right mind would forge a nearly worthless Sal Bando autograph. It was a complete set-up...

Of course the guy who OK'd it was lackadaisical, negligent and needlessly cocky. But that was one person- who I would wager is no longer employed by Spence (I don't know for sure, however).

If the autograph in question was of greater value or scarcity, it would have received far more scrutiny by the authenticators. While the Bando example was inexcusable, I do not believe it is indicative of 99% of the material that Spence or PSA evaluates.

That said... mistakes are still made and it is not a perfect science.

[tinkereversandme]

Sure it's not 100%, but what is an acceptable rate of making errors? If the big authenticators are incorrect 20% of the time, that means for every 10,000they authenticate, 2,000 of them are no good. I have seen way too many circumstances as mentioned where good signatures are failed which essentially makes them worthless and too many bad autographs that are passed as legit. It's an avil that is necessary in today's collecting world and I wish these guys could realize with an extended data base of examples that the item that they are looking at is the real deal.

Regards,

Larry