Steiner Sports Authentication Process

WITNESS
• Each and every hand-signed collectible that carries a tamper-proof hologram is witnessed by a Steiner Sports representative. Once the collectibles have been autographed, they are cataloged and inventoried.
AFFIDAVIT
• A notarized affidavit is prepared and signed by the athlete and a Steiner Sports representative. The notarized affidavit records the date and location of the signing and also details the items that were signed by the specified athlete. This document is then secured within the Steiner Sports main offices.

HOLOGRAM

• Each hand-signed collectible is examined for quality and signature condition. If the collectible meets the Steiner Sports standard of excellence a tamper-proof Steiner Sports hologram is affixed to the product.

CERTIFICATE
• Once the hand-signed collectible has passed the steps listed above, a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is created for the collectible. The collectible is then sealed and stored within our main office and is not handled until it is delivered to a sports collectible enthusiast.




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James Spence (J.S.A.) Authentication Process

Each item is methodically examined and reviewed by each of our authenticators individually to ensure their expert instinctive impressions are in agreement. This intuitive sense has been developed after many years of examining thousands of autographs. The expert is extremely familiar with many different variations and evolution of an individual's signature and can quickly identify irregularities evident in a clubhouse, secretarial, or forged signature.

Possible Results

Pass - Standard Letter of Authenticity (LOA) - Highly sought after by collectors, dealers and hobbyists alike, our standard LOA contains a digital color image of the item and live signature of autograph expert James Spence, which is witnessed by a licensed Pennsylvania notary public. Additional data may include quantity of signatures, manufacturer, make &/or model of the item. It accompanies any item that passes our authentication process and qualifies for the standard letter. A certification label is placed on the item or letter (customer preference) with the corresponding number appearing on the LOA. It is accepted by any major auction house in the country and is viewed as THE letter to have when either displaying your prized possession or offering it online. To maximize the value and interest of your signed collectible, one should have a James Spence Authentication.

Fail - The autograph has not met the requirements as defined by our experts and it is their expressed consensus opinion that the autograph is at best of questionable authenticity. There are specific inconsistencies or irregularities evident in the signature that obliges our experts to reach this conclusion. A rejection letter is returned with a detailed explanation of their findings
THE BASIC CERT PROGRAM


Popular among dealers and collectors alike, the Basic Cert employs the same valued authentication process to verify lesser valued autographed items. Included with the Basic Cert program is a 3" x 5" James Spence Authentication registration card printed with a unique certification number corresponding to the alpha-numeric tamper evident label. Of course, similar to the Premium Letter of Authenticity each certification number is uploaded into our exclusive database for 24-hour customer verification access. All Basic Cert cards are fully transferable without resubmission.



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Upper Deck's 5 Step Authentication Process

Step 1 - Every autograph is witnessed by an Upper Deck Authenticated representative. After all, observation is the ONLY WAY to truly guarantee authenticity;

Step 2 - A record of the autograph session is signed by both the athlete and the UDA official and is stored in a secure permanent file;

Step 3 - An Upper Deck Authenticated serial numbered hologram is affixed to each signed piece of memorabilia;

Step 4 - A certificate of authenticity is assigned to every piece of memorabilia and includes a matching hologram to the one affixed to the item;

Step 5 - Every piece of signed memorabilia is packaged with a registration card. The owner has the opportunity to register the item with Upper Deck Authenticated. If for some reason the item is sold and/or transferred to a new owner, a full detailed record of the item's history is readily available.



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PSA/DNA Authentication Process

To combat counterfeiting and provide peace of mind to collectors, PSA/DNA employs a four-level Authentication System. The process includes:

STEP 1: EXAMINATION:

Ink/Medium Analysis
Autograph Structure Analysis
Object Evaluation
Side-By-Side Comparisons *
Video Spectral Comparator (VSC4) * - A powerful workstation designed to examine questionable documents and autographs using sophisticated color and infrared imaging, magnification, coaxial lighting, and side lighting on-screen.

The VSC detects:

Erasures
Reveals masked and obliterated signatures
Differences in ink types
Other extraordinary tampering

*When Necessary

STEP: 2 ANTI-COUNTERFEITING:

Covert Tagging - Once an autograph is deemed genuine, the item is marked with invisible ink which contains a synthetic DNA sequence/combination specific to PSA/DNA.

The DNA-laced taggant cannot only be detected in a scientific lab but also with a proprietary infrared laser. In fact, by using the laser, the invisible DNA-ink will glow "RED." More importantly, the chances of replicating this exact sequence is 1 in 33 trillion!

Overt Tagging - A label bearing an alphanumeric serial number is applied on the item in a discrete location or on the Certficate or Letter of Authenticity. The choice is yours. Interestingly enough, this label was specifically designed to checkerboard when tampered with and can be completely removed! In addition, the label is non-destructive and does not harm your valuable item.

STEP 3: CERTIFICATION - Certificate of Authenticity - For items submitted at an authentication fee lower than $50, a small 3x5 certificate on your authenticated piece is issued with your item. The COA features a six digit alphanumeric number that matches the tamper evident label.

For an addition fee of $10, a Letter of Authenticity will be composed and issued with your item
Letter of Authenticity - For items submitted at an authentication of $50 or higher, a detailed letter on your authenticated piece is composed and issued with your item. The letter features:


PSA and PSA/DNA watermarks custom embedded into the paper stock to prevent counterfeiting; simply hold the LOA against a lamp and look for the official PSA and PSA/DNA logos.
A high resolution photo of your exact submission.
Hand signature from one of PSA/DNA's representatives.
Six digit alphanumeric serial number that matches the tamper evident label.
Autographs that are signed, in our opinion, by clubhouse personnel will receive a "Clubhouse" designation. A special letter is returned with an explanation segregating the difference between these examples and actual autographs.


STEP 4: DOCUMENTATION - All authenticated memorabilia is available online for verification. Simply visit Cert Verification and enter the alphanumeric serial number. The verification page will display:


1. The autographs
2. The item
3. Brand
4. Location of authentication
5. Authentication date
6. Notes
7. Photo (if available)

Autographs - Items submitted at the fee of $50 or higher that do not meet our requirements and, in our opinion, are of questionable authenticity will receive a "NO PASS" designation. Thereafter, a Letter of Opinion (LOO) is returned with a detailed explanation of our experts' findings. The letter features:


A high resolution photo of your exact submission
A summary on the characteristics of your autograph on why it is not deemed genuine

Items submitted under $50 will receive a non-detailed Letter of Opinion (LOO).

Occasionally, our experts cannot express an opinion on an autograph. These will be designated as "Inconclusive" and a credit voucher will be issued in the full amount of the authentication fee. This voucher can be used towards future submissions.



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Online Authentics Physical Review Service

• OnlineAuthentics.com offers a Physical Review program that allows our users to submit items for physical examination by our Review Staff, a group of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced dealers and collectors in the industry.

• Many collectors have large collections of signed sports memorabilia and we invite our users to send us items for our Review Staff to evaluate. Once our Review Staff determines an item meets our review parameters we will then issue a numbered letter outlining what the item is as well as our review of the item.

• We will also offer our users the option of having their item tagged with an OnlineAuthentics.com numbered ID label. This label will be tamper proof and the ID number will be retrievable from our Online Registry.

• Our Online Authentics Database will be available online and will not only provide a text description of the item but it will also contain a picture of the exact signature on the users item. OnlineAuthentics.com believes that a picture speaks a thousand words and our Online Authentics process leaves nothing to be said. This service provides consumers with the ultimate level of confidence available in the marketplace.

We’ve partnered with Steiner Sports, the largest and most-respected Sports-Memorabilia company in the United States, to ensure every item we ship is guaranteed authentic. Steiner Sports opened its hand-signed memorabilia division in 1992, and since that time it has become the top distributor of authentic Sports Collectibles. By stressing quality and authenticity, Steiner Sports is the world leader in authentic hand-signed memorabilia.

The FBI estimates that 70% of all sports memorabilia is fraudulent. So here at Authentic Signed Sports we take the worry out of every purchase. We want our customers to feel secure about the Signed Sports Memorabilia they purchase from us. Authentic Signed Sports backs up every signed piece of Sports Memorabilia with an iron clad 100% Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

If you ever get a Signed Sports Memorabilia item authenticated by a 3rd party authenticator and it is the expert opinion of the Authenticator that the signature in question has been examined and not deemed genuine. We will refund the entire purchase price, along with the shipping charges and the costs of the 3rd party authenticator upon return of the item in question.

Keep in mind that this applies only when the 3rd party authenticator is a well known reputable firm, such as James Spence Authentication or PSA/DNA. How many other Dealers offer the same guarantee?


You can rest assured that the Autographed Sports Memorabilia we sell is 100% Authentic. We only purchase our inventory directly from Steiner Sports or Upper Deck. Please refer to our Authenticity page for more information on the Authentication Process.

Buying and Collecting Sports Memorabilia can become quite an expensive hobby. That is why you need to choose carefully the items you purchase and who you purchase them from.

Not everyone can afford to attain a huge collection of autographed items from their favorite players. Most of us start out as kids collecting baseball cards and comic books. As we grow older our tastes seem to get a bit more expensive.

Today the Sports Memorabilia craze has turned into a billion dollar industry. With the increase of popularity in collecting autographed Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles comes greed. Unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of a collector's dreams. Fraudulent autographs have flooded the market over the past several years. The popularity of buying online has helped cloak these criminals in a veil of secrecy. Anyone can set up shop on places like eBay and hawk their wares while remaining anonymous from the buyers who spend their hard earned money to own a piece of Sports History and greatness.

While it is impossible to definitely estimate the percentage of forged memorabilia, most industry experts concede that over half of the autographed memorabilia is forged. In fact, some cooperating subjects and memorabilia experts believe that up to ninety percent of the memorabilia on the market is forged. Industry experts estimate that the autographed memorabilia market in the United States is approximately $1 billion per year. Using these estimates, forged memorabilia comprises between $500,000,000 and $900,000,000 of the market.

So how do you protect yourself from these crooks?



This is an excerpt from the FBI's San Diego office after Operation Bullpen.



Public Awareness

Perhaps the most important objective of this investigation is to increase public awareness regarding the substantial memorabilia fraud problem which may account for upwards of $500,000,000 in losses annually. While there are legitimate and reputable companies selling authentic memorabilia, the industry has been plagued with high-quality forgeries making it difficult for legitimate companies to compete. It also defrauds thousands of unsuspecting consumers each year.

While the only way to absolutely guarantee that the autographed memorabilia is authentic is to personally witness the autograph, there are several ways to avoid becoming a memorabilia fraud victim. These recommendations include:

If the price is too good to be true, it is probably a fake. If a company offers an autographed item well below competitors prices and market value, then consumers should be wary. An example would include Michael Jordan basketballs, which some companies sell for as low as $150.00. Given Jordan's current exclusive contract with Upper Deck and difficulties associated with obtaining his autograph, the Tuff Stuff Magazine market value of an autographed Jordan Basketball is $500, while Upper Deck Michael Jordan autographed basketballs retail for up to $1,500. (Caution - a high price does not by any means suggest authenticity either.)

Certificates of authenticity are not guarantees of authenticity. Individuals and companies involved with selling forged memorabilia often include a Certificate of Authenticity, allegedly from a third party expert. Often, the authenticator is either a knowing or unknowing, but incompetent, participant in the fraud. Carefully read the Certificate of Authenticity, looking for the authentication "language", an address, telephone number and name of the authenticators. Do not accept copies of Certificates of Authenticity.

A photograph of an athlete or celebrity signing an autograph is no guarantee the item is authentic. This investigation revealed that it is a common practice of forged memorabilia traffickers to include a photograph of the athlete/celebrity signing the item along with a Certificate of Authenticity. Traffickers also include photographs of themselves with the athlete/celebrity to lend credibility to their forged memorabilia.

An individual or company having a paid signing session with an athlete or celebrity is no guarantee of authenticity. Operation Bullpen has revealed that is a common practice for forged memorabilia traffickers to "mix-in" forged memorabilia with items signed during an autograph session. For example, a company may pay to have an athlete sign 500 items. After the signing, the company will "mix-in" forgeries with the authentic autographs. The company also may continue to sell forged items after the authentic items have been sold claiming that they were from the autograph session.

The method of selling the memorabilia should not affect skepticism about the items authenticity. The investigation revealed that forged memorabilia traffickers sell their forgeries through a variety of methods which may lend credibility to the forgeries. One such sales method is through charity auctions in which the trafficker splits the profits with the charity. At charity auctions, buyers often overpay for items and do not question the authenticity of the memorabilia. Traffickers also sell forged items through trade publications, television shopping networks, trade shows, retail businesses, and the Internet.
Before purchasing autographed memorabilia, especially "vintage" or deceased athlete/celebrity memorabilia, ask questions about the history and circumstances relating to the autograph. Be wary of far-fetched or elaborate stories which are difficult, if not impossible to verify. Common false stories suggest connections to an athlete, or "runners" employed to get autographs. Whenever possible, attempt to verify the history and circumstances of the autographed items before making the purchase.

If an individual is seeking an autograph of a current player, send a request for an autograph directly to the athlete's team. Include a letter requesting that the enclosed item be autographed along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or container. Only send photographs, cards or baseballs. Large items such as bats and jerseys should not be sent directly to the athlete. In the letter requesting an autograph, request information relating to where you can purchase authentic autographed items if the athlete does not sign autographs through mailed requests. The athlete or the team may direct the buyer to a company which has an autograph contract with the athlete.

To counter the forged memorabilia problem, many athletes and celebrities are either creating their own autograph company or are signing exclusive contracts with specific sports memorabilia companies. Dealing directly with the athlete's company or with an exclusive contract company will greatly reduce the likelihood of purchasing forged memorabilia.



Read about our 100% Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity