Third Party Authentication

Every year for the past several years Steve Grad of Beckett and James Spence of JSA Authentications have been invited to an autograph seminar to speak about the autograph authenticating service they represent.  A total of only 50 tickets would be available to attend this seminar and it would be filmed.  This would be the perfect opportunity to explain to the collecting public why their services are needed in the autograph industry.

Each would be asked about 25 questions about the service they offer and a little about the company they represent.  A fabulous opportunity for them to promote autograph authenticating at no expense to them.

During the last several years both have received an invitation, there has never been a single response.  This is very concerning to collectors and dealers. During the last few years more collectors and autograph dealers are very concerned about the accuracy and even the ability of companies who claim to authenticate autographs. 

As an example, the following is an email from a very seasoned collector of autographs.

Steve Grad is the individual who was removed from the Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago by law eforcement. The reason was exhibiting dealers were complaining that Grad was selling non-genuine autographs from binders in his shopping cart.  Later, Grad was asked in court if he was the Steve Grad who was removed from the show. His response: "I don't recall."

Many collectors and dealers feel law enforcement is desperately needed to investigate 3rd party companies who claim to authenticate autographs.  Thousands and thousands of dollars are wasted every year on autographs that have been mis-authenticated.  The situation is so bad that over 70 professional autograph dealers, members of PADAH, no longer have to issue a refund based on a "guess" or "opinion" from a 3rd party authentication service.

Is autograph authenticating legitimate by those who work for these type companies or is it basically a scam?