The market for autographed sporting goods is huge. In 2007, the sports memorabilia industry received an estimated $ 2 billion, and that number has gotten even more striking in the last three years.
For collectors who pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for sporting goods, the authenticity of an item is a primary concern. Industry-leading autograph authenticator PSA / DNA recently claimed that only 33 percent of the 10,000+ Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan autographs it reviewed were real, just one example of the ease with which sellers fail to Accredited parties can bring fraudulent items to market.
When assigning the value of a sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity, some in the industry can’t help but think of the scene in Tommy Boy when Chris Farley’s character tries to undermine a competitor’s written product warranty:
Tommy: Why would someone put a guarantee on a box? Hmmm, very interesting. This is how I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee in a box because he wants you to feel warm and toasty inside.
Client: Yes, it makes a man feel good.
Tommy: Sure it is. Why shouldn’t it? Imagine you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy could come by and leave a quarter, right, Ted?
Customer: What’s your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know that the fairy is not some crazy glue tracker? “Building model airplanes,” says the little fairy; well, we didn’t buy it. It sneaks into your house once, that’s all it takes. The next thing you know, there is no money in the dresser and your daughter is pregnant. I’ve seen it hundreds of times.
Glue aside, there is no guarantee that sports memorabilia accompanied by a letter of authenticity are legitimate, and memorabilia lacking a certificate should not be assumed to be fraudulent. That said, a certificate of authenticity for a sports collectible, whether it be an autographed baseball, a signed soccer jersey, or a pair of soccer shoes used in the game, occupies an important place in the souvenir market ecosystem. sports
Casual and professional sports memorabilia collectors considering the role that a certificate of authenticity can play should consider the following:
Consider the source
Earlier this summer, former minor league team (Harrisburg Senators) of the Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg held an auction that included a pair of autographed and Strasburg-worn cleats. The cleats were accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the Harrisburg Senators Baseball Club, a credible league organization whose letter carries significant weight relative to lesser-known or established authenticators.
Another example is eTopps, a service from Topps, which provides limited edition autographed cards accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The COA has the tag number associated with the particular card autographed. In both examples, the COAs and LOAs come from reputable organizations for which the buyer has at least some means of communicating with employees and staff. In other words, the font is important. COAs and LOAs from companies with less brand credibility, or those that provide limited means of communication (PO box address, lack of phone number) should serve as a red flag for collectors.
Just because eBay is legit, not all of its sellers are
eBay takes fraud very seriously and has invested significant resources and funds in doing everything possible to protect honest buyers and sellers. But on eBay, as on any e-commerce site, those who are motivated to act criminal will do so. Sports collectors who purchase items on eBay that include a Certificate of Authenticity should not automatically assume that an item (or Certificate) is legitimate. As mentioned above, carefully examine the vendor providing the certificate, because vendors may manufacture these Certificates. At the same time, understand that positive reviews from a seller are likely due to their diligence in mailing an item and ‘customer service’, and should not serve as a guarantee that the items they ship are authentic.
Understand the benefits and limits of a sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity
Certificates of Authenticity can accompany an item purchased on eBay or other online sites, or alternatively, fans and collectors can submit autographs, photos, etc. to an authentication service like PSA | DNA. These services employ signature and authentication experts who will examine, for a fee, the items shipped and provide Letters of Authenticity if the autograph is deemed authentic. Services like PSA | DNA guarantees that major auction houses (Christie’s, Mastro Fine Sport, Gray Flannel, Hunt Auctions, etc.) will accept items accompanied by their letters of authenticity or provide a refund.