If you are planning to get into collecting sports memorabilia, then there are a few important things you need to know in order to ensure that you are getting the authentic, autographed cards in the safest way possible. These include checking the COA, authentication by third parties, dealer authorizations, and so on. Below we look at five such things in brief details.
COA And Signing Details
Always make sure that the memorabilia you are buying comes with a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) that validates the claims made by the memorabilia. Trustworthy dealers will definitely provide you with a COA. They will also let you know how they obtained the autograph of a particular sportsperson on that memorabilia. And if any dealer tries to sell you an item without COA, then you should definitely stay away from dealing with them. In addition, also ask the dealer as to who issued the COA and their experience in the industry. Remember that you are the one spending money here. So, ask as many relevant questions as you can to determine the quality and authenticity of the memorabilia before you purchase it.
Authorized Dealers
Only trade with a dealer who has been trading in sports memorabilia for long. Such businesses are far more likely to give you 100% authenticated items. They will have their own network of procurers who will attend signing shows, trading events etc. and procure top quality, highly valuable memorabilia for sale.
Too Good A Deal
If somebody offers you a deal that sounds too good to be true, then it might actually be too good to be true. Beware of such dealers or else you are likely to end up wasting money on an item that does not have too much value. Compare the price of a memorabilia with those of the similar type and decide whether the quoted price is fair or not.
Direct Signed Items
The easiest way to make sure that you are getting an item with an authentic sign is to watch out for signing events and visit them. And when you see your favorite star sign an item, you would definitely know that what you are getting is 100% absolutely legit. If you don’t want to spend time verifying the authenticity of a purchase, then this is the way to go about collecting signed sports memorabilia.
Third Party Authenticators
In addition to the trustworthiness of the seller, you can also look out for certifications from third parties like the James Spencer Authentication (JSA). The inevitable side effect is that you will have to spend money on getting the item authenticated by organizations like JSA. So, only use this option when you desperately wish to purchase the memorabilia but is concerned about its authenticity.
And if you need a trusted seller for purchasing few collectibles, be sure to check out Hollywood Collectibles sports memorabilia, which guarantees 100% authenticity of the item. In fact, they also use authenticators like JSA on certain occasions. This definitely makes them an ideal source for collecting your sports memorabilia.