Authentication
At SportsFrames.com we take the autograph authentication very seriously and we never sell anything without a legitimate autograph certification authentication. We also offer a 100% money back guarantee on any item that is deemed to have questionable authenticity. In all of the years we have been in the Sports Memorabilia we have never had to issues a refund for this questionable authenticity guarantee, but since it is in place you can buy any autographed item from SportsFrames.com with complete confidence.
To help you understand the authentication process better we will break down the different type of authentications and authenticators. Here are the three main types of autograph certifications:
Third Party Authenticators: These companies either witness the signatures of the athletes in person or examine the signatures post signing and certify that the signatures are authentic. All of the Third Party Authenticators include a serial numbered sticker on the autographed item and a matching paper/plastic certificate. We always make sure that the sticker is clearly displayed on our items and we attach the paper/plastic certificate to the back of your framed item so you will never have to keep track of it. You can also go to the Third Party Authenticators website and enter the serial number to verify the authenticated item. PSA and JSA are the leading Third Party Authenticators in the industry.
Sports Memorabilia Companies: These companies hold private signings with the athletes and include their authentications on the autographed items. All of the Sports Memorabilia Companies include an authentication sticker on the Jersey and most also include a paper/plastic certification card with the autographed item. We always make sure that the sticker is clearly displayed on our items and we attach the paper/plastic certificate to the back of your framed item so you will never have to keep track of it. You can also go to the Third Party Authenticators website and enter the serial number to verify the authenticated item. Some of the leading Sports Memorabilia Companies that hold these private signings are Steiner Sports, Fanatics Authentics and TriStar Productions.
Player Holograms: Some of the more popular players have created their own authentication system to eliminate forgeries of their signatures on the market. Most of the player certified items come with a hologram sticker on the item, but do not include a separate certificate. We always make sure we display the certificate on the item when we frame your item.
And here is a breakdown of most of the specific certifications that are included on our items:
Mounted Memories: Mounted Memories has been a premier supplier of genuine sports memorabilia, licensed sports products, display cases, and high-quality framing since 1989. Currently owned and operated by Fanatics, Inc., one of the world’s leading online retailers of officially licensed sports merchandise, Mounted Memories provides the ultimate destination for sports fans and collectors. As one of the most recognized names in the sports memorabilia industry with a reputation for offering top-quality autographed collectibles, Mounted Memories is both trusted and respected by sports fans and collectors worldwide. Mounted Memories has exclusive signing contracts with some of the most popular athletes across a number of sports, including Peyton Manning, David Ortiz, Colin Kaepernick, Tony Parker, Dan Marino, Adrian Peterson, and more. Additionally, Mounted Memories is officially licensed by the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association, National Basketball Association, NASCAR, and many others. Each item sold through Mounted Memories comes affixed with a serialized tamper evident hologram sticker that can be verified online courtesy of an extensive online database.
Fanatics Authentic: As the sports memorabilia division of Fanatics, Inc., Fanatics Authentic is the premier online destination for authentic autographed collectibles. Fully licensed by all major leagues, players associations and universities, Fanatics Authentic offers sports fans and collectors a trustworthy and reliable source for truly genuine sports memorabilia. By building exclusive athlete relationships with many of the biggest name in sports, such as Peyton Manning, David Ortiz, Tony Parker, Colin Kaepernick, and Paul George, Fanatics Authentic also boasts a product offering unlike any other retailer. In addition to top-quality signed collectibles, Fanatics Authentic has a unique game-used memorabilia program to allow fans and collectors the change to take home a piece of the action. All items sold through Fanatics Authentic are acquired by expert staff members in order to deliver 100% authentic sports collectibles. Dedicated to providing customers with authentic autographed memorabilia, Fanatics Authentic offers a lifetime authenticity guarantee and attaches a tamper evident hologram to every product. Every Fanatics Authentic hologram sticker is individually serialized and can be verified online via a massive database.
Upper Deck: Since 1988, Upper Deck has been a pioneer in the autograph authentication process. The company revolutionized the trading card industry by introducing a new technology that improved the overall quality of the card and added a hologram that prevented their cards from being counterfeited. Upper Deck memorabilia goes through a five-step authentication process. First, an Upper Deck Authenticated representative attends every athlete signing and witnesses every autograph that is signed. Next, the UDA representative and the athlete sign off on a record of the autograph session, which is kept by UDA in a permanent file. Third, each piece of autographed memorabilia is affixed with a serial numbered hologram. Next, a certificate of authenticity is issued to every piece of memorabilia. The Upper Deck Certificate of Authenticity is approximately the size of a large greeting card and is printed on glossy card stock. Included on this certificate is a hologram that matches the one affixed to the item. Finally, each piece of UDA autographed memorabilia is packaged with a registration card. When you by an item authenticated by Upper Deck, you have the opportunity to register your purchase with Upper Deck Authenticated. Should you decide to sell that item later, you can provide the new owner with a detailed record of that item’s history.
Panini: Every piece of memorabilia offered by Panini Authentic comes with a 100% authenticity guarantee. 1. Every Panini Authentic signing session is conducted and witnessed by an official employee of Panini America, Inc. 2. At the conclusion of each session, a notarized affidavit is signed and dated by the athlete and a Panini America, Inc. representative. The affidavit details each piece of autographed memorabilia. This affidavit is then stored at our corporate location. 3. Once each piece of signed memorabilia is inspected by a Panini America, Inc. employee for the highest level of quality and accuracy, a tamper-resistant serialized hologram is affixed. 4. A matching hologram is placed on a certificate of authenticity which lists detailed information about the item. 5. The unique serialized number is recorded in the Panini Authentic database.
Steiner Sports: “The Steiner Seal Means It’s Real” is the motto of Steiner’s memorabilia division, and every product they sell delivers on that promise. Steiner Sports broke into the sports business world in 1987 and since then, the company has established itself as a leading supplier of authentic, signed memorabilia. Steiner has exclusive autograph deals with a number of athletes including Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Tony Hawk, Johnny Damon, Joe Torre, Tiki Barber, Paul O’Neil and Curt Schilling. Steiner acquires its signed merchandise through paid athlete signings. Each piece of memorabilia is inspected for quality. If a signed collectible passes this examination, it is affixed with a Steiner Sports hologram in the presence of a Steiner Sports representative. Once the tamper-proof holograms have been affixed to the product, it is catalogued and inventoried. A notarized affidavit is prepared and signed by both the athlete and a company representative. This document records the date and location of the signing and includes details about the specific item signed. This document is kept within the Steiner Sports flagship office. After this, a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is created for the item. The Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is the size of a credit card and made of durable plastic. The text on the card reads, “This certificate is your assurance that the enclosed item of sports memorabilia has been personally signed by the state sports/celebrity/celebrities.” It also displays the Steiner logo, a facsimile signature of company president Brandon Steiner, and on the reverse includes a hologram specific to the product as well as a description of the item and matching barcode. Some Steiner products, however, come with a card-stock COA rather than the card version. Once the COA has been issued, the item is secured within the Steiner Sports main office and is not handled again until purchase.
Major League Baseball Authentication (MLB Authentication): The Major League Baseball Authentication Program is the first league-wide memorabilia authentication initiative in professional sports. Since its launch in 2001, it has become the industry standard for autographed and game-used sports memorabilia authentication.
Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA): Items that have been certified authentic by PSA are traceable through an online database. All PSA items are assigned certification numbers that are visible on the product’s certificate of authenticity and tamper-proof hologram. PSA provides buyers with the item’s authentication date, a product description, and location of the signing and a photo of the item. In some cases, PSA will also include a letter certifying the product’s authenticity.
James Spence Authentication (JSA): An expert in the field of authentication, James Spence and his team of autograph verification experts certify autographed memorabilia for individuals, auction houses and memorabilia suppliers. Each JSA certified item is reviewed individually by all of JSA’s experts. When personal inspection isn’t enough to verify an item’s authenticity, JSA employs a high-technology authentication tool to back up the experts’ opinions. Items that meet JSA standards are issued Letters of Authenticity, which have become the gold standard in the autographed memorabilia industry. JSA certified items are also issued identification numbers, so collectors and look up their items in the company’s online database.
Schwartz Sports: Schwartz Sports organizes hundreds of public and private athlete signings annually, making them one of the leading suppliers of autographed sports memorabilia in the industry. Schwartz is the exclusive autograph distributor for a number of athletes including Barry Sanders and Ron Santo. Schwartz Sports acquires its merchandise through public and private signings. A company representative is present at each signing to personally witness each piece being autographed. The Schwartz Sports Certificate of Authenticity is printed on 4”x5” card stock. Printed on the COA is the company’s guarantee that the item purchased was signed by the athlete. A hologram is affixed to the COA and the document is signed by the company president. The COA also lists the company’s contact information and address.
GTSM: GTSM is the leading show and convention promoter in the Sports Memorabilia Industry. Dozens of athletes attend each of their shows as autograph guests and show attendees can purcahse autograph tickets from GTSM to get their items signed at these shows. GTSM also conducts private/additional signings at these shows for their wholesale clients, and a GTSM representative witnesses and certifies each one of the items at these private/additonal signings. GTSM provides a hologram sticker which is attached to the autographed item and also supplies a paper certificate with the autographed item. GTSM does not include serial numbers with their certifications and therefor does not have an online database of their certified items.