Why You Shouldn’t Rely Solely on 3rd-Party Autograph Authenticators

It might come as a surprise, but third-party autograph authentication companies like ACOA, PSA/DNA, JSA, and Beckett (BAS) can get it wrong. In fact, many seasoned collectors, dealers, and even former authenticators know the truth: these companies don’t always operate with expertise or consistency. Mistakes happen far more often than most people realize — and sometimes those mistakes are far from innocent.

We've all seen forgeries with a certificate of authenticity (COA) from a big-name authentication service. Meanwhile, genuine signatures are often dismissed as "non-authentic" simply because they weren't recognized by the person reviewing them. This isn’t just frustrating — it’s dangerous, especially for collectors who rely on these opinions when buying or selling high-value items.

So Why Do These Mistakes Happen?

Here’s the truth: many of these companies lean heavily on a business model that prioritizes volume over accuracy. Items are sometimes judged by whoever happens to be working that day. Some employees recognize certain signatures better than others. Worse, there are insiders in the industry who have used their position to profit by certifying known forgeries — yes, that happens more than you think.

Why Our COA Is Different

At World of Autographs, we stand behind every signature we offer — because we know exactly where it came from. The majority of our inventory is sourced directly from trusted in-person collectors and signing events. Our Certificate of Authenticity isn’t backed by a sticker — it’s backed by over two decades of real-world experience, deep signature knowledge, and a zero-tolerance policy for forgeries.

We don’t blindly trust third-party authenticators, and neither should you. Our reputation has been built on accuracy, integrity, and transparency — not industry hype. If you ever have questions about a signature’s authenticity, we welcome them. We’ll give you honest answers based on real analysis, not vague opinions.

The Bottom Line

Third-party authentication is a flawed system. It may offer some buyers a sense of security, but that sense can be false. When it comes to autographs, knowledge and sourcing matter more than a hologram sticker. Don’t put your trust — or your money — in the hands of someone who might not even recognize what they’re looking at.

So, flawed yes, but better than nothing. Most forgers are not going to send their items to be examined as they know most will fail.

It is our opinion that by having many of our high-end items professionally authenticated, we provide a simple service to those shoppers and collectors who are unwilling or unable to learn what an authentic autograph looks like. It allows us to differentiate ourselves from all the bad autographs which are traded daily on many web sites and sales venues.

Please remember that we already know our autograph collection is authentic. The third party authentication is done just for YOU; our customer. We fully understand that many of our customers simply do not have the time, experience, understanding of the autograph authentication process or resources to learn about every autograph they want to collect.

While the third party authentication service authenticators are not perfect, would you rather take your chances or buy from a dealer that is confident enough in their autographs to send them out to be examined? I know my answer...

Buy smart. Ask questions. And know who you’re buying from.

Go here to buy an authentic autograph or two...