PSA - Professional Sports Authenticator Autograph Authentication Process Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the most critical component used by a PSA/DNA authenticator when determining the authenticity of a submitted autograph?
- The Certificate of Authenticity that accompanied the item.
- A comprehensive database of known genuine autograph exemplars. (Correct answer)
- The monetary value of the signed item.
- The quality and condition of the item that was signed.
Correct answer: A comprehensive database of known genuine autograph exemplars.
The foundation of all professional autograph authentication is the side-by-side comparison of the submitted signature to a vast library of known genuine examples (exemplars) from various points in the subject's life. This allows the authenticator to check for consistency in flow, letter formation, pressure, and other unique characteristics.
Question 2: An authenticator examining a Mickey Mantle signed baseball notices that the signature's strokes are uniform in pressure and appear unnaturally perfect, lacking the typical variations in speed and flow seen in genuine examples. Which type of forgery is most likely indicated by these characteristics?
- Freehand Simulation
- Autopen or Mechanical Signature (Correct answer)
- Traced Forgery
- Pre-printed Signature
Correct answer: Autopen or Mechanical Signature
Autopen or other mechanical signing devices produce signatures that are highly uniform and lack the natural variations in pressure, speed, and flow found in human handwriting. Freehand simulations often look hesitant, and tracings may have indentations. Pre-printed signatures would appear flat and part of the photo's surface.
Question 3: Which of the following characteristics is an authenticator most likely to associate with a genuine, fluidly signed autograph?
- Numerous unnatural pen lifts in the middle of letters.
- Visible, shaky "tremors" throughout the signature.
- Consistent, confident strokes with natural speed and pressure variations. (Correct answer)
- Identical pressure applied to every part of every letter.
Correct answer: Consistent, confident strokes with natural speed and pressure variations.
A genuine signature is typically executed with a natural, practiced motion, resulting in confident strokes that show variations in speed and pressure. Hesitation, shakiness, unnatural pen lifts, and uniform pressure are classic red flags for forgeries created by simulation or mechanical means.
Question 4: A baseball alleged to have been signed by Babe Ruth in the 1930s is submitted for authentication. The signature is written with a modern blue Sharpie marker. How would a PSA/DNA authenticator most likely assess this item?
- Deem it authentic, as the signature structure is correct.
- Deem it not authentic, as the writing instrument is anachronistic. (Correct answer)
- Request additional provenance before making a decision.
- Deem it inconclusive due to the condition of the baseball.
Correct answer: Deem it not authentic, as the writing instrument is anachronistic.
The type of writing instrument must be appropriate for the era in which the autograph was supposedly signed. Felt-tip markers like Sharpies were not commercially available until the 1960s, making it impossible for Babe Ruth, who died in 1948, to have used one. This is a definitive anachronism that proves the signature is not genuine.
Question 5: A collector submits a photograph signed by Michael Jordan. The authenticator's initial review shows that the letter formation and size are generally correct. What is the essential next step in the authentication process?
- Immediately certify the autograph as authentic based on the correct letter formation.
- Assign a numerical grade to the autograph without further analysis.
- Research the current market value of Michael Jordan autographs.
- Analyze the signature's flow, speed, and pressure against known exemplars. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Analyze the signature's flow, speed, and pressure against known exemplars.
Authentication is a multi-faceted process. Even if letter formation appears correct, a forger might have slowly simulated the signature. Authenticators must also analyze the nuanced characteristics like flow, speed, and pressure and compare them against a library of genuine examples to detect subtle signs of forgery.
Question 6: Which of the following is a common indicator of a "simulated" or freehand forgery?
- An unnaturally slow, hesitant, and deliberate appearance. (Correct answer)
- A printed, pixelated appearance under magnification.
- An indentation on the paper that perfectly mirrors the signature.
- The use of ink that is appropriate for the time period.
Correct answer: An unnaturally slow, hesitant, and deliberate appearance.
A simulated forgery is created when someone tries to copy a signature by looking at an example. This process is often slow and deliberate, resulting in a signature that lacks the natural flow and speed of a genuine one. It may appear hesitant or drawn, rather than written.
PSA - Professional Sports Authenticator Autograph Authentication Process Questions and Answers 1
What is the most critical component used by a PSA/DNA authenticator when determining the authenticity of a submitted autograph?