Most people know that Derek Jeter autographs are very valuable. The problem is many people do not know how to tell the difference between a real Jeter autograph and a counterfeit. Their are some great ways to help a novice collector determine if a Jeter autograph is fake. Here is a breakdown or checklist of things to look for before making a purchase.
Feedback Doesn’t Matter- Many people try to buy Derek Jeter autograph items off of online auction sites like Ebay. Ebay has a feedback system which helps people determine if a dealer is good or not based on the positive feedback score that they receive. This, in NO way says the autographed item you are buying is real. Just because an ebay dealer has great feedback does not equal autograph legitimacy. Many counterfeiters will offer a letter of authenticity to go along with their Derek Jeter autograph for sale to give the buyer a feeling of comfort before they make their large purchase. Don’t be fooled!
Autopen’s are not real Autographs- What is an autopen? This is a special machine that has been used by US Presidents as well as many athletes. These signatures are written by a machine which copies a signature based on original signature of the athlete or important person. There are more than a few counterfeit Derek Jeter autographs that have been sold for hundreds of dollars. Many people believe that these are authentic due to the fact that it is a copy of an original. Their are two great ways to detect these fake autographs. One is that when the signature is put on an item the machine sometimes wiggles a little which you will be able to see in an autograph. Anther great way to ell is that no two signatures are exactly alike. These signatures come from a copy of another so they will be an exact duplicate of the original.
Pricing- I would say that f the price of a Derek Jeter autograph is too good to9 be true it maybe a
counterfeit. Make sure that you take that into consideration before making a purchase. Also remember that counterfeiters will have hundreds of stories lined up why they are selling the Jeter autograph so cheap. Buyer beware. If someone is willing to sell you A Derek Jeter autograph for $25 than its probably fake.
Get it Authenticated- Their are a few authentication companies that we recommend. This in no way means they are the only good one’s but just one’s that we have had the most success with. Here is a list of some of the most reputable authentication companies for you Derek Jeter autographs.
PSA / DNA (psacard.com)
James Spence Authentication (spenceloa.com)
GMA Grading (gmagrading.com)
Global Authentic (globalauthentics.com)
All of these authentication companies are great even though their prices vary. Expect to pay about $35-$50 to have your Derek Jeter autograph professionally authenticated.