Collectors and dealers of autographed cards have a reason to celebrate as CGC Cards™ and James Spence Authentication® (JSA®) join forces to provide a seamless experience for submitting autographed cards for authentication and grading. This collaboration, announced by the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®) ahead of the National Sports Card Convention, covers trading card games, sports cards, and non-sports cards.
The partnership between CGC Cards and JSA officially launched on July 15, 2024, just in time for the National Sports Card Convention running from July 24-28. The integration of services allows collectors to conveniently submit their autographed cards for JSA authentication and CGC Cards grading and encapsulation in a single streamlined process.
Building on the success of the CGC x JSA certification for comics introduced in May, this new offering demonstrates CCG’s commitment to enhancing the collectibles industry. With nearly 100 million items certified since 1987, CCG acquired JSA to expand its autograph authentication services. The future roadmap includes combined authentication and grading services for magazines, pulps, and concert posters.
At The National, collectors can access CGC x JSA certification services for cards, both through regular submissions at the show and by mail. Additionally, CGC Cards will provide on-site services, allowing cards to be authenticated, graded, and encapsulated on the spot for a comprehensive experience tailored to collectors and dealers alike.
CGC’s Signature Series for cards, set to launch soon, will extend the witnessed signature authentication pioneered for comics in 2001 to autograph collectors. This initiative will provide a range of services blending the expertise of CGC and JSA to offer collectors a complete solution for authenticating and grading autographed cards.
JSA, founded by James Spence, Jr. in 2005, is renowned as the premier autograph authentication service, boasting the world’s largest autograph database with nearly 1 million images. Leveraging this extensive database and cutting-edge technology, JSA ensures accurate authentication, setting industry standards for reliability and expertise.
Cards authenticated by CGC and JSA will bear the distinctive CGC x JSA Authentic Autograph label, featuring both brand names and a prominent “Authentic Autograph” designation in yellow. This color choice, a nod to CGC’s tradition of using yellow to signify genuine signatures, aims to provide collectors with a visually recognizable mark of authenticity. Autograph grading is also available upon request, with the grade prominently displayed on the label alongside the card’s grade and description. Encapsulated cards will include detailed CGC Cards Grader Notes about the signers.
For top-tier cards that achieve a CGC Pristine 10 grade, CGC Cards offers the exclusive gold CGC x JSA Pristine 10 label, adding a touch of luxury to the grading process.
Steven R. Eichenbaum, CEO of CCG, emphasized the significance of this partnership, recognizing it as a milestone in CCG’s journey. James J. Spence, Jr., President of JSA, expressed his excitement about launching the combined services for cards at The National, fulfilling a demand that collectors have had for almost two decades.
To learn more about submitting cards for CGC x JSA certification, collectors can visit the CGC Cards website and use the online submission form. Pricing for JSA autograph authentication is tier-based, with additional CGC Cards grading fees applicable based on the chosen service level.
The collaboration between CGC Cards and JSA marks a significant step forward in the collectibles industry, promising collectors and dealers an enhanced experience and a seamless process for authenticating and grading autographed cards.