We're an eBay affiliate and may be compensated on purchases made through clicks.

How Important is the Date on a PSA/DNA or JSA LOA?

I ask this question because I have a Babe Ruth signed baseball that is accompanied by a PSA/DNA LOA that is dated from 2005. The ball is also pictured in PSA's online database as being authentic, and I have no doubt that it is authentic.

However, if I ever wanted to sell this Ruth baseball in the future, would the fact that the LOA is, as of now, 11 years old possibly cause me any problems? Now I would love to have the LOA dated yesterday, but I'm not at all willing to send this very valuable baseball back to PSA to get a newer letter since it would cost me $300 to get it re-authenticated. That really would seem foolish to me to spend that much money on a ball that has already passed PSA/DNA.

So does anyone have any thoughts on this matter? Is it in any way detrimental to have an LOA more than 10 years old?

Thanks in advance.

Tags: coa, date of loa, important

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on April 6, 2016 at 10:52am

James, I just got a look at the ball. I do not believe you will have any problems with the existing Cert from PSA. most buyers are not even aware of the rash of forgeries on near mint balls that flooded the market a few years ago. that is what I was referring to earlier. This ball would not even come under suspicion, in my opinion.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James on April 6, 2016 at 1:23pm

Thanks a lot, Terrier. Believe me, your opinion is very highly-regarded on this site. And that gives me more peace of mind.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James on April 6, 2016 at 1:20pm

Thanks, Joe. That's excellent advice and much appreciated.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 6, 2016 at 11:19am

I think the date of an LOA can be an important element when there may be a situation where you'd want to know a piece existed prior to a certain date.

For instance...

In 2006, Celebrity X is a minor celebrity whose autograph has little value and is at relatively low risk to be the target of a skilled forger. There is a COA dated 2006.

In 2010, Celebrity X hits it big and the value of his signature skyrockets. Suddenly the market is flooded with skilled fakes making it a challenge to sort out good from bad.

In this case, the COA proves this item existed well before skilled fakes were introduced. This is an important component to the item's history that adds solid provenance.

This may not be a common scenario, but it happens on occasion.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James on April 6, 2016 at 1:25pm

Great point, Steve, and an excellent example.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jared on April 18, 2016 at 9:43am

The date does matter and here's why. Back when this LOA was issued both Jimbo and Steve Grade where the leading authenticatiors for psa. With a Ruth ball it really doesn't impact the value as they almost always agree on Ruth (JSA and psa) but if you had someone like Gehrig I'd tell you to have it recerted ASAP. You do risk them deeming the ball unauthentic and removing the LOA from their system. In this sense, PSA is way way better than JSA. Psa will stand behind their choice and offer a credit or recourse where JSA just tells you to pound sand essentially. Heritage sold three signed Michael Jordan signed championship banners with a JSA full letter, the items were brought to JSA for full letters on each item and they failed the items after passing these for heritage auctions... What was I offered for my 5 k purchase from JSA??!! A 300 dollar credit with them claiming no responsibility.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul on April 18, 2016 at 10:18am

If you bought the Jordons with jsa full letters, why did you have to submit them to Jsa again?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jared on April 18, 2016 at 5:13pm

Hello Paul, this was back when they did group/lot LOA's. So they pictured all 3 on one letter, I simply wanted 3 separate LOA's and then this issue arose. It was maybe a year after I bought it. Heritage told me it's JSA's issue (which I agree), and they couldn't help me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy on April 18, 2016 at 5:17pm

Did Jimmy Spence Jr. sign the lot LOA or Jimmy Spence III?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 18, 2016 at 5:40pm

Jared,

Do you mean an auction LOA? Was the auction house on it, lot number? Those aren't full LOAs.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jared on April 18, 2016 at 5:57pm

Full LOA. They used to do full LOA's with lots and show the whole lot I'd say pre-2013/14. All three were included with the sticker on the LOA.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 18, 2016 at 10:57am

Sorry to hear about that, Jared.

PSA and JSA disagree on Babe Ruth more than you'd think. There's one Ruth style in particular that I heard looks great, but PSA noticed the same aberration on a number of submissions that they didn't trust and started failing them. Last I heard, JSA felt they were genuine.