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Authenticating WITHOUT Exemplars

Okay guys, I could sure use some advice. I had been suspicious of KSA because everytime I ask if they could authenticate autographs of some not-so-famous female athletes, they would say yes. So this time I decided to call KSA directly to find out more. They said that they don't necessarily need exemplars to give an authenticity opinion. They could just tell if it's a forgery or if it's the person's real autograph by the strokes, and if they can't, then they won't charge. Also they would have to see the item and cannot give a quick opinion by looking at photos like we do here all the time.

So... do you think it is out of line to say that you can authenticate without looking at exemplars? I've never heard of that before. I thought you need to look at tons and tons of exemplars of a particular person's autograph in order to authenticate, not just look at an autograph of someone you've never heard of and just tell by the strokes if it's a forgery or someone's autograph.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on October 31, 2013 at 12:29pm

Sounds like a scam (or extreme incompetence) to me. I don't see how you can authenticate an autograph without having any knowledge of what the autograph should look like, unless it was signed in your presence.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kaminski on October 31, 2013 at 12:34pm

Yeah, I'm definitely staying clear of KSA for now.

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Permalink Reply by VVinola on October 31, 2013 at 12:48pm

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I thought the guy's comment sounded different from what I've read but I didn't want to question him because I am new to this. But here, to those of you who are interested in grilling him, call KSA at (519) 804-8354. I bet you it will be the same guy who spoke to me who will answer you. He's the president and his name is Nathan.

So moral of the story is, stay away from KSA. I've been wondering for awhile how KSA claims to be able to authenticate the most random person's autograph for which exemplars are incredibly difficult to find, and now I know why - because they don't work with exemplars!

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Bautista on October 31, 2013 at 1:46pm

Do you any examples of them authenticating autographs you feel arent authentic ?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kaminski on October 31, 2013 at 1:52pm

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTHENTIC-JACQUES-PLANTE-DAVE-KEON-VINTAGE-...

I mentioned in a previous thread that I didn't like this, but now I found the link.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on October 31, 2013 at 3:05pm

You are correct, Mike. The Plante signature on the stick is a bad fake. Jacques' autograph is tough for forgers to reproduce convincingly. KSA messed up with this item for sure.