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LAMINATED Autographs - Acceptable Or Not?

I'd enjoy hearing feedback on this topic. Let's say it's a very rare signer whom you've searched far and wide for. You find them....and the piece is laminated (could be an album page, a handwritten letter, etc.).

What would you do? Buy it for it's significance and your desire to have something from them? Pass on it because of the lamination? Offer less than what an unlaminated piece might be worth?

Also, I'm wondering if the laminate affects the ability to authenticate a signature, the same way as being in a plastic sleeve or framed under glass would?

Does lamination matter? Why or why not?

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Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 1, 2022 at 7:37pm: As I understand the terms laminated and slabbed are two different things. One cab be undone easily.

Comment by Herman Darvick on January 1, 2022 at 7:40pm: Just curious. What do you think PSA/DNA means by saying something is "slabbed"?

Comment by Herman Darvick on January 1, 2022 at 7:42pm: Can something "slabbed" be "unslabbed"?

Comment by Joe W. on January 1, 2022 at 7:45pm: Yes, I've done it a number of times. Pry the holder open and the card, paper, or photo comes right out. I dislike slabbed signatures.

Comment by Herman Darvick on January 1, 2022 at 7:56pm: Thank you, Joe W.

Good to know.

From personal experience, I would not buy something just because it came with a PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on January 1, 2022 at 7:59pm: Yes, exactly. A slab is just a plastic holder/tomb. Easily undone

Comment by BallroomDays67 on January 1, 2022 at 8:03pm: I also don’t believe that PSA would ever laminate a signature. The signature was laminated before it was authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA.

Comment by Paul on January 1, 2022 at 8:30pm: I recently purchased A foo fighters set list that Grohl used for their first Australian tour. It was a copy of the original the roadies make for band members. It turned out to be laminated. It's still a piece of music history laminated as it is, I'd prefer it if it wasn't but all the same. Just don't over pay for laminated items.

Comment by Herman Darvick on January 1, 2022 at 8:31pm: As an autograph authenticator, it is impossible to authenticate a laminated autograph because it is impossible to determine if an autograph was actually signed in ink or even in pencil or if it is simply a lamination of a facsimile, a photocopy, etc.

Comment by Eddy on January 1, 2022 at 9:13pm: Here's a very rare TLS from pioneering film producer/director Thomas Ince from 1924. It's extremely rare...but it's also laminated. I guess an argument could be made that the lamination is preserving a piece that is now nearly 100 years old. I