I just recently came up on a Mickey Mantle 8x10 autograph, and I wanted to find a good service to get it authenticated through. I have narrowed it down to three different services:

1) PSA/DNA $100
2) JSA $75
3) GAI $50

I am having a hard time deciding which company to go through, as I have never gotten anything authenticated before. I don't want to spend too much, that is why GAI is looking really good at the moment, but if I do get the Mantle authenticated, I want it to uphold its value with a good and respected grading service.

Any ideas or opinions as to which road I should take in this authentication process? Any other companies would you guys recommend me to look at? Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks!

-John

John couple of things.

Beckett is great as far as these things go but their guidelines are very strict so for a $100 it may grade crappy.
GAI nice up & coming company IMO is cheaper and not so hard on their grades but you may not get the larger sum if graded by them.

You know beckett is respected and been doing it the longest. So its really your choice...

John couple of things.

Beckett is great as far as these things go but their guidelines are very strict so for a $100 it may grade crappy.
GAI nice up & coming company IMO is cheaper and not so hard on their grades but you may not get the larger sum if graded by them.

You know beckett is respected and been doing it the longest. So its really your choice...

since when does becket authenticate memorabilia?? he's asking about authentication, not grading....and i dont think beckett has even been grading cards the longest.

personally, i dont think you can go wrong with any of the 3....PSA/DNA is probably the best as far as the value goes.....i honestly dont know much about mantle stuff, but i know that global and james spence are both very reputable 3rd parties....if i had to choose, it would be between global and psa, just because alot of the general public doesn't know of JSA (although im personally a fan)

yeah, I don't think beckett authenticates. I believe they are only in the business of grading memorabilia and cards.

Thanks for the feedback proudestmonkey. I was thinking about going with GAI, but I might scrounge up the extra $50 it would cost to send it into PSA/DNA and get it authenticated with probably the most respected and well known of the three. Are there any other companies you would recommend? I can't hink of any other service that is on the level as the stated three.

-John

not really....those are the big 3 (psa and gai atleast).....as i said before, i have no problem with james spence either, but not as well known as the other two by the average collector.

if it was something a little lower end, id consider others....again, i dont know much about mantle stuff, but id think psa certified stuff gains more attention, more respect, and in turn more value.....if it was mine, id go straight to PSA (most of my personal collection is GAI (mostly football), but i dont have anything as rare as mantle's, or as quite as valuable)

no question that it is an authentic auto?

I would go with JSA personally, for my collection or to resale..

PSA or JSA/BGS for sure, highly regarded.

GAI is having troubles of some sort.