| Beckett Grading Services will grade cards with "certified autographs".
That is, cards issued by major manufacturers that carry additional design
elements indicating the manufacturer has certified the autograph of the card.
The autograph itself will not be authenticated, but will be given a separate numerical grade based on the quality of the ink signature.
In grading the autograph itself on a card, the key feature being examined is
the production quality and clarity of the signature (and other after-market
ink, such as hand serial-numbering or inscriptions). This does not take into
account the legibility of the player's autograph; rather, it involves aspects
such as bubbling, smearing, positioning/location, etc.
The autograph subgrade will stand alone and play no part in determining the
overall grade. Generally speaking, autograph flaws will only deduct from the
autograph grade. For example, a card that was signed and immediately smeared
will get a lower grade on the autograph, but the surface will not be affected.
An exception to this rule would be if the autograph flaw affects both the
signature quality and the card itself; for instance, a signed cut that creases
the surface and also smears the autograph. The best rule of thumb is that any
flaws related to the actual ink of the autograph will normally be deducted
from the autograph grade, while other flaws generally are taken into account
on the surface grade. When the signature is on a sticker or cut, and the
sticker/cut itself is creased (or torn, stained, etc.), this is taken into
account in the surface grade. Excess glue bleeding onto the cut is also
counted against surface. If the flaw also damages the autograph itself,
both the surface and autograph grade may be lowered.
**Please note that the cost for certified autograph grading is an additional $2 per card and is required on all certified autographed cards.**
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