The answer would be yes, no, maybe, or I don’t know; it all depends on who answers the question. A sports die-hard fan, purchasing sports memorabilia would be a dream come true and the most valued possession in their collection. So many sports fanatics are ready to spend heavily on sports collectibles. Different collectibles include signed photographs, players’ uniforms, or rare trading cards.
Since there is a wide range of collectibles, they come in different prices and qualities, so there are factors to consider before spending heftily on them. Each sport has a different quality of collectible authentication. Several key factors will determine the worth of the sports memorabilia, like a signature to prove its origin and If it’s a photo, the size, its quality, and whether it’s framed or mounted. If a professional company authenticates the collectible is another factor that will affect its worth.
Since the sports collectible business is booming, there are factors to consider before spending on the collectible that is so madly obsessed with
Factors To Consider Before Purchasing The Sports Memorabilia
Buyer Beware
There is a huge demand for sports collectibles, so that the market could get crowded with fakes. As a buyer, you should do your research before spending on it. Fake memorabilia could be anything from a photograph with a forged signature to a soccer jersey of low quality from those the players wear.
The cards could be fake or reprinted from the original, so the best way to avoid buying the fake collectibles is to know about Identifying the authentic or having an original to compare.
Do A Background Check
If you want to buy a signed sports collectible, go through the internet and look for the athlete’s signature; then, you can compare the picture to the actual signature to make a comparison. Most sports memorabilia collectors buy from reputable collectibles sellers; if you are looking for a jersey, the best place to get it is from the sports official store like NASCAR, NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL.
How To Identify An Authentic Sports Collectible?
Although there are so many different sports collectibles, there is a unifying factor to knowing if they are authentic or fake. Some bodies approve the authentication of collectibles, such as Professional Sports Authenticators and Memorabilia Evaluation and Research Services. If the authenticating company approves the collectible, it should have an authenticity certificate.
There are also other criteria used to determine the authenticity of a sports collectible, including:
In Autographed Items
- Identify the athlete’s signature on the item
- If the photograph is signed
- Does a professional company authenticate the item
Photographs Can Be Assessed By
- Identify if the athlete is on the photo
- Size of the photo
- Is the photo framed or mounted
- Whether there are other photos similar to the photo tied in jerseys or events
- Is the photo signed
- Whether a professional service authenticates the photo
Conclusion
Every sports fanatic wants a collectible to remind them of different events in the sport they support; that’s why you will find so many fans falling into the hand of fake sports collectibles. There are ways to differentiate between fake and authentic collectibles. Still, if you are new to purchasing, the best way to avoid purchasing fake is to buy from a reputable dealer who deals with sports memorabilia.
