Behind the Scenes of Authenticating Autographs

Following the sale at auction of a 1983 Apple business card signed by Steve Jobs, for the colossal price of $181,183 (the highest ever paid for a business card), we thought it an opportune time to explore the science behind authenticating autographs and collectibles.

While the auctioneers of the business card had previously sold Steve Jobs-signed cards for lower amounts, the 1983 card was the only signed one from that year, as well as one of the only cards to have passed PSA/DNA authentication.

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the world’s largest authentication and certification service for sports collectibles, as well as autographs and other memorabilia. The ‘DNA’ part of PSA/ DNA refers to the technology used by the company to assure collectors that an autographed item is legitimate. When a PSA representative witnesses a signature in person, the signed item is marked with permanent, invisible ink laced with synthetic DNA.