CGC will begin accepting signed magazines and pulps for combined authentication and grading, the company announced Tuesday.
This comes on the heels of CGC’s acquisition of JSA earlier this year, which led to the company opening up combined services for comic books and cards for authentication by JSA and encapsulation by CGC.
Prior to the combined service offerings, CGC operated the CGC Signature Series, beginning in 2001, which relied upon witnessed on-site autograph authentication. The recent move to bring in JSA to authenticate autographs for comics and cards, and now for magazines and pulps, provides the third-party authenticator with the ability to handle “unwitnessed” autographs.
“We’re very happy with the pace at which we’ve been able to roll out CGC and JSA combined services,” CGC CEO Steven R. Eichenbaum said in a statement. “Now collectors of autographed magazines, like Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone, and autographed pulps, such as Weird Tales, can benefit from our expert services and protective holders.”
The move will be particularly impactful in the sports-related magazine category, which has seen modest growth in recent years, but has relied for the most part on separate letters of authenticity to accompany signed slabs, unlike cards or other collectibles which have long featured dual authenticity/condition and autograph grades on one label.
Fees for autograph authentication will be $25, not counting the grading fees. Collectors can pay an additional $25 to receive an autograph grade, which will appear on the back of the slab. The service is limited to magazines or pulps with two or fewer autographs.
“We have seen so many great autographs on magazines over the years — renowned athletes, celebrities, musicians, the list goes on — and some pulps have been signed by legends of the genre, signatures that are unattainable now,” JSA president James J. Spence Jr. added in a statement. “Combined CGC and JSA certification means that we will be able to better preserve the quality and significance of these special collectibles.”
The announcement arrives days before New York Comic-Con, where CGC will be accepting on-site submissions.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.