PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
The largest and most recognized authentication company for sports cards and autographs.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is the largest and most recognized authentication and grading company in the sports collectibles industry. Founded in 1991, PSA has authenticated and graded over 50 million items, making it the undisputed industry leader.
PSA offers both card grading (the famous 1-10 scale) and autograph authentication services. For autographs, PSA provides "DNA" authentication where their expert panel examines signatures and compares them against their extensive exemplar database.
PSA-authenticated autographs and PSA-graded cards typically command the highest premiums in the market. A PSA 10 (Gem Mint) graded card can be worth 5-10x or more than the same card in raw (ungraded) condition. Similarly, a PSA/DNA-authenticated autograph sells for more than an unauthenticated version.
PSA's certification numbers can be verified through their online database at psacard.com. Each entry includes the item description, certification date, and grade (for cards). This transparency helps buyers verify the authenticity of items before purchasing.
Turnaround times and pricing at PSA vary by service level, ranging from economy (60+ business days, ~$20-30) to super express (1-2 business days, $300+). For most collectors, the standard or economy tiers offer the best value, though wait times can be longer during peak submission periods.
101 Pre-Screen is an AI-assisted opinion, not authentication or an appraisal.