PSA News Update
PSA Moves to Red Labels Across the Board
Change Is Made Based on Better Security Measures and Consistency
By Terry Melia
After 20 years of using blue labels for any items encapsulated through PSA/DNA, PSA's autograph authentication division, the company will now use red labels across the board for all submissions going forward. The change went into effect on January 1, 2019. The decision impacts encapsulation submissions of all types and sizes and includes PSA's recently launched line of oversized "jumbo holders" that accommodates larger-scale items such as 8x10 photos and signed documents. The decision was made based on two primary factors: better security and uniformity.
"The red labels have now been integrated into our autograph encapsulation and original photograph services," said PSA President Steve Sloan. "Uniformity and consistency are significant aspects for collectors, but we also believe that the added security measures that come with the red labels, such as the PSA LightHouse™ logo and the fugitive ink pattern, are critical components of collecting today."
| _BEFORE: Blue Label | ||
| Prior to January 1, 2019, PSA/DNA used blue labels such as the one shown above for their autograph authentication and encapsulation service._ | _AFTER: Red Label | |
| PSA/DNA-authenticated items undergoing encapsulation will receive a red label with only a generic description of the item (i.e., TRADING CARD)._ |
Another important distinction is that any autographed items currently with the PSA/DNA blue label that are being re-holdered to the red label may not have specific card or ticket information reflected on the label. For example, only trading cards submitted through PSA's dual-service option that are determined to be authentic will include the year and card manufacturer on the label.
PSA DUAL SERVICE: To include specific information regarding the year and manufacturer on trading cards or tickets, the items must be submitted through PSA's Dual Service.
"It's important for collectors to recognize this difference," Sloan emphasized. "If they see an autographed card with the designation 'trading card' on the LightHouse label, that means that PSA has only authenticated the autograph. However, if the label specifies year and manufacturer, that means the submission went through our dual authentication service and both the card and autograph have been examined."
_Casey Stengel Signed Check and George H.W. Bush Signed Letter:
Regardless of the item, PSA/DNA will now use red labels under their autograph authentication and encapsulation service. PSA's new line of "jumbo holders" helps collectors preserve and secure larger-sized items such as signed and unsigned original photos, signed documents, and much more._
Collectors who possess large collections of previously encapsulated items in PSA/DNA blue labels who are now interested in reholdering to red labels are encouraged to call PSA's Customer Service department at (800) 325-1121 for pricing information. To learn more about the security features of PSA's red label, visit www.PSAcard.com/security.
Images of the Charlie Gehringer-signed trading card have been generated by PSA for illustration purposes only. For more information on PSA's services, please visit www.PSAcard.com. Please contact Customer Service at (800) 325-1121 or [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.
PSA Offers Special Jumbo Holder Pricing for Collectors Club Members
In August of 2018, PSA launched a new line of oversized, encapsulated "jumbo holders" to not only assist collectors with preserving and authenticating signed and unsigned original photos, but also important documents boasting signatures and historical significance. PSA debuted the new product line at the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) in Cleveland, which took place from August 1 through August 5. The unveiling was met with great enthusiasm from collectors as the company began handling submissions immediately on site.
PSA's new line of "jumbo holders" helps collectors preserve and secure larger-sized items such as signed and unsigned original photos, signed documents, and much more.
The outer dimensions of each jumbo holder are all the same: 9.73" wide by 13.21" high by 0.322" thick. The insert sizes, on the other hand, vary depending upon the item that is being encapsulated and include the standard inner size of 8.5" x 11" as well as 8.1" x 10.1," 7.5" x 9.5," and 6.25" x 8.25." The retail pricing for each encapsulation is normally $30, not including the autograph authentication fee where applicable. However, to kick off the uniformly designated red labeling, a special encapsulation rate of just $20 is being offered to PSA Collectors Club members only through March 31, 2019.
For more information, please visit www.PSAcard.com/services and peruse the Autograph Encapsulation and Original Photo Authentication pages. To qualify for the low, introductory $20 fee being offered to Collectors Club members, orders must be postmarked before April 1, 2019. No fooling!