JSA, Beckett, PSA and SWAU certificates explained

A signed piece usually comes with paperwork: a sticker, a card, a hologram or a letter. Those names mean different things, and they matter most when you buy, sell or bid. Here's a plain guide to what JSA, Beckett, PSA and SWAU certificates each are, how they differ, and how to check one before you commit.

Why certificates matter on resale

An autograph is only as easy to resell as it is easy to explain. A certificate gives the next buyer a name to look up and a record to check. Buyers often ask which company stands behind an item before they ask about the signer, so it helps to know what each name's telling you.

One thing to keep straight: a certificate speaks for the company that issued it. It's a record of who looked at the item and when, not a promise from anyone else. That's why the first question is always who issued it, and the second is how they came to their opinion.

How JSA, Beckett and PSA certify autographs

PSA, Beckett and JSA are widely used third party services. Each one uses trained experts who compare a signature against known authentic examples, and each has its own labels and lookup. A quick tour:

• PSA: a long established name in the hobby, especially for sports memorabilia. PSA offers encapsulation, which seals the item in a tamper evident holder with its label.
• Beckett Authentication Services: known for both sports and entertainment autographs, and it often adds signature grading on top of authentication.
• JSA: known for autograph verification across a wide range of categories, including historical and entertainment figures.

All three are respected, and collectors choose between them for all kinds of reasons. They share one trait that matters for this guide: they usually review a signature after the item already exists. For the costs side of that, see our guide to what it costs to authenticate an autograph.

Witnessed versus reviewed after the fact

There are two ways a certificate can come about. In a review after the fact, an expert looks at a finished item and gives an opinion. In a witnessed signing, an authenticator is in the room while the signature happens, so the record is made at the moment of signing.

Both are real systems with real uses. Reviews after the fact are how most secondary market items get documented. Witnessing gives a record that starts at the source. Beckett Witness is a well known example from the Beckett side: the signing is witnessed and the item gets a Beckett Witness sticker. SWAU announced Beckett Witness certification for select signings in 2020, with a joint SWAU and Beckett certification card. For signings announced after March 1, 2022, SWAU uses its own SWAU Witness hologram instead.

If you want the full picture of what authenticators look at, our guide to how autographs get authenticated goes step by step.

What a SWAU Witness hologram and a SWAU Auth certificate cover

SWAU Witness hologram (swau.com signings). When SWAU hosts a private signing, the signature is witnessed by SWAU as it happens, and each item gets a serial numbered SWAU Witness hologram with over a dozen anti-counterfeit measures. Scan the QR code or enter the number at swau.com/verify to see the item type, who signed, when and where, and a picture when one is available. Witnessed by SWAU. Guaranteed for life.

SWAU Auth certificates (items signed somewhere else). If you already own a signed piece, SWAU Auth reviews it after the fact: an expert looks at the item and, when it passes, it can be documented. SWAU Auth offers mail in hologram authentication for entertainment autographs, a Letter of Authenticity that comes from an in person examination, and online verification if you want an expert opinion first. Submit your items when you're ready.

These two are different records. A SWAU Witness hologram says SWAU was there. A SWAU Auth certificate says SWAU examined the item. Both can be checked online.

How to verify a certificate online

1. Find the number. It's on the sticker, card or letter. Make sure it's printed, not handwritten.
2. Use the issuer's own lookup. Go to the issuing company's website yourself instead of following a link from a listing. For a SWAU Witness hologram, that's swau.com/verify.
3. Match the record to the item. The description, signer and image should fit what you're holding.
4. Ask if anything is unclear. A good seller is happy to point you to the lookup.

Also worth knowing: SWAU Letter of Authenticity numbers and SWAU hologram numbers are cataloged in separate databases, so the two numbers on one item won't match. That's normal. For a deeper walk through paperwork, see how to check a certificate of authenticity.

What buyers on SWAU Auction should check

Lots on SWAU Auction name the certifier right in the item title, so you can see it at a glance. You'll see tags such as (SWAU), (JSA), (Beckett) and (PSA). Per the auction rules, an item marked (SWAU) comes from a SWAU witnessed signing or has been examined by SWAU Authentication. A third party certificate on its own doesn't decide whether an item is accepted into the auction.

Before you bid, read the title, open the item page and read the auction rules. If you'd rather buy right away, browse Buy Now listings. Want to compare a witnessed piece with an auction lot? Look at celebrity autographs signed in front of SWAU, or see which signings are open now.

FAQ

Is one certificate better than another?
They answer different questions. A review after the fact tells you an expert looked at the item. A witness record tells you an authenticator saw it signed. Read the label to see which one you have.

Can I use a JSA, Beckett or PSA item with SWAU?
Yes. Third party items appear on SWAU Auction, and the title shows who certified each one.

What is a Letter of Authenticity?
It's a document that comes from an in person examination. SWAU Auth offers one as a Letter of Authenticity service.

Where do I verify a SWAU Witness hologram?
At swau.com/verify. Enter the number or scan the QR code.