One of the most common questions we receive from collectors sending autographed sports cards to signings is:

Will putting an authentication sticker on the back of my card hurt the card's PSA grade?

It's a reasonable concern.

If you're sending an expensive rookie card or another high-end card to an autograph signing, the last thing you want to do is add something that could prevent the card from receiving a PSA 10.

We've even heard collectors say they've contacted PSA and were told an authentication sticker could be considered a mark or alteration to the card.

However, that hasn't matched our actual submission experience.

We've submitted numerous autographed cards to PSA with authentication stickers attached to the back and received PSA 10 card grades along with 10 autograph grades.

So, based on what we've personally experienced:

Having an authentication sticker on the back of a card has not prevented our cards from receiving a PSA 10.

Let's explain why we use authentication stickers, when we recommend them, and when you might decide you don't want one.

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Can a Card With an Authentication Sticker Get a PSA 10?

Yes, we've had it happen numerous times.

We've submitted cards with authentication stickers directly attached to the back and received:

Card Grade: 10

Autograph Grade: 10

In other words, a 10/10.

We've had multiple examples of this just this year.

We recently shared examples on our Instagram Stories of Connor Griffin autographed cards that received 10/10 grades while having MLB authentication stickers on the backs.

That's why our experience doesn't match the idea that simply having an authentication sticker automatically prevents a card from receiving a PSA 10.

Of course, PSA ultimately determines the grade of every card submitted to them, and grading results can vary from card to card.

We're simply sharing what we've consistently experienced with our own submissions.

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Whatever You Do, Don't Remove the Sticker

This is extremely important.

If an authentication sticker has already been applied to your card:

Leave it alone.

Trying to remove the sticker is a completely different situation from submitting the card with the sticker intact.

You could potentially damage the card's surface, leave adhesive residue, pull material from the card, or otherwise alter its condition.

That absolutely could create grading problems.

So if you've already had a witness authentication sticker placed on the back of your card and you're planning to send it to PSA:

Don't peel it off.

Leave the sticker exactly where it is.

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Why Put an Authentication Sticker on a Sports Card?

If a card can be authenticated later, why put a sticker on it in the first place?

The biggest reason is first-person or witnessed authentication.

Let's say you're attending a private autograph signing and an authentication company is present.

Depending on the signing, that could be a company such as:

• PSA
• JSA
• Beckett
• PROVA
• MLB Authentication

The authentication company is witnessing the autograph being signed.

That's very different from sending an already-signed card to an authentication company afterward and asking them to determine whether they believe the autograph is genuine.

With witnessed authentication, there is direct documentation connecting the autograph to the signing.

For certain autographs, we think that's extremely valuable.

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Witnessed Authentication vs. Authentication After the Fact

This distinction is important for collectors to understand.

Suppose you have an athlete sign a card at a private signing.

Option 1: Get Authentication at the Signing

An authentication company associated with the signing witnesses or documents the autograph and applies its authentication sticker or other authentication method.

Now the card has authentication directly connected with that signing.

Option 2: Send the Card for Authentication Later

You skip authentication at the signing.

Later, you submit the autographed card to PSA, Beckett, JSA, or another authentication company.

They're evaluating an autograph that has already been signed.

The company has to examine the signature and determine whether, in its opinion, the autograph is authentic.

That can work perfectly fine.

But when we're dealing with certain expensive or difficult-to-authenticate signatures, we prefer having authentication connected directly to the signing when it's available.

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When Do We Recommend Getting an Authentication Sticker?

We don't necessarily need an authentication sticker on every autographed card.

For us, there are two situations where we're much more likely to want one.

1. The Autograph Is Expensive

Stephen Curry is a perfect example.

If we're getting a Curry autograph, we want authentication.

The autograph itself is expensive, and Curry has a relatively abbreviated signature.

Imagine spending significant money getting your Curry card signed and deciding to skip authentication.

You later send the card to an authentication company, and for whatever reason, they aren't comfortable authenticating the signature.

Now what?

You know where you got it signed.

You know it's real.

But you're potentially stuck submitting it somewhere else and trying to get another opinion.

Why create that problem if witnessed authentication was available at the original signing?

For expensive autographs, we'd generally rather have the additional documentation from the beginning.

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2. The Athlete Has an Inconsistent or Difficult Autograph

Some athletes have incredibly consistent signatures.

Others don't.

An athlete might have a very abbreviated modern autograph, change their signature over time, or simply sign differently from one item to another.

Manny Ramirez is a great example.

His autograph can vary tremendously.

With someone like that, having authentication directly connected to the signing can be particularly helpful.

The same thought process applies to athletes who rarely sign.

If we're spending substantial money on an autograph from someone who hasn't participated in many signings, we'd rather have strong authentication from the start.

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What About Vintage Cards?

This is where my personal preference can change.

Take a beautiful vintage card such as a 1986 Fleer basketball card or a 1961 Fleer card.

Sometimes I simply don't want an authentication sticker on it.

Why?

Aesthetics.

That's probably the biggest legitimate reason to skip the sticker.

Some collectors want the back of a vintage card to remain completely original-looking without an authentication hologram or sticker attached.

I completely understand that.

Many older athletes also have fairly recognizable, traditional signatures.

Players such as Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Bob Cousy and many other athletes from previous generations generally produced more complete signatures than many modern athletes do today.

In those situations, a collector might decide that having a clean-looking vintage card is more important than having witnessed authentication attached to it.

That's ultimately a personal collecting decision.

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Isn't an Autograph Sticker Already a Sticker on a Card?

There's another interesting comparison worth mentioning.

The sports card industry already produces enormous numbers of sticker autograph cards.

The athlete signs an autograph sticker, and the manufacturer applies that sticker to the card.

Collectors submit those cards for grading all the time.

And those cards can receive PSA 10 grades.

An authentication hologram obviously serves a different purpose than a manufacturer's autograph sticker, but it illustrates why collectors shouldn't automatically assume that the presence of any sticker associated with an autograph means a card cannot receive a high grade.

Again, our own submissions provide the most important evidence for us:

We've received PSA 10 card grades with authentication stickers attached.

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Authentication Sticker or No Sticker: How We Decide

Here's the basic thought process we use.

We lean toward authentication when:

The autograph is expensive.

The athlete rarely signs.

The athlete has an inconsistent autograph.

The autograph is short or difficult to authenticate.

We're concerned about getting the autograph authenticated later.

Witnessed authentication is conveniently available at the signing.

We might skip the sticker when:

It's a vintage card where appearance is particularly important.

The collector doesn't like the look of a sticker.

The autograph is highly recognizable and we're comfortable authenticating it later.

Ultimately, it's your card and your collection.

There's no requirement that every collector has to make the same decision.

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Our Experience With PSA 10s and Authentication Stickers

It's important to be clear about what we're saying here.

We're not claiming that every card with an authentication sticker will receive a PSA 10.

There are many other factors that determine a card's grade.

We're also not speaking on behalf of PSA or promising how PSA will handle any particular future submission.

We're talking about our firsthand experience submitting cards.

And in our experience, we've received numerous PSA 10 card grades and 10 autograph grades on cards with authentication stickers attached to the back.

That's why we don't automatically avoid authentication stickers because we're worried about the card grade.

For us, the bigger decision is whether we want the witnessed authentication and whether we like the appearance of the sticker on that particular card.

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Final Thoughts

So, does an authentication sticker on the back of your sports card automatically prevent it from receiving a PSA 10?

Based on our actual grading results, no.

We've received numerous PSA 10 card grades with authentication stickers attached.

More importantly, if you already have a sticker on your card, do not attempt to remove it.

That's where you could potentially create an actual condition problem.

When deciding whether to add authentication in the first place, think about the autograph.

How expensive is it?

How often does the athlete sign?

How consistent is their autograph?

How comfortable are you relying on authentication after the fact?

And finally:

Do you care about having the sticker on the back aesthetically?

For a rare or expensive autograph, we're generally going to lean toward getting authentication at the signing.

For certain vintage cards, we may prefer keeping the card clean.

Neither choice is automatically right for every collector.

The goal is to understand the advantages and make the decision that makes the most sense for your card and your collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an authentication sticker affect a PSA card grade?

In our experience, having an authentication sticker on the back of a card has not prevented the card from receiving a PSA 10. We've personally received numerous 10 card grades along with 10 autograph grades on cards with authentication stickers.

Can a card with an authentication sticker get a PSA 10?

Yes. We've had multiple cards with authentication stickers receive PSA 10 grades.

Should I remove an authentication sticker before sending my card to PSA?

No. If a sticker has already been applied, we strongly recommend leaving it alone. Attempting to remove it could damage the card or leave residue, which could affect its condition.

Why should I get witnessed authentication at an autograph signing?

Witnessed authentication provides documentation connected directly to the signing. This can be especially useful for expensive autographs, rare signers, or athletes with inconsistent signatures.

Should I authenticate every autographed sports card?

Not necessarily. It depends on the athlete, value of the autograph, card, and your personal preferences as a collector.

Should I put an authentication sticker on a vintage card?

That's largely an aesthetic decision. Some collectors prefer not to have a sticker on the back of an important vintage card and would rather have the autograph authenticated afterward.

When is an authentication sticker most valuable?

We particularly like having witnessed authentication for expensive autographs, athletes who rarely sign, and players whose signatures can be inconsistent or difficult to authenticate.

Does PSA guarantee that a card with an authentication sticker will receive a 10?

No. PSA determines the grade of each individual card, and many condition factors can affect a grade. Our point is simply that we have personally received PSA 10 grades on cards with authentication stickers attached.