Authentication Services offered by Book Grading
Service Inc. (BGS)
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The Grading and Evaluation Process
To bring peace of mind to collectors, BGS
employs a six-level Authentication System. The process
includes:
STEP 1: EXAMINATION
- Professional Book and Jacket Review
- Autograph Analysis
- Professional Evaluation
- Comparisons of Your Book to Comparables
- Grade Assignment
- Dual Holographic Seal Permanently Applied to Book and
COA
STEP 2: PERMANENT SERIAL NUMBER
ASSIGNMENT
Dual Holographic Images - Both your certificate and your book will be assigned a holographic seal. These will have matching numbers and will permanently link your certificate to your book.
Sealing Your Rare Book - A
label bearing an alphanumeric serial number is applied on the
item in a discrete location or on the Certificate or Letter of
Authenticity. The choice is yours. Interestingly enough, this
label was specifically designed to checkerboard when tampered
with and can be completely removed! In addition, the label is
non-destructive and does not harm your valuable item.
STEP 3: CERTIFICATION
Certificate of Authenticity - For
items submitted at an authentication fee lower than $50,
a small 3x5 certificate on your authenticated piece is
issued with your item. The COA features an 8 digit
alphanumeric number that matches the tamper evident
label.
Letter of Authenticity - For items
submitted at an authentication of $50 or higher, a
detailed letter on your authenticated piece is composed
and issued with your item. The letter
features:
- BGS watermark custom embedded into the paper
stock to prevent counterfeiting; simply hold the LOA
against a lamp and look for the official BGS
logo.
- A high resolution photo of your exact submission
- A summary on the characteristics of your autograph
and why it is genuine
- Hand signature from one of BGS's representatives.
- 8 digit alphanumeric serial number that matches
the tamper evident label.
Autographs that are signed, in our opinion,
by Autopen or Secretary will
not be authenticated. A special letter
is returned with an explanation segregating the
difference between these examples and actual
autographs.
STEP 4:
DOCUMENTATION
All authenticated memorabilia is available online for
verification. Simply visit
Cert
Verification and enter the alphanumeric serial number. The
verification page will display:
1. The autographs
2. The item
3. Brand
4. Location of authentication
5. Authentication date
6. Notes
7. Photo (if
available)
Autographs - Items submitted at the fee of $50 or higher
that do not meet our requirements and, in our opinion, are of
questionable authenticity will receive a "NO PASS"
designation. Thereafter, a Letter of Opinion (LOO) is returned
with a detailed explanation of our experts' findings. The
letter features:
A high resolution photo of your exact submission
A summary on the characteristics of your autograph on why
it is not deemed genuine
Items submitted under $50 will receive a non-detailed
Letter of Opinion (LOO).
Occasionally, our experts cannot express an opinion on an
autograph. These will be designated as "Inconclusive" and a
credit voucher will be issued in the full amount of the
authentication fee. This voucher can be used towards future
submissions.
