Certified Collectibles Group (CCG), a prominent name in the collectibles market renowned for its CGC grading services, has made a significant move by acquiring James Spence Authentication (JSA), a key player in the field of autograph authentication. This strategic partnership marks a pivotal moment for collectors as it promises to revolutionize the authentication and grading services available for autographed items.
Founded in 2005 by autograph expert James Spence, Jr., James Spence Authentication has garnered a strong reputation for its meticulous verification process, certifying millions of signatures and amassing an extensive database of nearly one million autograph images. With this acquisition, the expertise of James Spence and James Spence III will continue to drive JSA’s operations, while Mark Pepitone will play a crucial role as a senior advisor, offering his wealth of experience to the collaborative effort.
CCG’s acquisition of JSA comes on the heels of CCG entering the Blackstone portfolio in 2021. The move is a strategic response to the increasing demand from collectors for a one-stop solution that encompasses authentication, grading, and encapsulation services for autographed collectibles. While CCG has previously offered authentication services through its Signature Series, the acquisition of JSA now enables CCG to offer a comprehensive authentication and grading service for autographs, filling a notable gap in their service offerings.
The merger between CCG and JSA is set to raise the bar for services available to collectors of sports memorabilia, autographs, and various other collectibles. By combining JSA’s renowned authentication expertise with CCG’s grading and encapsulation services, collectors can expect a seamless and comprehensive service that caters to all their authentication and grading needs.
Commencing in April, collectors will benefit from a streamlined submission process that integrates both JSA and CCG services, simplifying the authentication, grading, and encapsulation of signed collectibles. The companies have promised further enhancements and announcements in the near future, signaling a promising trajectory for the partnership.
James Spence, Jr., and Mark Pepitone have expressed their excitement about the merger with CCG, seeing it as a natural progression for JSA that will bring about innovative developments in the field of autograph authentication and collection. In the interim, JSA and CCG will operate independently as they work towards integrating their services, ultimately aiming to provide collectors and dealers with a more comprehensive and efficient authentication and grading experience – marking a new era in the world of collectibles.
