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Services
First-Hand Authentication (FHA) provides autograph authentication service - which is an opinion of the authenticity of an autographed item - an opinion based upon five decades of First-Hand autograph experience. Two primary types of services are offered - a Letter of Authenticity (LOA), and Brief Opinion. The Standard LOA is the primary level of LOA service. A Premium LOA is available as an optional add-on to a Standard LOA. In addition, a Mini LOA is available as an optional add-on to a Standard and Premium LOA. For details on each service, including fees and submission procedures, simply click on the above links for each service. FHA does not provide encapsulation service, nor does it place stickers on items. For the reasons why, see the FAQ’s page.
WHAT NAMES DOES FHA AUTHENTICATE?
The number of names FHA authenticates is less than almost all other authentication companies because FHA strictly limits authentications to those names with First-Hand Experience. However, the amount of names FHA does authenticate is quite impressive and too numerous to list each one individually. The Sample Fees Chart that appears on the Fees page (drop-down below the LOA link) provides a good indication of which fields, names, and time periods FHA authenticates. In general terms, the breakdown by category is as follows: SPORTS - Many athletes from the 1960’s and 1970’s, including most players who appeared on gum cards from 1960-1972; MUSIC - Many rock & roll stars from the 1960’s thru the mid 1980’s; POLITICS - Many prominent figures from the late 1960’s thru 2000.
WHAT NAMES DOES FHA NOT AUTHENTICATE?
FHA does not authenticate names who were before Mr. Hartman’s time, such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, etc. Nor does FHA authenticate many of the more current names, such as McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, and Jordan, etc. This does not mean that Mr. Hartman is not familiar with the signature of many of those he will not authenticate, including the aforementioned names. He is. But Mr. Hartman believes that being familiar with a signature and possessing the expertise to provide a credible authentication opinion are two different things. In order to maintain maximum accuracy and credibility, Mr. Hartman limits his authentications
to those signatures that he knows like the back of his hand. In addition, all authentications are based on experience from 1960 on. Feel free to e-mail or call to inquire about a particular name.
WHAT TYPES OF ITEMS DOES FHA AUTHENTICATE?
FHA accepts flat items up to “12x14” and baseballs. For more details on what type of items FHA accepts and doesn’t accept, see the LOA Policies & Procedures page.
GIVING BACK
T. Alan Hartman feels blessed that he has had the good fortune over the years to meet and obtain autographs from so many personalities - from the very obscure to the biggest names - from Roberto Pena to Roberto Clemente - from Swede Halbrook to Julius Erving - from Frank Buncom to John Elway - from Michel Briere to Terry Sawchuk - from Triumph to Jimi Hendrix - from Ed Muskie to George W. After many years of planning, Mr. Hartman is pleased that is finally providing accurate authentications in the autograph field, and he has a desire to give something back. As a result, FHA will be donating 20% of all authentication fees to various animal shelters in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, including the Save The Animals Foundation and the SPCA Cincinnati.
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