Should a pre-signed baseball card be signed authentically?

Answer 1

To have a pre-signed (facsimile signature) Baseball card "hand signed" as opposed to a baseball card without a "pre signed" signature "hand signed" is not the question, rather should you have a baseball card signed at all? It is not always a good idea to have a baseball card signed.

Collectible items could add value to the price of a signature but not always. As in the case of a baseball card, generally a collector of baseball cards would rather have a baseball card without the signature. The signature would be considered as a flaw in the condition of the card and will lower the value.

A collector of signatures will not always pay extra for the "collectible" baseball card. The autograph collectors main concern is displaying the signature. This is why it is not a good idea to have an expensive baseball card signed. You could devalue the price of the card, and get less for it. Even if the baseball card has a low value today, if the price goes up in the future the value will be diminished by the signature.

Once a collectible baseball card is signed the value of the card dramatically goes down as a collectible. The card then becomes an Item to display the signature. The bulk of the value relies on the value of the signature of the player that signed the card, and how well the card displays the signature. If you feel that the card will have no future value then you will be doing no harm. Then if the card is "pre signed" or not will effect the value as how well the hand signed signature is displayed, If the "pre-signed" signature does not distract from the hand signed signature. The signature should be bold and standout in contrast to the printing on the baseball card.

In general a signed baseball card is worth about 30% - 40% the price of a signed baseball or the same price of a signed 8 x 10 photo. A high valued baseball card might add some value to the signature, but the signature is the collectible not the card.