In an exciting development for the collectibles market, Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) has made a significant acquisition by bringing James Spence Authentication (JSA) under its umbrella. CCG, renowned for its CGC grading services, recognized the opportunity to enhance its offerings by incorporating JSA, one of the prominent players in autograph authentication.
Established in 2005 by James Spence, Jr., a well-known figure in the world of autographs, JSA has cemented its reputation for authenticating millions of signatures and amassing a database of close to one million autograph images. With this merger, the expertise of James Spence and James Spence III will continue to drive JSA’s operations, supported by Mark Pepitone, a co-owner who will serve as a senior advisor, contributing his extensive industry experience.
This strategic move by CCG, following its integration into the Blackstone portfolio in 2021, is a response to the increasing demand from collectors for a consolidated service that covers authentication, grading, and encapsulation of autographed collectibles. While CCG introduced authentication services through its Signature Series, the full-fledged authentication and grading service for autographs was missing, a gap that JSA is now positioned to fill.
The merger is poised to elevate the services available to collectors of sports memorabilia, autographs, and various collectibles by combining JSA’s renowned authentication expertise with CCG’s established grading and encapsulation services. Starting April, collectors can look forward to a streamlined submission process that encompasses both JSA and CCG services, simplifying the authentication, grading, and encapsulation of signed items. Both companies have hinted at forthcoming service enhancements and announcements, underscoring a promising future ahead.
James Spence, Jr., and Mark Pepitone shared their excitement about the acquisition, highlighting the potential for innovation in autograph authentication and collecting that CCG’s resources and experience bring to the table. In the immediate future, JSA and CCG will operate as distinct entities while focusing on integrating their services. This strategic decision is expected to offer collectors and dealers a more comprehensive and efficient range of services, marking a new chapter in the realm of authentication and grading for collectibles.