Altered Card Alert: Autographed Kobe Bryant Card
Posted on 11/3/2022
In his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant helped the team win five titles and he was named to 18 All-Star teams. He holds numerous team records, including points (33,643), steals (1,944) and three-pointers (1,827). He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2020.
Basketball cards signed by Bryant remain highly popular with collectors, and the 2010-11 Panini Limited set included several. The run featured 25 examples of the #93 Kobe Bryant Monikers Gold version, including the 2/25 card certified by CSG shown here. The 24/25 card was sold in a Heritage Auctions sale in March 2022 for $3,000.
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| 2010-11 Panini Limited Autographs #93 Kobe Bryant Monikers Gold graded CSG 7.5 and 10 for the autograph. Click images to enlarge. | |
The Monikers Platinum version of this card would be expected to sell for significantly higher, because it is a 1/1. CSG recently received a submission that included that card. However, closer inspection by the CSG team revealed a significant problem: The signature was altered.
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| Images of the card submitted to CSG. Click images to enlarge. | |
Upon first glance, the surface of the card appeared to have a slightly different surface as it was "sheened" — the process of examining a card as it is moved around directly under a light source. (See sheening demonstrated at the 1:10 mark in Episode 1 of CSG Grade School.)
Notice how under normal light, the end of the signature appears to end in a straight line. But when CSG placed the card under special lighting including infrared, it was revealed there was additional ink at the end of the signature that included a downward curl. For whatever reason, someone decided to erase that part of the signature!
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| Close-up of the signature under special light. Click images to enlarge. |
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Unfortunately for the submitter, the alteration done to this card means it cannot be certified by CSG. Why anyone would make such a change is a mystery, but it was a very expensive decision.
CSG uses world-class expertise, advanced technology, innovation and operational excellence to provide sports card collectors and dealers with accurate and consistent certification services. CSG backs these determinations with the industry-leading CSG Guarantee, which adds significant confidence, liquidity and value to the hobby.
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