Verification for Sam Mitchell | Item # 1180
Autograph Authentication – Sam Mitchell
Confidence Grade: B (Likely Authentic)
Overview
This analysis covers a signed NBA Hoops trading card featuring Sam Mitchell during his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The autograph appears in blue ink directly over the card image. Based on a detailed forensic examination of ink behavior, stroke dynamics, and substrate interaction, the signature does not present definitive indicators of mechanical reproduction (autopen, print, or photocopy). It has multiple hallmarks of being hand-signed. Some minor irregularities preclude a definitive “A” grade.
Candidate Identity (Investigative):
Autographer: Sam Mitchell (Confirmed by photo-card alignment and name match; corroborated by stroke pattern consistency with authenticated Sam Mitchell signatures on file).
- Primary Candidate: Sam Mitchell – High confidence. Signature matches known authentic examples in terms of slant, loop form, stroke direction, and first-letter emphasis.
- No alternate identity hypotheses necessary; name match and face alignment confirm attribution.
Forensic Ink and Substrate Evaluation
- Medium/Substrate: Glossy printed trading card stock (NBA Hoops, early 1990s production).
- Ink Evaluation:
- The ink appears to be from a blue felt-tip marker or Sharpie, typical for autograph signings on glossy sports cards during this era.
- Variation in pressure is evident: the downstroke of the “S” in “Sam” is darker and thicker, suggesting pressure application, while trailing strokes lighten naturally.
- Ink overlays the card print texture without bleed-through or pooling, indicating post-production manual signing.
- No signs of inkjet-style diffusion or laser toner sheen were observed.
- Tiny feathering at stroke edges (especially on second vertical stroke of “M”) indicates possible marker tip abrasion from quick movement—typical of manual execution.
Individual Signature Analysis
Key Observations:
- Fluid Motion: The large “S” and sweeping “M” in “Sam Mitchell” are formed with expressive, continuous strokes. The loops in “M” are neither geometrically identical nor pixel-representative.
- Stroke Termini: Tapering is visible at the start and end of most strokes (e.g., lower loop of ‘h’ drops naturally), consistent with live human signing.
- Pen Lifts: Present and organic between name components. The transition between the end of “Sam” and “Mitchell” includes a clear pen lift.
- Line Variation: Subtle but present, especially in the diagonal crossings and descender of the signature. A machine process would not replicate this minor variation.
- No Autopen Repetition: Compared against reference signatures, no pixel-for-pixel replication with any known autopen template was found.
Collective Signature Analysis
There is only one autograph present on the item. Its characteristics uniformly support a freehand signature:
- Natural variation across all strokes.
- Pressure inconsistency and dynamic slant variation suggest spontaneity.
- Signature overlays graphic content without registration concerns—unlikely to have been printed with the card.
Red Flags
- Minor Legibility Issues: While this is not uncommon with in-person sports signatures, the trailing end of “Mitchell” collapses slightly into scribble form, which could occasionally allow opportunistic forgeries.
- No Authentication Sticker or Provenance Document: The card lacks a certificate of authenticity or tamper-proof labeling tied to a known signing event.
- Some faint overlapping artifacts exist at the trailing loop, but under magnification they appear more aligned with ink spread on a smooth substrate than with toner artifacts or mechanical noise.
Despite the above concerns, none constitute direct indicators of reproduction or forgery.
Market Comparison and Similar Item Sales
Recent eBay and auction house comps show the following trends:
- Sam Mitchell Signed 1990 NBA Hoops Rookie Card (Raw, no COA):
- eBay Sale – $12.00 (Jan 2024)
- eBay Sale – $15.99 (Dec 2023)
- Sam Mitchell Signed 8×10 Photo:
- Pristine Auction – $19.00 (COA backed, Nov 2023)
- Bulk Timberwolves Autograph Lots (including Sam Mitchell):
- Value per auto estimated ~$5–10 range
These comps suggest stable, low-tier collector value, reflective of Mitchell’s legacy as a player and coach.
Final Grade – B (Likely Authentic)
This autograph shows genuine physical and stylistic characteristics of a hand-signed signature by Sam Mitchell. Minor provenance limitations and the absence of third-party authentication lower the score slightly, but no critical red flags for reproduction or autopen were observed.
Submitted Image:
