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As the popularity of professional sports has grown over the years, so has the demand
for autographed collectibles. To forgers, public interest in sports signifies a
golden opportunity to make a buck off unsuspecting fans. Upper Deck recognized the
problem and introduced a solution when the company established Upper Deck Authenticated
in 1992 and created the first authentication system in the industry. The company's
mission was to create a source that sports fans could trust for genuine autographed
sports memorabilia.
At the heart of the company's patented five-step authentication process is the company's
policy that an Upper Deck representative must witness each autograph signed by any
one of the high-profile athletes with whom it has a relationship. The five-step
process goes like this:
STEP 1
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Every autograph is witnessed by an Upper Deck Authenticated representative. After
all, observation is the ONLY WAY to truly guarantee authenticity;
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STEP 2
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A record of the autograph session is signed by both the athlete and the UDA official
and is stored in a secure permanent file;
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STEP 3
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An Upper Deck Authenticated serial numbered hologram is affixed to each signed piece
of memorabilia;
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STEP 4
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A certificate of authenticity is assigned to every piece of memorabilia and includes
a matching hologram to the one affixed to the item;
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STEP 5
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Every piece of signed memorabilia is packaged with a registration card. The owner
has the opportunity to register the item with Upper Deck Authenticated. If for some
reason the item is sold and/or transferred to a new owner, a full detailed record
of the item's history is readily available.
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