Collectibles Grader CCG to Acquire James Spence Authentication

One of the leading trading card graders is set to acquire a major autograph authenticator.

Trading card and collectibles grader Certified Collectibles Group is aiming to bolster its authentication process with the acquisition of James Spence Authentication, the company announced Wednesday.

Founded in 2005, JSA is considered one of the industry’s leading authentication services for autographs and memorabilia.

According to CCG, the acquisition of JSA will allow the company to offer full authentication and grading services beyond CCG's witnessed authentication. The companies will operate independently until fully integrated in the coming weeks.

Beginning in April, collectors will be able to submit collectibles for both JSA autograph authentication and CCG grading and encapsulation.

Comic books, magazines, sports cards, non-sports cards and trading cards will be eligible for the full authentication process.

“CCG and JSA are the perfect match, with a shared passion for collectibles along with an unwavering commitment to expertise and integrity,” CCG CEO Steven R. Eichenbaum said in a statement. “I could not be more pleased with the addition of JSA and the Spences to the CCG family, and I think collectors will love the simplicity and scope of our combined services.”

Founded in 2000, CCG grades a variety of collectibles including comics, sports and trading cards, video games, magazines and concert posters.

According to third-party grading tracker GemRate, the company's trading card division, CGC Cards, graded 1.75 million cards in 2023 — the second-most behind only PSA — for a 10% market share.

A popular option for pop culture collectors, CGC graded 1.4 million TCG and non-sports cards in 2023. Relatively new to the sports space, it also graded 314,000 sports cards.

“This is the ideal next chapter in JSA’s history. CCG’s mission and vision are aligned with our own, and we are excited to see what the company’s extensive experience and resources can do for autograph authentication and collecting,” JSA founder James J. Spence Jr. and JSA co-owner Mark Pepitone shared in a statement. “This combination is a true testament to the outstanding work of the entire JSA team, whose efforts have made JSA the world’s most trusted name in autograph authentication.”