Authenticators unwittingly corner themselves over time... Let's say Authenticator "A" analyzed a 1994 Elway throwback jersey three years ago. At the time, he felt the tags looked good, the game use looked good, etc., so he issued a letter for the jersey. Lo and behold, a year later, another one comes across his path to be authenticated. It is similar to the one he authenticated the year before, so how can he NOT give his blessings on this one? What if THIS one is the real thing, and not the one from a year ago?

At this point he does what he has to do. He writes a letter for the second jersey too.

Of course, the authenticator is praying to Jah above that a third jersey doesn't come his way. He's also praying that at least one of those two jerseys stay tucked away in a private collection for a loooong time.

Ten years ago, scenarios like this would go unnoticed unless someone did a lot of homework on eBay and with auction catalogs. Today, thanks to this forum and other databases from collectors, the gig is up on authenticators who think they can just crank out letters into the great unknown.