Help: Is this an authentic Fran Tarkenton signature on NFL ball?

[mexicanfan]

Hi
Just found this official NFL in a flea market a few months ago and I wonder if it's an authentic signature...today I found on ebay this picture of an authentic card signed by Fran...what do you think?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/mexicanfan/ftb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/mexicanfan/2fa5_2.jpg

[flyeaglesfly]

man thats tough!!
the problem i see is that they are both done with different "flavored" markers.
one marker is wide and the other is fatter so you can't tell if the last t in his last name is open or tight plus the fran on the ball is more recognizable.
here are a couple more examples i found
i trust gridiron authentics 100% so i would say the first one is a great one to compare to!
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t224/flyeaglesfly1/tarkentonfbaw.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t224/flyeaglesfly1/0342_1_sbl.jpg
if you look at the two i show you you can clearly see that his first name on your ball is "clearer" than the two examples and also that the last "on"in his last name on your ball is again, to recognizable.
now, does this mean that your ball is a fake?
no, i am not a professional, i am just giving you the opinion that you asked for.
now, hypothetically, if this were me, i would go find the seller and demand my money back!!:rolleyes:

[TheCollectorStop]

The only way you'll know is to send it into PSA/DNA or JSA.

[Sk8er Boy]

I'm leaning towards "No". On all of the Fran autographs I've seen, the end of the "n" on Tarkenton curls back up to cross the T (just like on the football shown by flyeaglesfly). But truly, unless you get the autograph yourself, do you really know if it's authentic?

[Foggman]

I would try to have it authentacited by in my mind from all the fran auto's I ve seen this is the only one that is so well defined that you can tell what every letter is and that is not the way fran signs

[hockeyfightsguy]

Don't ever buy white panel signed footballs. They turn to garbage.

[graphman1]

The only way you'll know is to send it into PSA/DNA or JSA.

I wouldn't waste my money on either company. They just give an opinion just like the people are doing here. They give what I call an 'educated guess'. That being said I'll check it against my in person sigs I have at home and see how it compares. The fuller graph is sometimes what happens when a person signs one compared to a show or card insert where they are signing 100's in a short period of time.

[Foggman]

I wouldn't waste my money on either company. They just give an opinion just like the people are doing here. They give what I call an 'educated guess'. That being said I'll check it against my in person sigs I have at home and see how it compares. The fuller graph is sometimes what happens when a person signs one compared to a show or card insert where they are signing 100's in a short period of time.

So your going to check against your sigs and then you are going to post your educated guess or just an opinion:p

[tgriffey30]

So your going to check against your sigs and then you are going to post your educated guess or just an opinion:p

But his opinion will be free.:)

[mexicanfan]

Well...your help is truly welcome!...but as you said unless I go directly with Mr. Tarkenton, I will stay clueless about the authenticity of the signature...You are right about the spin on the final N...but the card I found doesn`t have that particular spin also...at least this ball could get me in exchange the official book and silver jacket of "That's Incredible!" and maybe a pic of the team with Fran along with Cathy Lee Crosby and John Davidson ;)

[jonsoriano08]

I'm sure PSA/DNA would charge all that much for it. They quoted $25 for a Steve Young item for me. (But i didn't bother, i was there for the autograph. lol)

[graphman1]

The IP signatures that I have are similar to the others listed for comparison where he crosses back into the 't' without forming the 'on'. That being said the characteristics/formation of the main letters appear right on. You can also compare the signature on the 'Tarketon' jersey on his website http://www.tarkenton.com/ and the last name is pretty much a match. Wanna be sure it's real buy it from his company http://www.tarkentonsports.com. He also accepts your items for a fee. As is was mentioned a white panel FB is not the best item as the Sharpie tends to bleed into the leather over time.

[RunDMC20]

That sucks because I have a Walter Payton autograph on a white panel football.
(Its real for sure)

[Steelcurtain1933]

Looks good to me.