The AMA is a trusted professional Third Party authentication service. We work with a team of professionals who are experts in the industry and have over 70 years of experience between them. In response to widespread counterfeiting, forgery and piracy of autographed collectables, the AMA provides a professional opinion on your collectable.
If you have a signed item that you would like to have examined and authenticated, please email the item as detailed below.
Online
Please email a large good quality image (in jpg. format) of the item to authenticate@amaonline.com.au along with any other valid information that you may have including, where and when the item was signed, a copy of original Certificate of Authenticity, or any other relevant information. We will then respond to you and detail the process for authentication.
Sending your item by mail
Once we have responded to your initial online inquiry and have confirmed we will be providing a further review of the item, we will ask you to carefully and securely package your item and send it by registered post to our office.
Australian Memorabilia Association
PO Box 283
Rose Bay NSW 2029
Australia
If, in our opinion, the item is deemed genuine, it is photographed, logged and registered into our online AMA Registry database. All registered items have a unique alphanumeric number assigned to them which allows collectors to verify their items by simply entering the registration number into our website. Incorporated into each items profile is who signed the item, the type of item, the type of writing device, and a digital picture of the exact signature on the item. Any interested party can verify authenticity online even if items change hands in the future.
Furthermore, for private collectors, the item is labeled with an invisible ink which contains a sequence specific to the AMA. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is issued with a matching unique alphanumeric number and a matching number is placed onto the item. Once the review is complete, the item will be returned by registered post or courier at the owner’s expense (no glass or framed items, please). If insurance is required, it may also be requested at the owners expense.
Fees
- Authentication for 1 autograph on one item Starting at $85.00+GST
- Authentication for 2-5 autographs on one item Starting at $100.00+GST
- Authentication for 6-10 autographs on one item Starting at $140.00+GST
- Authentication for more than 10+ TBA
Note: discounts provided for multiple authentications and collections.
Mark Handel – Memorabilia & Collectibles Expert
Mark Handel, originally from Philadelphia began collecting baseball cards in 1968 laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for sport and memorabilia. Over the decades his interest evolved into deep expertise across a wide range of collectible categories including sports memorabilia, trading cards, model cars, vintage newspapers, and historical collectibles.
Mark has owned and operated several successful businesses in both the United States and Australia building a reputation as a trusted authority within the memorabilia industry.
In 1999, Mark developed a turnkey sports memorabilia operation through Sports Online / Wide World of Sports Memorabilia which quickly became Australasia’s largest online retailer in its field. The business formed major partnerships with Channel Nine and News Limited and worked closely with leading sporting codes across Australia to produce high-quality licensed memorabilia.
During this time, Mark coordinated exclusive signing sessions with some of the world’s most iconic athletes including Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Joe Frazier, and players from Australia’s 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning cricket teams, along with numerous other sporting legends.
With over 25 years of industry experience, Mark has valued thousands of collections for private collectors, dealers, estates, and insurance companies. His expertise spans autograph authentication, trading cards, model vehicles, vintage print media, coins, stamps and a broad spectrum of collectible assets across sport, entertainment, and historical fields.
Mark also has specialised expertise in handwriting and signature analysis. He provides professional, independent opinions on the authenticity of signatures, applying established handwriting examination principles to assess structure, flow, consistency, and provenance.
He has acted as an Expert Witness delivering formal reports and independent opinions for legal, insurance and dispute resolution matters involving memorabilia valuation and signature authenticity.
Following the sale of his business interests in 2012, Mark transitioned into providing independent valuation and advisory services across Australia and internationally.
He is currently the Head of the Australian Memorabilia Association where he provides leadership and trusted expertise across the memorabilia and collectibles industry further reinforcing his standing as a recognised authority in valuation, authentication, and expert witness services.
