Blurred Beckett Letter of Authentication document with text and a red image featuring the number 19.

Letter of Authentication

Letters of Authentication (LOA) for Signed Football Shirts

A letter of authentication (LOA) is a fuller document from an authenticator, often used when the shirt itself carries no certification sticker. It usually includes a photo of the item, so the letter and the shirt can be matched. Some collectors prefer it because the shirt stays free of stickers.

What is a letter of authentication?

A letter of authentication (LOA) is a document from an authentication company confirming that a signed shirt is genuine. Compared with a certificate, it usually carries more detail: a description of the item, notes on the signature and a photo that ties the letter to this exact shirt.

What an LOA usually contains

  • Item description: the team, player and season.
  • Signature notes: how the signature compares with known examples.
  • The method: how the item was examined or the signing witnessed.
  • A unique reference: a number you can check in the authenticator's database.

Who issues them

Examples include Beckett Authentication Services, ICONS (whose certificates can include photos of the player signing), Fanatics Authentic (hologram-based, checkable online) and Fabricks (which binds its certificate to an NFC chip in the shirt).

Tips for collectors

  • Check the issuer: use a company with a public record.
  • Verify the reference: look it up in the authenticator's own database.
  • Keep the paperwork: store the letter with the shirt; it is part of its provenance.

Available Letter of Authentication Shirts: