Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs · #RA-JDA
Findings
Signature comparison
This card. The signature as cropped from the slab photo (front).
Below, the known examples Crown compared it with. Examples with stronger proof (signed in front of staff, or certified by an independent authenticator) carry the most weight.
Feature by feature
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall form and proportions | 'Jay D' form. A tall J with a long descender sweeping down-left, small compressed 'ay', and a large open D bowl ending in a long return stroke to the lower left. | R3, R6 and R7 show the same 'Jay D' structure with the same small 'ay' and large open D. R5 and R8 show the same form on larger surfaces. R1 and R4 use an alternate 'J. D5' form. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Strong rightward lean on the uprights. Baseline is roughly level, drifting slightly down. | R3, R6 and R7 show a similar forward lean and level-to-rising baseline. The measured slant of ours is more pronounced than the reference average. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | J built as a top cross-stroke into a long diagonal descender. 'a' and 'y' are compact, with the y descender short. D is a separate upright plus a wide bowl that opens at the lower left. | Same construction in R3, R6 and R7, including the separate D upright and the wide open bowl. R7's 'y' is slightly more angular. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | J connects into 'ay'. There is a pen lift before the D. | Same connection pattern and the same lift before D in R3, R6 and R7. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a light entry on the J top stroke. The D bowl ends in a long tapering stroke back toward the lower left. | R3 and R6 show the same tapered D return. R5 and R8 show the same long return in paint pen. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident curves with tapered terminals. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | R3, R6 and R7 show comparable rapid line quality. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Thicker on downstrokes and in the D upright, thinner on the upstrokes of the bowl. Consistent with a blue felt or Sharpie-type pen on chrome. | Similar variation in R6 and R7. Measured thickness variation sits at the reference average. | Match |
| Spacing | Tight 'ay' cluster with a modest gap before a dominant D. | Same spacing rhythm in R3, R6 and R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The D bowl serves as the flourish. | None of the 'Jay D' references use an underline. The R1 and R4 style adds a '5' instead. | Match |
| Placement and size | Fills the clear Chrome signature window above the 'CERTIFIED AUTOGRAPH' text, slightly overrunning it. Normal for a pack-out on-card auto. | R3, R6 and R7 sit similarly in the on-card signature area. | Match |
Measurements
Software traced the ink and measured it against the known examples. The shaded band is the signer's normal range across those examples; the gold marker is this card.
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Normal range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slant of upright strokes | -22.6° | -19.5–-12.1° | Edge of range | |
| Overall writing angle | -2.5° | -2.9–7.7° | In range | |
| Height to width | 0.363 | 0.235–0.712 | In range | |
| Ink travel per unit width | 2.33× | 1.85–3.44× | In range | |
| Stroke thickness variation | 0.422 | 0.303–0.662 | In range | |
| Closed loops | 2 | 0.0–8.0 | In range | |
| Separate strokes | 7 | 4.0–10.0 | In range |
Our software traced the ink and compared seven features against six of the reference signatures. Six features fall well within his own normal range: overall writing angle, height-to-width shape, ink travel, stroke thickness variation, closed loops and number of separate strokes. One feature, the lean of the upright strokes, is steeper than his average (2.3 spreads out), which is borderline rather than unusual. Two of the measured references use a different 'J. D5' style, and photo angle affects slant, so this is a reason to look closer rather than a concern. Overall the numbers support authenticating this signature.
Examiner notes
Ours is a 2024 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs on-card signature (#RA-JDA) from Daniels' rookie year. R3, R6 and R7 are 2024 Topps on-card certified autographs from the same era and surface type and are the closest comparables. R5 (Fanatics 16x20, 2024) and R8 (helmet, Fanatics context) are the same 2024-25 era but on different surfaces. R1 (2024 Leaf sticker) and R4 (2024 Donruss-type card in a PSA/DNA slab) show an alternate 'J. D5' style that adds the jersey number. That points to a second form he uses, not to a different era. It does not contradict our 'Jay D' form.
How Crown authenticates autographs: the signature is compared with known examples gathered from Crown's own authenticated cards, independent authenticators and public listings, measured by software, examined by an AI forensic model, and signed off by Crown Grading staff. The decision above is Crown's.
