I have a few autographed collectibles I've considered selling. Looking online, it seems it can cost anywhere from $30-60 to get something authenticated (+ shipping costs). I find it hard to believe, especially in today's market, that getting an autograph authenticated would increase the value by $50ish, unless it's something older, like pre-1950s, where costs go way up and people want to be really sure about what they're getting.

It's simple math.   If I'm giving you $30 for your Mickey Rivers autographed bat, I don't really care about authentification.    I'm just going to display the bat somewhere and, when I die, it will probably see the garbage.    If I'm giving you $50,000 for the bat Jeter used to get his 3000th hit, I want the ***** authenticated.   I may place it next to Rivers' bat but, when I die, somebody is going to want it.    It's an investment.

$50,000 for a Jeter bat - that's cute

I'd take a Jeter gift basket!

$100 for an oft scratched Dave Stieb cup.

If MikeT actually had a Jeter bat, you can bet it would have some of his DNA somewhere on it.

All around the handle!