【Monica Swinn】

In an unlikely alliance,Monica Swinn Major League Baseball and Star Warswill partner to identify authentic photos and autographs. starwarsauthentics.com launched Wednesday morning, a new entertainment authentication program introduced by Topps and Authenticators Inc.

Autographs are verified through tamper-proof holograms attached to the photos and witnessed by an A.I. representative. (How much more Star Warscan it get?)

On the website, fans can order authentic Star Warsphotos and autographs from the cast of The Force Awakensand Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This site will be the first and only place to secure items signed by Felicity Jones and John Boyega, as well as items signed by Boyega with Daisy Ridley.

“We identified a hole in the entertainment industry, a need for certified authentic pieces for the Star Warsbrand, and with this collaboration we are able to meet consumer demand. Topps excels in visual arts and printing technologies and we are thrilled to bring our expertise to Star Wars, building upon our trading card and Major League Baseball memorabilia business,” said Topps General Manager and Vice President of the North American Sports and Entertainment David Leiner in a press release.

Authenticators Inc. was founded by the MLB, and the Star Warspartnership marks the league's first major departure from baseball and sports.

“A quality, authentic experience is something we always strive to deliver for our fans,” said Paul Southern, SVP of Star Wars licensing at Disney Consumer Products. “This new program will allow us to provide Star Wars fans with access to autographs of their favorite talent from a galaxy far, far away that are completely verified and authentic.”

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