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of the autograph. By nature, autopens have very precise stops and starts, “Dear Mike,” or something similar instead of “Dear Friend,” or no
they come down with a dot and end with a dot. Particularly in salutation at all.
early examples, you can see extra ink deposits from when the pen was
set to paper and where it was left a bit longer than natural before being Forgeries Outside the Collecting Realm
picked up.
Stamps are another culprit, though these have their own telltale Antique collectors are not alone in their quest towards signature
marks. You can sometimes see press marks or air bubbles and there is authentication; the financial world is invested as well. In 2017,
no flow to the ink. journalist Kim Zetter reported on an Israeli company that was
developing an application to fight check fraud. American banks lose
The Facsimile more than $600 million annually to fraudulent checks, and one-third
of those loses are reportedly due to forged signatures. Teams at the
Possibly the most problematic mechanism of signature copying is Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Tel Aviv University joined
the facsimile. While several were never intended to fool, they can pop forces to develop an app that verifies handwritten signatures with data
up without context and if they have aged well, they may trick a collector provided by devices like your fitness tracker or smartwatch. The app
all the same. Facsimiles can be some of the hardest mechanical requires the person, wearing a compatible device, to provide a baseline
modes to authenticate, but here are some patterns that may help you signature. The app will track the person’s unique signing pattern,
determine if a signature might be a fake and require a closer look by including wrist flourishes, signature angle, and timing, and will apply
an expert. that to future signatures to check for fidelity, with a reported 95%
First, turn to your trusty magnifying glass. Does the signature look accuracy. This type of technology could one day help monitor celebrity
like ink up close; does it flow and bleed or does it have sharply defined signatures as everything moves into the digital age. But until we get
edges or a printed texture? You will also want to note the context of the more high-tech, accessible tests for autographs from the past, the best
autograph. Have you ever noticed a steel engraving in a 19th-century we can do is arm ourselves with knowledge and the phone number of a
book with a corresponding autograph below it? These are in black ink reputable expert.
and are straight and centered below the photographs, a correct For more information, visit The Raab Collection online at
signature but recognizable as a fake given the placement. raabcollection.com
Salutations are also critical. Presidential letters or “form” You can also consult Founders.archives.gov for a background check
correspondence from heads of state without personalized salutations are on your Founding Fathers’ signature. With a large listing of documented
often facsimiles. Don’t be fooled if the ink color of the signature is letters, this website could help you determine if your letter is a copy by
different than that of the letter. If you collect this type of document, providing the location of the original.
look for impeccable provenance in these cases, and the more personal

Signatures samples of the ten most recent U.S. Presidents –
Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter,
Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W.
Bush, Barak Obama, Donald Trump

Continued from page 23
In the early days of eBay, it was a Buyers Beware market in the
buying and selling of signed autographs until it started getting a bad
rap, with customers buying based on misrepresentations or a lack of
authenticity on the part of “fly by night” sellers. Today, eBay lists a
number of requirements for the sale of autographs and autographed
items as a way to “provide guidance to keep all of our members safe
when buying or selling on eBay.” The policy requires a seller to provide
a photo of the autographed item, a clear photo of the COA or LOA
(Letter of Authenticity), as well as the name of the person or company
issuing the certificate, and the seller’s refund policy.
According to eBay’s Autographed Items Policy Overview posted on
its website, “We investigate concerns from our members in regard to
autographs, COAs, LOAs, and trading cards. As part of this policy, we
work with several reputable third parties. These third parties may use
known authentic autograph examples to determine if these items are
genuine or ‘likely not genuine.’ If they have concerns about an item’s
authenticity, eBay may remove the listing from the site.” While this
policy and an intent to take action when notified of a buyer’s concerns
have helped to make eBay a safer place to buy and sell autographs,
unless the COA or LOA is from a reputable autograph authenticator
(a list is available on eBay’s website).

It is Still Buyer Beware
Whether knowingly or unwittingly, misrepresented signed items are
being sold every day to fans and collectors so it is important to know
what you are buying and do your homework. If you did not witness the
signing, be smart: rely on the representation of the seller, the judgment
of a qualified authenticator, or your own knowledge, if you have
thoroughly studied the signing patterns and habits of the signer. To
determine value, consult The Sanders Autograph Price Guide and search
sites such as Invaluable.com and rrauction.com for recent sale prices. The La Pasta Fazula Club – This “certificate” has the autographs of many of the
To buy with confidence, contact a PADA (Professional Autograph famous names from the early 1960’s when this was created: President Harry
Dealers Association) dealer and get a COA from a reputable and recog- Truman, Janet Leigh, Cole Porter, Anthony “Tony” Curtis, Dorothy Lamour,
nized authenticator. Not looking to sell? Enjoy what you have and the Danny Thomas, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Yvonne DeCarlo, Edgar Bergen,
story behind it and it will remain priceless. Marie McDonald, John R. Hearst, Jr., Jack Carson, etc., etc. photo: HA.com
26 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles