Fake AutographsEver since there were people engaged in autograph collecting, there were fake autographs to watch out for. Sad but true, forgeries have been around for a long time. Autograph values hinge greatly on the authentication of the signature. Unfortunately they won't be going anywhere as long as autographs and signed memorabilia continue to be some of the hottest selling items on eBay and other auction and autograph sites. Perhaps the methods are more scientific than before, but they are still recognizable by experts and average collectors alike. Whether you collect autographs through the mail, in-person, or buying them, you need to know what to look out for.
After reading this page you should be able to spot 98% of the common fakes in the hobby.
What are the most common examples of fake autographs?Reprint-PreprintA reprint-preprint of an autograph is commonly just a photo reproduction of an authentic celebrity autograph photo. These are usually easy to spot as the signature and the image in the picture are "one". Sometimes these are dummied up by heavy card printing, don't be fooled.Technology has allowed the "quality" of these to become better, and harder to spot. Sometimes the photograph is produced, with a photo-generated signature then added to the item. These can be tricky to spot by the naked eye, as they actually look raised from the image. They look unnatural under a magnifying glass, and the raised appearance is diminished.
AutopenAn autopen is a machine that is used to manufacture an almost exact copy of a person's signature. See this page on autopen autographs for examples and how to spot these.SecretarialI don't see these as much lately (at least I don't think so!). They are an authentic autograph, just not of the celebrity themselves!Termed secretarial due to the practice of having one's secretary sign the fan mail in the past, today's celebrities can employ teams of people to handle the ever-increasing demand and mail received at a celebrity address. Fan mail services are used to process and respond to autograph requests. There are notable celebrities that are rumored to have utilized this through the years: Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, John Travolta, Robert DeNiro, and Donald Trump to name a few. Part of me wants to applaud them for at least trying to provide a human signature, but they are fake nonetheless.
StampsCrude, messy, and ridiculous looking, these have fortunately all but gone away from the hobby. They are easy to spot as the ink will usually run or fade in spots, especially along the edges. Pathetic would probably be the best description.ForgeryCelebrity autographs and signed sports memorabilia markets are flooded with forged autographs - experts speculate about 80% of what you commonly find when buying autographs are not authentic. The reputation and credibility of the dealer, along with a lifetime guarantee autograph certificate of authenticity (COA) accompanying the autograph with verification of when and where it was obtained is mandatory to protect your investment.While I have seen obvious forgeries while shopping for autographs online or in-person, there are some people who are very good at their "craft". Some of them can probably sign better than the person they are forging in the first place! Return from Fake Autographs to Autograph Collecting
|
