We provide information about a favorite pastime of many thousand of people - the collecting of autographs, also called signatures, of well known people. Some of us just have one or two we got from being in the right place at the right time. Others appreciate and enjoy the history and uniqueness of autographs so much it becomes a full time avocation, or even a business.
The drive to collect autographs has been part of human behavior for centuries. Given our love of celebrity of all kinds, this hobby will be with us forever. We have:
- Over eighty articles written by experts in the field, that cover every topic from buying and selling autographs - to evaluating autographs - to discussions of specific famous celebrity autographs
- Examples of real autographs you can study and compare for authenticity
- Information on, and links to, professional and amateur autograph associations and organizations
- Information on, and links to, authentication services
You can also submit your own articles, or links to other autograph sites, using the links to the left. (You must be registered to make submissions)
|
|
|
The Art of Authenticating Autographs |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Art of Authenticating Autographs
Distinguishing authentic autographs from those that are printed or forged can be a challenging feat, even for experts.
The pattern of the signature is one of the first things autograph experts consider when determining whether an autograph is real or not. Does the formation of letters match known examples? Are there any special identifying features of the signature such as a stylized paraph that may be associated with a particular persons autograph?
Because signature patterns can vary over time, the presence of a date with an autograph on a letter or document may provide important information for autograph analysis. Autographs can then be compared with known examples of that time.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Celebrity Autographed Checks |
|
|
|
|
Celebrity Autographed Checks
Autographs from celebrities have been collected for centuries. For many years the most common form an autograph available to collectors a letter, either handwritten or typed, a document, or on a photograph. Many autograph collectors prefer cancelled checks signed by celebrities.
Why are cancelled checks so attractive for autograph collectors? Checks signed by celebrities are desirable for many reasons. The primary reason is that signatures on cancelled checks are usually real. Unlike photographs, slips of paper, or index cards where a signature may be open to question, a cancelled check is a legal document where a signature has been authenticated by a financial institution. Forgers would not bother to forge a celebrity signature on a cancelled check because it is usually not a cost-effective method of deception. Besides, forgers of cancelled checks are subject to a variety of commerce laws where punishments can be quite severe.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Jacqueline Kennedy's Rare Autograph |
|
|
|
|
Jacqueline Kennedy's Rare Autograph
Jacqueline Kennedy’s rare autograph is one of the most coveted of American celebrities. Jacqueline was one of America’s most glamorous and famous first ladies.
Unlike many of her predecessors, Jacqueline almost never replied to autograph requests sent through the mail and almost always refused to sign autographs in person. As a result, truly authentic material with her autograph is scarce. Just like her first husband, Jacqueline relied on secretaries to sign correspondence for her and manufactured facsimile signatures by the use of autopens made famous by John Kennedy. Much of the Jacqueline’s autographed material has come from letters that she wrote family and friends. Many letters to family and friends were signed “Jackie” or simply “J”. After her marriage to Aristotle Onassis, Jacqueline signed her letters as “J.O.”
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Mechanical Autographs
Mechanical autographs are signatures constructed by artificial methods. Rubber stamps, robotic pens, and digital imprints are the most common examples of mechanical autographs. These items may have intrinsic value as mementos. However, collectors seeking true value need to be able to distinguish genuine autographs from those that are mass-produced by mechanical or electronic methods.
The robotic pen (also known as an autopen) affixes a signature on flat objects such as letters, cards, and photos. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first American president to use an autopen while president at Columbia University. John F. Kennedy was the first American president to use an autopen while holding office as U.S. president. The robotic pen is programmed to duplicate a person's real signature. Signatures constructed by robotic pens are easily recognized by the knowledgeable observer. Robotic pens may use a variety of writing utensils such as ink pen, felt tip, pencils, and crayons. The following features characterize ink pen signatures by robotic pens:
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
RSS Feed
