Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tony Lando on August 3, 2011 at 4:00pm

I would not buy it. it is probably an autopen signature. very shaky.

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Permalink Reply by Herman Darvick on August 3, 2011 at 7:20pm

It's an Autopen signature. This pattern can be found as the second signature in the first column at http://www.geocities.com/~sbeck/ap-reagan.htm as signed on one line "Ronald Reagan" - not "Ronald" on one line and "Reagan" on the next line. It would appear that when the state employee operating the Autopen machine realized that the signature was going to be too close to the California state seal, the paper was moved.  The "Ronald" and the "Reagan" superimpose exactly on the Autopen "Ronald Reagan" pattern illustrated in Stephen Beck's Autopen Library (above link).

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 3, 2011 at 10:30pm

Herman, 

Do you have time to work on putting together a list of presidential online Autopen, secretarial and preprint resources? Or at least a list of what you have?

Thanks,

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Herman Darvick on August 4, 2011 at 2:55am

Stephen Beck's Autopen Library displays Autopens from Eisenhower to G. W. Bush and Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts at http://www.geocities.com/~sbeck/ - not all Autopen patterns of these Presidents and astronauts, but many of them.

 

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 4, 2011 at 10:04am

Thank you, Herman!

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Permalink Reply by john reznikoff on August 3, 2011 at 8:14pm

That is interesting. There must be other examples of this two line auto pen.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Oliver on August 3, 2011 at 11:12pm

Thanks everyone!

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Permalink Reply by john reznikoff on August 4, 2011 at 7:54am

There are several that are not on this site, like the recently discovered "Dutch" signatures. The site is a great reference though.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Taggert on August 9, 2011 at 11:33am

Hello. I, too, found a letter typed on White House stationary with the signature of Ronald Reagan. The stationary is not white, it's somewhat beige. This letter served as the Foreword to a booklet. But I can't tell if it is auto-pen or real. The only auto-pen signature that looks close is on that geocities link mentioned by Herman; it kind of looks like the RR on the right column, second row. Anyone know for sure? I just want to sell it to a "good home" but don't want to waste money for authentication process if it's going to come back as auto-pen. I attached a file -- hope it comes up. Thanks for your help. Mac

Attachments: No photo uploads here

• ReaganLetter001b.jpg, 145 KB

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Permalink Reply by Herman Darvick on August 9, 2011 at 12:56pm

You're right, Mac. It's the pattern illustrated in the right column, second row. Signatures signed with the same Autopen pattern do not have to be identical. Sometimes, ink fills up openings in signatures like the "a" in "Ronald " and the "a" in "Reagan." It depends on the pen used. Sometimes the pen is not tightly clamped, and the signature seems a little longer in parts. But the individual letters are formed similarly and many times sections of signatures of the same pattern superimpose. Have you seen the University Archives video "Authenticating Ronald Reagan"  http://youtu.be/3oxwajVb9E4  Your Autopen signature is in the video as well as the new recently discovered "Dutch" Auopen signatures mentioned by John above.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Taggert on August 9, 2011 at 2:52pm

My gosh -- I am very impressed with your knowledge and willingness to share it! Many thanks for saving me some (and maybe another collector) some embarassment. I'm so glad I found this site! Best Regards, Mac

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