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I am starting this in hopes people will add their real Andy Griffith autographs and the Linke "secretarial" ones for comparison.  Since the death of Andy Griffith I have noticed a growing appreciation of the man and actor.  He was much more than just "Andy Taylor" his range from comedy to drama was great.  I suspect his popularity will increase partly because of TCM showing some of his dramatic and comic performances. 

In this study if you scroll down the comments you will find links to Andy Griffith's four appearances as a "Mystery Guest" on the television game show What's My Line? in 1958, 1959,1965 and 1967.  There are captures of his signature as he signed in below also. 

With Andy Griffith autographs it is not so much the forgeries, since the value has not quite reached the level to make it worthwhile, but "secretarial" signatures that are the problem.  The "secretary" generally was Richard O. Linke a producer who worked with Griffith for many years.  It is hoped that people will submit genuine autographs from checks or other sources as well as any "fake" ones.  The more there is for comparison the better our understanding of the nuances in his signature.

For many years the "Linke" autographs were considered real much in the same way that the "Challton Heston" signatures were.  An old respected collector many years ago told me that most of the Andy Griffith autographs were suspect.  At that time it was assumed a secretary was signing.  Based on what my friend told me I never actually owned an Andy Griffith autograph until I bought checks on eBay a few years ago!  The work that Gary Wedemeyer and Frank Johnson are doing to educate people on the subject of the "Linke" autographs is very valuable.  Like most TAGS collectors they have a great passion for the subject.  I would like to thank them for their efforts.

The first is the signature of a very young Andy Griffith at age 18.  This comes from the World War II draft registration form that was signed by Andy Griffith.  I have never seen an earlier example of his signature although no doubt some exist.    The original is in the National Archives so in a way this is an Andy Griffith autograph that we all own!

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Personally I would not want it my collection. It has a couple features that are ok, but way too many that are not. The spacing of the letters is far different than I have seen. This autograph has to date 1990 at the earliest, and he was not signing that neat by then. Two years later I know his signature was far more shaky. It also is not Linke's version either. He did not like to sign TAGS stuff that well anyway so doubt it would have been in person. My opinion (PSA is only an opinion too) is that Mr. Griffith likely did not sign it.   Comparing with exemplars I have I am not comfortable with it.     What do you think?

Not good at all in my book. The "ith" in Griffith is no where near any authentic examples in my opinion. I just wonder what PSA/DNA is basing their opinion on.

I wish there was a way to know exactly when PSA and JSA etc authenticate items.  I bet this was done a while back.  I also doubt we will be seeing current COA or LOA's of the Linke version.  Like anyone else we learn over time and they are just opinions.  The entire spacing of "Griffith" is wrong in my book.

There is no image so am posting it here otherwise they tend to get lost.  Gary Wedemeyer provided this originally.

This is an authentic Andy signature from the late 50's on an original still from the movie "Onionhead"

Thanks for the response. Would you happen to have a nicely signed one (check) for 100 dollars?

I do have a couple on hand. Each comes with a nice 8x10 photo.

Attachments: No photo uploads here

Sent friend request, thank you.

The one thing I like about checks you are buying something the person actually owned and had in their possession.  So I think you will pleased going with the check.  

Sad thing is a check is almost the only thing we can buy and know it is legit. I personally am not a big check fan/collector as it really isn't something personal. But if it is all you can own that you know is real then have at it.

I am not one to frame things so I love documents, letters and receipts that many collectors sometimes pass over for cards, photos or album pages.  I collect all of those also but if given a choice I always take the document or letter first.  Andy Griffith checks used to be on eBay all the time now they are few and far between unless grossly overpriced.  When I do collect album, pages, cards unlike most collectors I love inscriptions the more of the persons writing I can get the better.

There are some authentic photos out there. Just few and far between.

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