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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on March 21, 2016 at 4:22pm

Authenticating autographs is as much art as science. A few tips I know. Store a file of known examples on your computer. Study those. Then look at every image you can out there and soon you will get a sense of what an authentic signature will look like. You will be able to spot tendencies and patterns associated with the signers style and habits. Once you think you are getting good, find one you think is authentic and ask here or someone you trust has the knowledge. When you start getting more positive responses you are well on your way of knowing a signer's genuine autograph.

One final thought. Nothing beats experience.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 21, 2016 at 5:24pm

Study, study, study.

Look at authentic examples of autographs every day.

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Permalink Reply by Null on March 22, 2016 at 6:19am

You need to build an exemplar folder full of 100% authentic examples, rushed examples, 100% forgeries, etc. Anything you can find, just be very careful and make sure it's authentic if you note it that way. If it's possible, note the year as well since most people's signature changes a lot over time.

As you are building this folder, your eyes will already be training themselves...

Just takes time.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on March 22, 2016 at 9:56am

The biggest mistake novices make is looking at "shape" only. Formation or shape is only one part of the authenticity equation. You need to also analyze speed, pressure, size, where the person tended to sign, what items they tended to sign or not sign, etc.

Even mediocre fakes can replicate the formation well enough to fool many collectors. However, to a trained eye, the fake will appear drawn, heavy, slow or have "too much thinking" in it.

Sometimes, with really skilled fakes, it's hard to put your finger on what is wrong with it, but you just know it looks "off" in a subtle, but concerning way.

There are no shortcuts. It all boils down to studying the autograph over time and learning how it should look and "feel."

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 22, 2016 at 2:39pm

Steve is correct.

It is NOT easy learning autographs.  

Patience, patience, patience.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on March 22, 2016 at 2:41pm

Just hang around the forum for a while and see what the more experienced collectors say about things.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 22, 2016 at 2:55pm

Now what Paul said? The absolutely best advice!  :)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 22, 2016 at 2:54pm

Steve gave you some of the best advice you can get.

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Permalink Reply by Samuel John Clifford on March 24, 2016 at 3:09am

Thank you guys, I appreciate all the help. I'm hoping I can get better at identifying genuine autographs and forgeries. I'll keep studying the autographs of people I'm a fan of.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Sarro on March 30, 2016 at 3:07pm

This was a great post. I have been studying the 500 home run club now for a couple years and I'm still far from perfect. I've actually got some help on a few items I've bought from a member here. I recently made a purchase and before I bought it I literally spent hours looking at every autograph one by one and comparing them to 100's of autographs that had been graded by JSA or PSA and after concluding that they would have had to be 11 perfect fakes I still asked for help from someone who knows more than me before pulling the trigger. It's a hard thing to learn but if you put the time in I think you can give yourself a really good idea before you make any purchases. 

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Permalink Reply by Robin McKay on May 4, 2016 at 12:37pm

You kind of get a good idea what is real based on examples posted. However, no signature is ever going to be the same all the time, hence the atypical signatures, making authentication that bit harder. 

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