T O P I C R E V I E W |
michellebelle6 | Hi All! Just looking for some help appraising this picture of the Apollo 11 crew. My husband received this picture from his grandfather many years ago. A friend of his grandfather was an avid autograph collector and had this picture signed (from what we were told). I compared autopen signatures found online with the signatures on this picture and none of them seemed to be an exact match. Any tips, feedback, appraisal ideas would be greatly appreciated. Any suggestions on who we should contact? Thanks for the help!! |
J.L | Well... looks like classic autopens to me. |
Mike Dixon | Same here, but the "Edwin" and "NAA" patterns do look a little different from others I've seen. |
Michael1976 | Are you sure they are not poor forgeries with the forgery using the autopen signatures as a template? Look at how slow and shaky the Armstrong is... And how the S in Collins tails off. An autopen machine leaves a glob of ink at the end of the pen strokes as it picks up from the paper. |
michellebelle6 | Possible? I'm not sure at all. Is there a good person or company to contact to look over the signatures? |
Robert Pearlman | You could have Steve Zarelli at SpaceLOA.com look them over. All three signatures share close enough traits with the known autopen patterns that if they aren't the result of the operator disturbing the autopen machine while it was signing, then they appear to be the result of someone attempting to trace or copy a set of autopen signatures onto this piece (as suggested). |
michellebelle6 | Robert, thank you for the information! I will look into contacting Steve. I appreciate the help. Just curious to know more about it, either way! |
Lunar rock nut | It is autopen. I have one exactly like it. |
spaced out | At first glance these are all classic Autopens but on closer inspection there are some striking differences. Variations from the pattern produced by the paper moving under the Autopen machine can result in elements being displaced and sometimes slipping as they are being drawn but in this case some of the forms are quite different. For me the most clear cut example is the middle initial "E." in Edwin E. Aldrin. The Autopen pattern tracks up from the left then swoops back and down to form a zigzag "E" shape. On this signature however the E is formed like a mirrored "3" - very rounded and with a distinct loop in the center. I struggle to see how an Autopen machine could create this shape from the classic pattern. So I tend to agree with the idea that this was created by someone copying an Autopen signed piece. |
chet | I fully agree with Chris, this appears to be an attempt by someone to replicate the autopen signatures these "autographs" are based on. |
Lunar rock nut | Robert emailed me and asked for a scan to post. I recently bought a new laptop and multi function printer. I am unable to scan at this time. I did dig out the photo I mentioned and having not gazed upon it in several years was surprised to see it is different than the one pictured above. Mine is lacking the middle initial in Armstrong's signature and the initial E. in Aldrin's is more looped than mine. I am also inclined to believe that it is an attempt to replicate an autopenned photo. |