posted 10-31-2003 01:13 AM               

People offer reproductions of authentically signed photos (particulary Armstrong, Apollo 11, but I've seen Glenn also already) on ebay. The problem is that there is NO way to say from a scan this is a reproduction, so unless the sellers states this clearly (and as you can imagine they don't do that often -so we are talking about some fraud already)
in his description you can end up easily with a copy of an authentic signature ! Some are so good, it's very hard to tell that they are part of the photo !

I'm not saying this is all fraud (some people simply can't spend $1000 for a Neil, so they settle with a good copy) - but this could be dangerous to new collectors. I mean there is a known preprint of Gagarin on ebay Germany at $82 now....

So my advice is :
1.) If you are buying from a general autograph dealer on ebay, check before you bid that this is an authentically signed photo and not a copy of one if you have doubts.
2.) All alert lights should ring when you see a low (too good to be true) Buy it Now price.
3.) Read the description VERY carefully !!!
Some folks hide the truth somewhere on the bottom, in the pic, in the title,so nobody can complain afterwards !!
4.) Buy from a known space dealer (sorry for the self-PR ) OR ASK ME IF YOU CAN'T READ THE GERMAN DESCRIPTION !!

You all have a great weekend !
Florian

posted 10-31-2003 05:35 AM               

Step 1 - scan Armstrong signed index card or other sig with plain white background.
Step 2 - define white as a 'transparent' colour for purposes of printing.
Step 3 - place signature at appropriate point in a blank 8x10 document.
Step 4 - insert NASA litho into printer tray.
Step 5 - press print.

I don't believe for one second you'd be fooled that it was a real sig if you held it in your hand, it'd just look printed. But yes, it would be very simple.