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  Help appraising Apollo 11 autographed photo

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Author Topic:   Help appraising Apollo 11 autographed photo
michellebelle6
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posted 04-06-2014 07:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for michellebelle6   Click Here to Email michellebelle6     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
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posted 04-06-2014 10:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for J.L   Click Here to Email J.L     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well... looks like classic autopens to me.

Mike Dixon
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posted 04-06-2014 11:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Same here, but the "Edwin" and "NAA" patterns do look a little different from others I've seen.

Michael1976
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From: Chandler, AZ 85249
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posted 04-07-2014 12:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Michael1976   Click Here to Email Michael1976     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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posted 04-07-2014 12:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for michellebelle6   Click Here to Email michellebelle6     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Possible? I'm not sure at all. Is there a good person or company to contact to look over the signatures?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 04-07-2014 12:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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posted 04-07-2014 01:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for michellebelle6   Click Here to Email michellebelle6     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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posted 04-07-2014 01:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lunar rock nut   Click Here to Email Lunar rock nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It is autopen. I have one exactly like it.

spaced out
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posted 04-07-2014 04:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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posted 04-07-2014 05:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for chet   Click Here to Email chet     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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
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posted 04-10-2014 11:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lunar rock nut   Click Here to Email Lunar rock nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

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