Posts: 3218
From: MA, USA
Registered: Sep 2002

Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 06-28-2012 11:07 PM               

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A recent episode of Pawn Stars featured an Elvis Presley signed contract. The seller wanted $20,000. The expert looked at the contract and determined that it is a copy and that the signature is also a copy. He said that the ink is identical for both. The contract was worthless.

Last year I discovered a signed Neil Armstrong program in my collection. I examined it with a strong magnifying glass for hours. I looked for any difference between the signature and the print on the program. I looked at the signature from every angle to see how the light reflects off the signature.

I also looked through the program from the back to see if the signature made an impression on the paper. Finally, I carefully felt the signature from the back of the program. I could feel the impression. The program stated that Neil Armstrong was scheduled to speak at this event. It was well before the days when Armstrong forgeries started after he stopped signing. I posted the signature here on collectSPACE and asked for their opinions. It was determined to be real. I hope to sell it this year.

Posts: 731
From: Upstate New York, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 06-29-2012 06:16 AM               

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On a glossy photo, it is usually easy to tell. A preprinted signature will be "part of the photo" whereas a real signature sits "on top" of the surface. Hold the photo at a sharp angle to a strong light. The real ink in a signature will reflect light differently and a preprint signature that is part of the photo will not.

On a porus surface where the ink "sinks in" it may be more difficult, but the same principle applies.

A good magnifying glass helps too.

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 06-29-2012 08:53 AM               

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Two thoughts:

Unless you have a very high resolution, wouldn't a copy be slightly fuzzy? Maybe not too noticeable, but enough to make you wonder, "Hmmm, that's not right."

Wouldn't a copy be also slightly smaller? Unless you are precise and use a rolling cutter, very few people cut exactly on the photo's border. Usually a line of some sort can be seen (granted, my experience is more with discerning counterfeit money.) To avoid that line, most people would cut a little bit in, "just to be sure."

Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 06-29-2012 08:25 PM               

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I don't think that the problem is about cutting a straight line as with counterfeit money. The problem here is discerning the difference between a printed page and an autograph on that page.

I presume that they are both in black ink. The printed page would have used different ink/toner than the autograph by a pen. You would need a strong magnifying glass, like the "Loop" used by jewelers. Ink from a pen should appear differently that toner. As I suggested above, you could also feel the back of the paper to see if you can "feel" the autograph impression.