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Author
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Topic: Jack Swigert autograph on Apollo 13 cover
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garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 12-27-2011 09:18 AM
   
I would like the opinion on an Apollo 13 signed cover that I purchased from a respected dealer and fellow cS member. I had a few people tell me that they didn't feel comfortable with the Jack Swigert signature. I have checked all known autopen signature examples and couldn't find a match. Please give me your thoughts. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-27-2011 10:11 AM
You're right that this isn't a standard autopen form but I have seen it a couple of times before. Swigert normally shows two types of signature: the more common "flamboyant" style, with the crossing of the "t" flowing back either over or under the whole of the "Swigert", or a simpler version, which (still) invariably has the "Jack" and the "Swigert" conjoined, with a smaller crossing of the "t". The version you show is not consistent with either of these and whilst the "Jack" looks good, the "Swigert" has a few unusual features. I'm wondering whether this is another autopen style. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 12-27-2011 10:51 AM
Could there be the possibility of another autopen style that wasn't used as much? |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 12-28-2011 01:52 AM
There may be another autopen pattern for Swigert but I'd need to see at least one other matching example of this pattern to confirm it.Anyone have a match? |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-28-2011 09:07 AM
Shown here are three Jack Swigert autograph examples I received back in 1977-82 that are very similar to the Swigert example on the cover above.He apparently had two very different autograph styles and these show his more careful and less-common second style. I have slightly wondered about these more-carefully-applied Swigert signatures, but do feel after seeing so many of them that they are an authentic second style. The slower pen speed and them being more-carefully applied do give an appearance of an autopen. His two certain-genuine signatures on the back of my check I sent as a contribution to his campaign also closely match these second autograph styles.    |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-28-2011 11:52 AM
Thanks Bob. That certainly goes to prove that he was almost as inconsistent as Anders! My Apollo 13 crew litho even has "Swigett", with the first "t" amended!For me the biggest question mark is around the "r" which does not have the spike in any examples I have, yet it does appear in all the a/p versions on Chris's website. I did have an example matching the FDC (I think it was on a Newsweek magazine) but can't find it right now. |
yeknom-ecaps
Member Posts: 660
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-28-2011 01:09 PM
Bob - good examples and in all of yours there are variations in ink/pressure and "ink globs" where in the signature on the cover in question the autograph seems pretty even spread like an autopen. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-28-2011 04:36 PM
It does appear that questions remain concerning this second style or type of Swigert's signature and a possible autopen of it. Just to give the three Swigert autographs a history, the top autograph came from Washington, DC in 1977 and the middle autograph from Denver, CO in 1979, with the check signature in February 1982. |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 12-30-2011 04:40 PM
The cover was originally received through the mail by German collector Guenter Walter in the late/end 70s.I'm happy to give out his contact address, but it looks like a perfect sample obtained directly from Swigert in those days (if you look at Bob's sample you will also see the same pen used). |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-01-2012 12:04 PM
Here's another Jack Swigert autograph example of what can be called his second autograph style. This is from a color copy of an Apollo 13 crew signed cover and does show more of a natural look, with some tapering and variation of lines.  |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-03-2012 06:46 AM
Here are two more covers bearing that style: Hopefully that will end the discussion. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 01-03-2012 08:05 AM
Seems pretty clear that this is just another genuine signature that has a vaguely Autopen-like look to it.There are a number of astronauts whose signatures often had a drawn look to them, which is why some of the early Autopen lists showed half a dozen Autopen patterns for astronauts who in fact only had one or two actual AP patterns. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1745
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 01-03-2012 04:05 PM
If nothing else, this discussion has resulted in a better understanding of Jack Swigert's second autograph style and provided a resource of several of his less-familiar type 2 autographs for future reference. |
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