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  Opinion on Ed White "machine stamped" cover

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Author Topic:   Opinion on Ed White "machine stamped" cover
RockyMnWay
Member

Posts: 106
From: Westminster, CO, USA
Registered: Jul 2011

posted 10-19-2015 03:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for RockyMnWay   Click Here to Email RockyMnWay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently acquired this 1965 GT-4 cover signed by Jim McDivitt and a "machine stamped" signature of Edward White. What are your opinions of the Ed White signature?

It doesn't look like an autopen or any exemplars I've seen. Not sure what "machine stamped" means. Your opinions on the signature are very much appreciated.

micropooz
Member

Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 10-19-2015 04:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for micropooz   Click Here to Email micropooz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Machine stamped" is likely a misnomer for "machine canceled." Machine canceled is not a bad thing, just the way the cover was postmarked — by machine as opposed to a hand-cancel. Don't let the "machine stamped" notation affect your judgment. Not a factor on a crew-autographed cover.

The real question is whether the White autograph is real, and I am not qualified to judge that. But I'm sure someone more qualified on this forum will give you a read on that.

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 10-19-2015 06:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Ed White signature bears very little resemblance to the real thing. White's signature was always well written and flowed nicely. On this one, the signer couldn't even get the orientation of the "W" correct.

In my opinion, someone picked up a signed McDivitt cover and added a White forgery, in an attempt to significantly increase the value of the cover.

RockyMnWay
Member

Posts: 106
From: Westminster, CO, USA
Registered: Jul 2011

posted 10-24-2015 10:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for RockyMnWay   Click Here to Email RockyMnWay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank your for the information and your opinions. The auction house I acquired this through never claimed it to be real. They described it as "machine-stamped". I didn't think it was an attempted forgery. Im not sure what they meant by the signature being "machine-stamped". It doesn't look like an auto pen and one expert I asked thought it looked real although atypical. All opinions are welcome.

Steve Zarelli
Member

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

posted 10-25-2015 06:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree with Mark. There is no doubt this is a poorly executed fake. Formation, pressure, flow... everything about it is wrong.

RockyMnWay
Member

Posts: 106
From: Westminster, CO, USA
Registered: Jul 2011

posted 10-25-2015 12:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for RockyMnWay   Click Here to Email RockyMnWay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Mark and Steve. I value your expertise. Luckily I didn't pay too much. As I knew it wasn't an authentic signature, I never heard the term machine stamped refer to a signature. As it doesn't looked "stamped" and apparently just a forgery. Lessons learned.

All times are CT (US)

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