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  111998827590: Neil Armstrong signed guest check

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Author Topic:   111998827590: Neil Armstrong signed guest check
fredtrav
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Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 05-21-2016 10:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just saw this Neil Armstrong signed guest check on eBay. To me it looks terrible, but it has a JSA authentication letter.

Just curious what others think. Not going to buy it anyway, just thought it was very bad.

randy
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Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 05-21-2016 12:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Terrible!

JasonIUP
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Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 05-21-2016 12:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Neil" looks okay, and, at a glance, the rest looks pretty close to the checks he signed. Spence probably got this one right.

jonspace
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Posts: 169
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Registered: Jan 2014

posted 05-21-2016 05:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jonspace   Click Here to Email jonspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Really? Can you post some examples of correct ones that look like this? I'm not being facetious, I'm genuinely curious because I've never seen a Neil autograph like this.

JasonIUP
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Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 05-21-2016 06:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One way to do it is to search RR's past auctions for "Neil Armstrong." Then, organize the results by format; look on the second page for checks.

stsmithva
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Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-21-2016 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It does look like the form of his signature he used on checks. But I'd be very surprised if he used that form for a quick autograph. He never did that.

fredtrav
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Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 05-21-2016 06:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you do a simple google search of Neil Armstrong signed check, then look at the images, none are even close.

stsmithva
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Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-21-2016 06:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think someone saw images of an Armstrong check (or something else with that more official form) and forged it as a quick autograph. We've seen something similar before: Apollo 11 items that were "signed" with the style he used in his X-15/just selected for Group 2 days of the early 60's.

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

posted 05-22-2016 01:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Steve Zarelli   Click Here to Email Steve Zarelli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is an unusual example in that it features the "autographing" style "Neil," yet a formal signature style script last name. Armstrong used the formal style throughout his life on business documents, checks, delivery receipts, flight logs, etc.

Note that the entire signature was signed smoothly and quickly with no signs of hesitation. You can see light "trails" where the pencil moved quickly from one section of the autograph to the next. Further, the last name is one continuous line with no breaks. Do you know how difficult it would be to smoothly forge a continuous full name Armstrong and have it look perfect? Only an extremely skilled forger could accomplish this. By the way... the "Neil" looks perfect.

The pressure points and subtle traits throughout scream "authentic."

So, looking at the whole picture, you would have to believe an extremely skilled forger is plying his trade on a single stained restaurant receipt (when he could be doing signed photos and making a mint), or it is authentic.

In full disclosure, JSA sent this to me for my opinion in 2012 when it was submitted. My opinion now is the same as it was then - I think it's authentic and I'd be shocked if it wasn't.

The questioned receipt is on the top, verified exemplars are below.

fredtrav
Member

Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010

posted 05-22-2016 04:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fredtrav   Click Here to Email fredtrav     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Steve. It is very unusual as you say in that it has his typical Neil when signing autographs as his first name while using his more formal style for checks for the last name. Can not figure out why he would change styles in the middle of writing on a restaurant check.But if you say it is genuine, it is good enough for me.

Wehaveliftoff
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Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 05-26-2016 06:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Wehaveliftoff     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It doesn't say how much the "bar tab" was. Truly wonder how much, and way back then Neil having a "freebie" just doesn't sound like the reputation so many admirers try and paint a picture of him through the years.

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