Autograph Forgeries, Autograph Buying Tips
Before you check the autograph itself, Be on the look out for the obvious.
You may find sellers selling Monroe, Hepburn, and big name stars all in one go, also you may find a massive amount of autographs from stars who have just appeared on the scene in a new film just weeks sometimes days after the film has just come out! These are too good to be true items in most cases, most dealers who have their own private collections can take a life time to get Monroe items and other Hollywood Greats from years gone by, so an average seller has no chance! The price also gives this away as a fake or real signature.
Films like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc all have tons of stuff available some of it good some are fakes, because people will buy them, ask yourself, how did they get so many of them. When writing to any celebrity they usually answer with one autograph in most cases and won't sign 20 plus (unless signed for a charity or at a private signing session)! In person, the stars might sign a few if pushed but these stars only came to the UK once or twice to promote the film, if it sounds too risky don't bid!
Fakes can be spotted without checking the signature itself, Elvis signed in silver pen? Sadly he never saw one in his life these new pens are only recent and were not around in his day! Recently I saw a Humphrey Bogart on a brand new index card for a fiver! Someone bid on it! Come on! it would be an old picture, or old autograph book and worth a lot more! When buying autographs think of them like buying a car, if the car was an expensive type but for sale very cheap would you buy it? Yes but only if you knew who was selling it and where it had come from! It's the same with autographs. Some people get so carried away with autographs they pay more than they would for an average car without checking up first!
Certificates of authenticity can be written by anyone. Remember, a COA is only as valid as the reputation and experience of the person selling it! Also, be aware that a picture of the seller with the star signing the item does not necessarily mean that this is the time that they signed. The seller may have already sold that one and are now faking new ones!
In the mail autographs: Its worth pointing out that many USA stars who sign in the mail get many letters, and take years to come back, some are pre prints, or secretarial, In the UK some stars send out pre-prints others sign okay, some will never sign, it depends who they are and where they are, venues are better than agents in most cases!
Pre-prints: some stars sign one picture and it is printed over and over again, this is not a real signature, even coloured ink can be reproduced. By checking with identical pictures you will see the ink is matt & flat, will not smudge and if in the case of black marker pen will not come through the back of the picture. You have a fake.
Auto pens: normally found in the States but available in the UK a machine which holds a pen (even ones you send) and it reproduces the signature all done on computer, not by the star, most lines have wobbles, when they should not when seen close up.
Secretary: It legal for the stars to pay someone else to sign on their behalf while they are working bringing in the money! Even old stuff like Beatles signatures were copied by their manager, fan club staff and each other in some cases! Kate Beckinsale is one Uk star who uses a secretary and Liz Hurley is doubtful thanks to new reports, a fake update page is always available on www.acogb.co.uk
Rubber stamps: look for smudges. Roger Moore is a good one here, both large and small rubber stamps are used when gaining autographs in the mail from him, and lesser known stars also use them. This can be on your pictures you sent to the star to sign be aware.
How do you make sure its real?
Where possible, collect in person, save up go to London and the West End, theatres shows, events, collectors fairs, etc take a friend with a camera, get evidence pick up a flyer get it signed, newspaper cuttings etc all with details of the event are helpful for the signatures history and should be collected with any signatures you get and stored with them. Avoid trading unless you are happy with the person you are swapping with, and enjoy the hobby!
Keeping autographs: Slip in albums not sticky peel back holiday albums, never use tape or glue, the value drops as soon as any autograph is damaged, when framing use cardboard mount to stop signature sticking to glass, and hang away from sunlight.
