AUTOGRAPH INFORMATION

You want to know if that article signed by one of your beloved, famous all over the world, is true? Here are some tips to make sure the autograph is as authentic as it is upsetting. However, please note that this is only a guide and not a set of strict and effective rules. It takes years of experience to be able to distinguish the true from the false, so reading these simple directions will not make you an expert at once. In case of doubt, please consult UACC-certified sites qualified calligraphy experts specialized bodies.

1) Flip the autograph. The best way to compare a signature is to flip it. In this way, your mind does not read it and, therefore, you can look more objectively at the revealing clues and slight differences that can expose the false.

2) Beware of printed signatures. Forged autographs are often reproduced mechanically. Run your thumb over the signature, especially on the outline. If it is flat, then the autograph is likely to be a facsimile.
Alternatively, if you can feel the consistency of the ink on the top of the page, then know that it was added later, but may still have been printed or embossed. Also, note that this technique does not work on the fabrics of sports shirts, because they absorb ink without leaving a layer of relief.

3) Look carefully at the ink. Use a magnifying glass and look for visible clues.
With printed signatures, all the ink is applied at the same time and pressed to the edges of the rubber. Using a magnifying glass, you will be able to see if the ink is more on the edges of the lines than in the center. Look for autographs printed by machines that can give an artificially "smooth" effect. Check the color of the ink. If you have determined that the paper is likely to be authentic, look at the ink. If it is dark brown, like dried blood, it may have oxidized. Some old type of ink was composed with iron oxide. If it is a dark brown that fades on the yellow towards the edges, know that there were inks made of hard pasticcio dissolved in a mixture of water and egg yolk. But if so, it means that it is very old autograph. Any type of paper used for these inks will surely be velina, since nothing else existed at the time. If the name was written with a pen, the nib will surely have cut the wet ink producing tunnels and bridges, visible with the magnifying glass. However, autographs may have been duplicated with the autopenna: a machine that uses a mechanical arm to drag a pen along a plastic or metal signature pattern - or matrix. The next step will give you more insight.

4)Look for the telltale signs released by a machine. When you write your name, you sign yourself by making a continuous movement. Also, the pen moves before you start writing as you move around the page.
The autoenna, instead, goes down making a point and ends abruptly leaving another point. You can observe the tracks using a magnifying glass.
If the signature appears artificially "shaky", this effect may be due to vibrations of the autopenna device.
Look for straight lines reproduced by the machine - especially if they have been interrupted by its accidental rocking, because they can reveal where the car has slipped.
It looks for inconsistencies. Are the strokes hesitant? Do you think the pen is out of the paper? Some people do this, but it is the point where you interrupt the stroke that can tell if it is a fake.

5)Keep the autograph against the light.
If the signature ink seems too light or if it appears that the same pressure has been applied everywhere, then it is probably a fake. Another trick is to ask the celebrity to sign a negative of the photo and then play it - you will get a white signature. However, this technique was used well before digital photography and is not found in current images. If the color of the signature looks silver on the photo, then it is likely that it has been printed or perhaps they have simply used a silver ink!
If it is a torn paper, but the signature is A Lincoln, chances are it’s a fake.
Look for the lines of the blotting paper. These lines are made of flax or dehydrated vegetable fibers. Blotting paper was common in the 18th century.

6)Think of the quantities. A forger can produce 30 or 40 fake David Beckham autographs. But Beckham would never sign that many. In fact, he does not sign more than one at a time for fear of being sold. As a result, honest retailers probably don’t have more than one signature per month to sell.
Also remember that celebrities and other popular figures often sign an autograph to someone, intended for the use of the person named in the dedication.

7) Beware of private auctions or any privacy requests from the seller - it is often a ploy to hide the sale. In fact, there is no legitimate reason for the buyer to establish a privacy relationship with the buyer. A reliable seller will be able to guarantee the provenance of the signatures he sells along with the related documentation. An honest bargain should offer a lifetime guarantee. Moreover, reliable sellers have no problem telling their story, past business, giving references and expertise.

8) Think about how, when and why it was signed. If an autograph dated before 1960 was signed with a marker, then it is false. Markers did not exist before that date and therefore a signature from that period should have been written in pen ink.

9) Go to a reliable authentication source. Do not be discouraged, there are examples of documents mentioned before that are original. However, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to seek professional advice - and make sure that it is a reputable and reliable source.
In the past, authentication services were reliable, but some of them have been subjected to a rigorous examination in recent years. The PSA/DNA - JSA and other highly rated and famous companies for example, have been reported to have authenticated forged and printed signatures. Check out the many examples and news on the net.

10) Look also at the many companies that have emerged claiming to be competent in this field, but which show no evidence of their experience. These companies often only charge a small amount of money to authenticate a document that normally requires hours of checking by a real expert.
Also, don’t automatically trust a seller just because they show you their Autograph Collectors Club (UACC) membership or a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). UACC membership can be purchased and COA documents may be falsified by anyone with a computer. However, in order to become a certified agent of the UACC, you must offer references and be a member of the association for at least 3 years.

ADVICE 

Find a photo of the real signature and compare it to the one you own.
Often the forgeries were written by one person. They have the same measurements, spacings evenly distributed and sometimes the same way of proceeding.
The more signatures there are on an article, the more errors there are to be found. Put a sports shirt with 10 fake signatures of one team against another with 10 real signatures. It will be easy to recognize the fake ones.
The map of the historical period, as well as any other written present, can give important clues about the age of the autograph. The parchment was used from 1000 B.C. until the 19th century, without including archival documents. It has been replaced by wool, cotton or flax fibres.
Following the death of President Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy relied on the autoname to sign her responses to the thousands of letters of condolence she had received.
The best way to make sure a signature is authentic is to be present when it is written. When you write to a celebrity for his autograph, don’t assume that he will sign it himself. In many cases, an assistant will do it for you. The best way to prevent this from happening, unfortunately, is to stand there and testify that the signature was made directly by the person.
According to the great document expert and auctioneer, Wes Cowan, "Even the best experts can be deceived. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion" - Antiques Roadshow.
If an autograph looks like a good deal to us, then it probably won’t be true.