How To Avoid Buying Fake Autographs

Whether you are collecting for yourself or just hoping to find a gift for someone special in your life, you are already aware that autographs can be a great way to preserve wonderful memories and own a small piece of living history. You probably also know that the autograph market is full of fakes, and that if you don’t want to be taken in, that you do need to take precautions! Nothing is more disappointing than realizing that you’ve spent money on a false autograph, so take a few steps to make sure that you don’t get cheated.

The first thing that you should look at is the seller’s record. If you’re buying off of eBay, remember to check their feedback. How long have they been in the business? Do they have a good reputation? Do a quick Google search on the vendor’s name and see if you can find any information on them.

If the vendor is willing to offer you a Certificate of Authenticity, this is a good thing, but these themselves can be fakes. More importantly, find out if they are willing to offer you a refund if you are not completely satisfied with the product. This is an option that all reputable dealers will offer to you. Similarly, don’t purchase an autograph without at least seeing a close-up of the signature in question.

To make sure that you don’t trick yourself, read the description carefully. Make sure that you are not buying a preprint, a reprint, a secretarial signature, a stamp or a product made with an autopen. Autopen autographs are often put forward as the real thing, especially by vendors who may not have done their research. To identify an autopen autograph, look for writing that seems to be shaky or have sudden stops in it. A preprint autograph, on the other hand, is an autograph that is essentially part of the picture. The signature will appear to be under the gloss or finish of the paper or card. To see if an autograph is preprinted, hold the card up to the light and see if light reflects off of the signature the same way that it does the rest of the surface. If the light is evenly reflected, this means that the signature has been preprinted.

One of the best things you can do when you are hoping to collect an elusive autograph is to take a look at real examples of the autograph of the person in question. While no one’s signature remains exactly the same from signing to signing, you’ll find that there are probably enough similarities to help you weed out the worst of the fakes.

Autograph collecting can be a wonderfully enjoyable hobby, and there are plenty of honest vendors out there who will give you exactly what you are looking for. Do be careful, however, and remember that a little bit of vigilance and care can go a long way!