Is Your Autograph Authentic?

Glossary

The following acronyms are the most used in the listings of sellers of autographs, autograph auction houses and book dealers specializing in signed books. This list is expanded and brought up to date. (2024)

AA:         Academy Award

ADS:      Autograph Document Signed

ALS:       Autograph Letter Signed

ANS:      Autograph Note Signed

AQS:      Autograph Quote Signed

AMS:       Autograph Manuscript Signed, all in the hand of the author

AMQS:    Autograph Musical Quotation Signed

BCS:       Business Card Signed

BES:        Bank Endorsement Signed, signed o the back of a check

BKBL:     Book Plate

B/W:       Black and White

CDS:      Usually, a circular ink mark stamped on a FDC, indicates the date it was processed

CDV:      Carte de Visite Photograph

CHK:      Check

CIS:        Crack in Sidewalk, assume the chance of possibly being spurious

D:            Died

DOB:      Date of Birth

DJ:         Dust Jacket

DS:         Document Signed

ED:         Edition

ES:         Endorsement signed, usually found on the back of early documents

EXM:      Executive Mansion

F:            Fine condition

FACS:    Facsimile

FDC:      First Day Cover

FF:          Free Frank

FOL:       Folio, 12x16”

FOX:       Foxing, aging of item, discoloration

G:            Good condition

GC:         Great content

HOF:       Hall of Fame

IB:           Ink Burn, hole in a document caused by excess of acidic ink

IL:            Illustrated

INSC:      Inscribed, usually to an individual

INTL:       International

IP:            Signature obtained in person

LOF:        Leap Of Faith, stretching the genuineness, not properly authenticated

LTD:        Limited

LS:           Letter Signed

M:            Mint Condition

MOC:      Member of Congress

MOH:      Medal of Honor

MS:         Manuscript Signed, body of item by a secretary of typed

MT:          Mounting Traces, hinge marks, spots on verso, evidence of prior framing

MTD:       Item Affixed to Something Else

ND:          No Date

NP:          No Place

NY:          No Year

OB:          Oblong

OP:          Out of Print

OW:          Otherwise

PG:           Page

PP:            Pages    

PROV:       Provenance, Historic Background, Previous Ownership

SB:             Book Signed by the Author

SIG:           Cut Signature standing alone

SL:             Sleeper, Usually a Valuable/Rare Autograph Overlooked

SP:             Signed Photograph

TLS:           Typed Letter signed 

VERSO:     The Back of a Printed Sheet or Photograph

VELLUM:    Durable Paper Usually Made from Lamb Skin or Calf Skin

VG:              Very Good Condition

VOL:            One Volume                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

WD:              War Date 

WF:               Weak Folds

WHC:           White House or The White House Card

Wm:              Watermark

YR:                Year                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

4TO:              Quarto, 8”x12”

8VO:             Octavo: 6”x8”

Bill Clinton – Two NEW Autopen Discoveries

Since the publishing of the Official Presidents of the United States AUTOPEN GUIDE in 2009 by Stephen Koschal and Andreas Wiemer, two new AUTOPEN signatures of Bill Clinton have been discovered.

Autopen #25, two illustrations below.

Below are three examples of Autopen #26.

An example of each can be filed after page 73 in the AUTOPEN GUIDE.

Copies of the AUTOPEN GUIDE are available and can be ordered at  skoschal.com   $15.00 each + $3.00 shipping.

Charlton Heston - Heavily forged and secretarial signatures 

in July 2020 a most interesting article was written in USA Complaints PSA DNA Authentication Services, etc.

Names were dropped all over the place. Names easily recognizable to anyone in the autograph hobby.  It is said listing the names that the group fronts an organized crime organization, made up of high profile dealers.

After  nine devastating lines the complaint continues: “…..To show how much harm they are inflicting into this hobby, they had a meeting to discuss the low value of Charlton Heston autographs.  Most collectors do not see this as a crisis, but this group sees it as an emergency situation. ‘We Must Make Every Autograph Lucrative And Profitable To Our Industry’ states …….(name withheld here).   The low value of Heston autographs is no reflection of the successful acting career of Charlton Heston, but rather the vast number of items this man signed willingly.  Charlton Heston NEVER employed a secretary to sign autographs.  Recently a study was released by the motley crew of ….., ….. ,…..(two high profile names in the hobby) and other high profile autograph lords to render all real Heston Autograph to be (wrongly) and have them labeled as secretarial, while showing examples of the Real Heston Autographs  (name withheld) forgeries) to be the so-called real ones.  The (name withheld) forgeries have a taller ……. and less wiggles.  Charlton Heston prided himself for signing all requests PERSONALLY and never fooling fans with secretarial . These idiots are tarnishing Mr. Heston’s good name. Reputation, and his memory in the name of power, wealth and greed.

I have a problem with some things said above.

(1). The vast number of items this man signed willingly.  Not true. Some members of PADAH did a lengthy study on the availability of Heston Autographs.  It was easily discovered that genuine signed photographs can be considered quite scarce.  A trip to eBay found 69 signed photographs of Charlton Heston autographs, many with COA’s.  several were described as SCARCE and RARE. To be accurate, out of the 69 signed photographs only 7 were genuinely signed.

(2) Charlton Heston NEVER employed a secretary. NOT TRUE. Most non genuine signed photographs on eBay were either secretarial signed or the signatures were fairly poor forgeries. The source of the forgeries was a person connected with a  high profile  autograph auction house.

The following illustrations are just a sample of what can be found on eBay.

• A color photograph of Heston bearing a non genuine signature with a COA from Beckett.

• A color photo of Heston with a non genuine signature with a COA from JSA.

           A B&W photo correctly described as secretarial.

       A scarce photograph with a genuine inscription signed by Heston. Courtesy of Todd Mueller Autographs.

• A document that bears a genuine signature of Charlton Heston.

           Six signed photographs, each bearing a non-genuine autograph of Charlton Heston. Sold by RR Auction for $371 was lot # 1071.

• On eBay offered is a signed letter together with a signed photograph. ONLY ONE HAS A GENUINE SIGNATURE. Obviously the seller cannot tell the very obvious differenceS.

 What exemplars was used to do a study on Heston autographs?  A few notable members of PADAH (Preferred Autograph Dealers and Auction Houses) utilized dozens of actual signed photographs (not copies) from the Stephen Koschal Reference Library which is now housed at PADAH.  See samples below.

On purpose, we are not explaining how to tell the difference between a genuine signature or a secretarial and even a forged example. However we are available and ready to teach those who claim to be autograph authenticators on how to discover the difference.  WE ENCOURAGE THEIR INTEREST. PADAH is the only autograph club that can offer this type of service. Support the 70 plus professional members.

Randy Gerstenberger is a sad self proclaimed autograph dealer who is frauding the entire autograph industry.  He bought nothing but genuine autographs from several dealers, went to a show or mailed them in to some kid at a TPA who stated he couldn't authenticate them, as he likely didn't even know who the celebrities even are.  Not the smartest dealer at all, Randy believes some kid as Randy cannot authentic anything, not even Phyllis Diller.  He does chargebacks, returns a few items and then claims he wasn't refunded after doing charge backs  He's on the spectrum and is more trouble than it's worth.  When sellers know he's wrong and the items are from publicized signings he sells them anyway on ebay as Randy has morals equal to a snake.  He then goes on rag sites like Reddit to slander those he buys from under fake names slandering them and calling them all sorts of names.  He has no clue what he sells, cannot authenticate a paper sack and is a really bad guy.  Beware.  This guy is a criminal and will rob you over a couple of bucks.

Gerhard T' Hooft (1946-  ) Dutch physicist who shared the 1999 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Photo on the right is in the files of the "PADAH" (Professional Autograph Dealers and Auction House Library.)

Photograph on the left, recently purchased on eBay by a collector. Seller is advised his photo has been signed by the autopen machine. Seller responds all the ways to detect how the signature in gold ink on his photo is genuine.  The seller holds the position the signature is genuine.  The seller also advises that the buyer go to an autograph expert they recommend.  The seller, on ebay, states they do not sell non-genuine autographs, including those signed by the autopen machine.  

We refer to the signature of Elvis Presley in the earlier article  on The Autograph Planet. Let me assure you, this signature can and most likely will turn the collecting of rock and roll autographs upside down. Don't take this statement lightly.  It is my personal opinion that this signature and others may hit the tablids and news stations with a thunderous bang.

The owner of the signatures came to my office. He is almost finished writing a book, has a publisher, and it is due to be published in the spring of 2023, It has been two weeks since our two hour and a half conversation and I am still in shock!  The interview was so believeable I had to have a witness to the conversation. This man was in a position to be able to say the convincing things he had said.

Believe me, if you own something signed by Elvis Presley, don't part with it.

The following illustrated signature is said to be written by Elvis Presley.  It is a signatue which is part of a return address on an envelope.  Ther are important reasons, shocking to be learned, which will be spoken about later.   The staining on the signature is from water. Should we get several responses to this signature, more infomation about it will be posted later.  ALL ARE VERY WELCOME TO RESPOND. The Autograph Planet is an educational site. Let's share our knowledge.