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”