Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label autopen

Autopen: A Fake Autograph

Celebrities have many different options when autographing memorabilia; the act of physically signing an object is fading into extinction. This trend is creating a difficult environment for collectors to find a "real" autograph. When receiving autographs by mail or other exchanges, it is important to verify that the signature was done by the actual celebrity. Celebrities who opt to use an alternate method for autographs, most commonly use the "autopen" approach. Autopen refers to a machine that can duplicate a signature many times. A signature is copied onto a template and is then inserted into a machine. The machine can be used to print the signature onto any photograph or memorabilia. The way to tell when an autopen was used is if the ink has a lack of natural flow, the signature is shaky or there are inconsistent ink blotches. The blotches are a result of the marker in the autopen machine coming to an abrupt halt at the end and resting in one spot before b...