Autographed Merchandise: Genuine Vs Fraud

If you have ever bought an autograph then you probably have thought once or twice that it might be a fake. Only those who get the autograph from the celebrity themselves know if it is genuine. Many people have bought autographed merchandise with no real proof that it was genuine therefore it may be a fraud. This article can help you understand what a fraud is and how to avoid them.

How the Fraud is Made

The 'Autopen' is one of the most used simulating devices. It is a tool that can mimic any signature in the world. It is used on a lot of merchandise to appear as though it was freshly autographed. So, the question is how can you tell that the autograph is a simulated scribble? Well, there are a few ways.

One, the Autopens shake because of the motor so any signature that has a slight variation when it should usually be a smooth stroke is the product of the machine. Two, take a couple of other hand written pieces of autographed merchandise and compare it. The Autopen is exactly the same all the time without fail; a real person will sign their name slightly different depending on different circumstance every time. Three, when a person signs their name the various lines have different thickness. A machine creates a specific and equal thickness and pressure all the way through the signature. Four, there will usually be a tiny dot where the machine touches the paper before raising and starting the autograph.

Before this invention was the rubber stamp. This will be easy to spot. The ink is usually uneven throughout the name, it tends to smudge, and there are no indentations which every hand stroke makes when signing something.

Photocopies are another fraud to watch out for. They may appear to be genuine but they are far from it. Black and white autographed photos are famous for this type of fraud. A celebrity signs it once and then copies are run using grade-A photo paper. There is one way to determine if you have a photo fraud. Hold it up to a light and tilt it while examining the signature. If it appears flat and apart of the picture then it is a fraud, if it shines and reflects the light then you have a genuine autographed item.

Ghost signatures are also very common among the autographed merchandise floating around these days. Celebrities often as friends to duplicate their signature to 'help out'. You can usually tell if it is ones of these types of fraud autographs. First, it won't match at all to their real signature or it will appear shaky as if the person wrote it very slow and carefully trying hard to make it look identical.

How to Authenticate Autographed Merchandise

The only way to authenticate autographed merchandise is one of two ways. One- witness it for yourself. Two- buy from a reputable seller that has certificates of authenticity (COA). COA's are easy to fraud as well. Only deal with those that have a reputation to protect and have been in the business for many years.

One way to make sure that your COA is real: ALL real, reputable sellers of autographed merchandise will offer you a lifetime guarantee. You are probably wondering why and that is very simple to answer. New ways to fraud people with autographs are always coming to light. If you had a 30, 60, or 90 day money back guarantee then it may be years before you know that you have a fraud. What good is that to you? If there is a lifetime guarantee that means the company is staking everything upon that quality for your sake. That is a company you can trust.

Autographed Merchandise and the Terminology

When buying or selling autographed merchandise you must know the acronyms and abbreviations that describe key issues that you will be dealing with. Below you can find all you need to know when dealing in this hobby.

ADS-autographed document signed

ALS-autographed letter signed

ANS-autographed note signed

AQS- autographed quotation signed

CISP- color inscribed signed photo

I- inscribed

ISP-inscribed signed photo

TLS-typed letter signed

UACC- Universal Autograph Collector's Club

PP- preprint

Requesting Autographed Pictures

The best thing you can do is to request the autographed merchandise yourself. This can be successful two ways.

One, keep up on current appearances and try to get it in person. This is always good because you actually get to witness the signing first hand.

Two, simply write a letter to the celebrity and request a autographed photo. This is one of the most common ways to obtain an autographed picture of your favorite star and usually they do it but there are some celebs that refuse to sign things unless they have to making most of their autographs frauds.

Remember to keep your letter short and NEVER mention that you collect autographs of any kind.