Spotting a Forgery: Authentication Fundamentals

Line quality

Genuine signatures are written with speed and confidence. Forgeries are often drawn slowly, showing shaky lines, blunt starts and stops, and inconsistent pressure.

Compare against verified exemplars

Always compare against multiple verified examples from the same period. Signatures change over a lifetime, and a signature that looks “perfect” for the wrong decade is a red flag.

Autopen and pre-prints

Autopen signatures show uniform pressure and identical shapes across examples. Pre-prints show no indentation and sit flat under angled light. A loupe and a strong light are the cheapest authentication tools you will ever buy.

Third-party authentication

For valuable pieces, use a respected third-party authenticator. A COA is only as trustworthy as the person or company that issued it.