How can you determine if the signatures on a collectible
stock certificate are authentic autographs?
First, there's good news. Scripophily (the collecting of
antique stock certificates and bonds) does not generally
have the rampant forgery or mechanized signature issues of
some other collectible fields (e.g., signed sports
collectibles).
The question to be answered is whether the signature was
hand signed rather printed or stamped. An expensive paper
and ink chemical analysis is seldom needed. The following
can help in determining originality:
1. The older the document is, the more likely it was hand
signed. In fact, in the 1800's, a personal and artful
signature was the norm.
2. Certificates normally have multiple signatures
(President, Secretary, Transfer Agent, owner, witness,
etc.). The signatures and any notations should be in
different handwriting for each person and, often, different
colorations and applications of ink or pencil.
3. Research the document using books and dealers' or
hobbyist's websites (such as coxrail.com for railroads).
You may find authentication comments or images you can
compare with your document.
4. If you have more than one certificate or image for
comparison, look for small variations ' that's good. If
the signatures would match exactly if overlaid, they're
probably reproduced.
5. Since older certificates are often on thinner paper, an
original signature may appear darker than the printed
portions of the certificate when it is viewed from the back.
6. Sometimes a pen signature will have left a very slight
depression in the paper which can be seen from the front or
back when held at an angle to a light.
7. If the placement of the signature is contrary to the
layout of the print, e.g., it covers part of the design
instead of being perfectly placed, that may indicate
originality (though not always).
8. Early signature ink sometimes "bled" slightly out into
the paper from the written lines. You may be able to see
this with a magnifier.
A couple of important final points to remember: Firstly, it
is possible to prove an autograph is not authentic, but it
is impossible it prove it is authentic. Every statement of
authenticity about a signature (be it Marilyn Monroe,
Michael Jordan or George Washington) is a statement of
informed (we hope) opinion.
The only way to be 100% sure is if you personally watched
the person sign your item and then kept the item in your
possession. That seldom is an option and never is for
antique items. Secondly, because of the first point, you
should always purchase collectible items from reputable
dealers who offer a reasonable return policy. You should
be happy with what you acquire.
Whether you even care about the signature is completely up
to you, of course, but it can be one of the research paths
that lead to a sense of discovery as you explore the
historical background and personal stories behind your
latest stock certificate acquisition.
----------------------------------------------------
Larry Crain is a collector, author and dealer in
Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates).
Visit http://www.realstockcertificates.com/ for images,
values, more articles and research tools for old stock
certificates. Visit
http://www.realstockhistories.blogspot.com/ to research old
company and industry historical information.
No comments:
Post a Comment