How can you tell if a signature is real or printed

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Posted By: Scott Mt. Joy

Hi, I just purchased a card that was said to be a Pirate Team issue of Clemente. When I saw the card for sell I just figured the sig was added later and was a fake, but looking at the card at high res I cant really tell, to me it looks like it might be printed on it. If the sig was printed on the card, I cant believe they used that cramped up sig for it, I would have though they would have had him sign till they got a nice copy. Just looking for what everyone thinks. Thanks-

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Posted By: Dave

I have used a jewelers loop and looked at auto's like that, if it is printed on you may see little dots that make up he auto. It has worked for me.
Thanks

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Posted By: Jimmy

try looking at something you know is real and then compare, and then use the info above to help you out as well

Jimmy

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Ballpoint pens leave an uneven indentation in the paper from the pressure of the pen, while felt tip pen ink usually has a different gloss than everything else. A felt tip can also have some indentation too. You see the gloss and indentations by holding the card at a sharp angle to a light like a desk lamp.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

That appears to be a pre-printed copy of a fountain pen original. Beautiful early-style signature variation (much like the pre-rookie sig that I sold you earlier this year).

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Posted By: davidcycleback

To me it looks like the card is a photograph of a signed photo. You can see the original ink flow. I had a similar Bobby Hull fan photo, with it being a photograph of a black marker signed photo. Even though I knew the signature was only in the photograph, it still looked realistic.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

David,

Exactly.

Jodi

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Posted By: D. Bergin

The signature ending right at the border is often a dead giveaway of it simply being a photo of a signed photo.

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Posted By: Scott Mt. Joy

Thanks for all the help everyone.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

Look at it under a strong magnifier and the difference between the printed areas and the sig will be apparent. Doesn't mean it's authentic, just that it is not preprinted.

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