Honus Wagner's auto
 

I understand occasional discrepancies in a signature. Or even two different ways of signing (GH Ruth/Babe Ruth, Tyrus/Ty, etc), but what I don't get is the variation in Wagners signature. Any insight on this? Some look very formal and loopy, while some look like a child did them. Not questioning any specific authenticity, but how can you authenticate ANY of them when there is so much variance?

I understand that you can look for one or two specific things (slant of the W or the way the o connects, for example), but still...

http://www.auctionscc.com/site/aucti...0803/lg/3a.jpg

http://www.joedawolf.com/images3/3349.jpg

http://p2.la-img.com/213/1670/716370_1_l.jpg

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/L...301d4_med.jpeg

http://www.collectauctions.com/LotIm...C_9204_lg.jpeg

Three of them are good, with the possible exceptions of the second and third ones, which would require some time to study.
When he was young he signed his name like in the first example, he apparently loved the flourishes.
As he aged his signature changed.
It is not atypical for older people to make their signatures smaller and easier to write. He might have had arthritic fingers.

If I was in the market for one, it is one case where I would absolutely HAVE to have a TPA or someone like Richard or Chris give it the OK. I'd have no idea what to look for. FYI, those are just a few examples I pulled from Google images.

Also, sometimes (even on the later signatures) he make the H with one short side, sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes the letters are close, sometimes they're spread out, and it doesn't appear this is done to fit the paper.

richard,

one thing i've noticed with wagner's sig is the "n" in wagner is very distinctive...it looks more like a "u". is this always the case throughout his life?

The first name 'n' looks like an 'n' while the last name 'n' looks like a 'u'. Except for the baseball shown here where the last 'n' looks like an 'n'.

Enclosed is a Wagner signature that was part of an autograph book circa 1934
to 1935. The Dean signature was traced over by the person who obtained the
signatures ( over 220 ). Thank goodness he only traced over the Dean and
Johnny Allen ( not on this particular sheet ).

Pretty much true.
Here are another young man and old man exemplars.