"The Unauthenticatables"

[jerseygary]

A great resource for finding signatures that are all-but-guaranteed to be authentic is on WWI draft registration cards. Everyone in the US including foreign citizens had to fill one out in 1917-18 if you were born between Sept 11, 1872 to Sept 12, 1900. You can access them at most libraries and on sites like ancestry.com

[Clutch-Hitter]

At first glance, the two Smith examples, the card and the book, look very similar.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Actually, the Smith exemplar used in that book is more likely an early version of the Frank Smith who pitched for the Reds in the 1950's. His signature very quickly became a nearly-illegible scrawl.

Frank "Piano Mover" Smith's signature bears no resemblence to either depicted in this thread. Unfortunately, the book in question ended up using a few exemplars which did not match up to actual examples, to which Smith apparently fell victim. Bob Groom was another, as confirmed by both his granddaughter and the few known examples in the hobby.

[milkit1]

Here is Lewis Richies draft card. The lewis isnt bad but the richie is a little different. The most suspicious letter being the r in richie. However, I like the Lewis so this might have a chance. Thanks for the advise regarding ancestory!


richie.jpg

[milkit1]

Here is frank smith. Not identical however its interesting that he signed it f. elmer which is consistent with him signing it f.e. Te Pryor Mcelveen sig is to new to match with ww1 as they are not even close.

frank smith.jpg

[milkit1]

I contacted a family member regarding Gus Dorner as his military record does not show up on ancestory. ill keep ya posted

[vintagecpa]

Wow, if you guys would have been on the Warren Commission, the "Grassy Knoll" and "Magic Bullet" wouldn't be household words. Very impressive research.

[milkit1]

I def. see resemblances in the SABR smith and the draft card smith that I don't see on the t206.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Put these together, hope you don't mind.......

[IMG][/IMG]