Autopen question

smtjoy · #1 05-05-2009, 09:37 PM

Hi all I know not really the right forum but I just feel more autograph people check here who might help me out. I got this card as an insert in 1991 and always felt it was a good auto as certified by the NFL but I see someone on ebay saying it is an autopen. My understanding of autopens was that a- they are always exactly the same and b-they always applied the same pressure. I did find two other of these and the autos are close but seem to be different in tiny ways. Also RIP to a heck of a player and career.

Here is the card, any help would be great and thanks in advance.

MGHPro · #2 05-05-2009, 11:14 PM

Doesn't look like autopen to me. I'm sure others will chime in.
Matt

HOFAUTOS · #3 05-06-2009, 03:43 AM

I remember hearing years ago from collectors of this set that Kemp indeed use an autopen. I wouldn't be suprised if he signed some of them himself, but I know he did use an autopen on a lot of them.

justmike · #4 05-06-2009, 07:09 AM

Troy Aikman used an autopen for that set also.It isn't unheard of.I will say that does not look like a usual autopen sig.My best advice is to find other copies of the same card and see if they are identical.
Mike

drc · #5 05-06-2009, 11:43 AM

If it's an autopen, other ProLine Kemps would have the identical signature. I'd also heard the certified Kemp ProLines were autopen, though I don't know if that meant all them were. I believe there are the regular unsigned versions of the card one could get signed in person, though I assume the embossed stamp in your pic indicates yours is one of the certified autograph ones.

smtjoy · #6 05-06-2009, 02:32 PM

Ok here is the post on ebay showing his signed in person and a certified kemp, any more thoughts? Thanks for all the feedback already )

william_9 · #7 05-06-2009, 03:06 PM

I know nothing about Jack Kemp signatures but based on the images you provided it looks like the only difference between your card and the certified autopen is the sharpie point. As far as placement goes, it could have been moved when the marker was swapped out. Both signatures look identical in size and character formation.

danc · #8 05-06-2009, 05:54 PM

Your Kemp appears to be legitimate. I used to hammer Kemp via the mail, mostly Proline cards about two years after their issue and I would always get authentic signed cards in return.

Then one day, autopen and the party was over as far as free autographs via the mail. I tried once more months later, again, autopen.

It seems like every person at some point gets fed up with the mail and resorts to ignoring it, autopenning it or having someone deal with the mail instead. Arnold Palmer used to be the most amazing signer, until last year and the dreaded pre-print is now a standard issue from the Hall Of Famer.

Dan

smtjoy · #9 05-06-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks for the info.

You are right on Palmer, super great guy, I was born in Latrobe and have met him a few times years ago, my parents went to school with his family. In any case his long time assistant died last year (she was a very close friend of my father, they grew up together) and she was always the one to get him to sign his fan mail. From what I hear he just couldnt replace her so that may be one of the reason he stopped signing, he also has some medicial issues.

william_9 · #10 05-06-2009, 08:59 PM

Here's a quick layering of the signatures in photoshop. I layered the "certified autopen" on top of the signature on Scott's card. Is it an autopen? Sure looks that way. I sized the images of the two cards to the exact same size, then did a minor rotate, and added the transparency so you can see the difference.

You be the judge.