WISHING DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...

A FAKE IS A FAKE IS A FAKE

With the growing cult of celebrity ever since the 1970s, demand for autographs has outpaced availability. Many celebrities lack the will or time to comply with autographs in authentic form. The same may be true of US presidents since Dwight Eisenhower. Autographs acquired through the mail often end up being secretarial, autopen or litho print variants. Computer generated signatures are now making their appearance, too. Some personal assistants are retained primarily for their ability to mimic the handwriting of celebrities (esp. stars known by their last name). With very few exceptions, most entertainers only respond to a request in-person at a celebrity event.

We will, over time, illustrate known secretarial autographs as a service to our clients and new collectors. We hope this proves helpful to you and, as always, welcome your comments.

CHARLES BRONSON

Secretarial signature in litho-print format

Charles Bronson AUTHENTIC signature - dated 1978

JAMES GARNER

Secretarial signature

LUCILLE BALL

Secretarial

GEORGE BUSH, SR.

Computer-generated signature 2008

GEORGE BUSH, SR.

Computer-generated signature September 2009

GEORGE BUSH

Autopen or Litho print 2008

Outright Forgery from Denmark

Posing as Collector on eBay!

Robert DeNiro secretarial (1990s)

Olivia de Havilland (litho print signature)

This even suceeded in fooling a dealer who insisted that it was genuine!

There is growing interest in the autographs of CONTEMPORARY POPES. The collector needs to be especially vigilant when considering the purchase of such material. Particularly since the reign of Pope Pius XI, authentic autograph material of popes has become more scarce. While signed papal blessings were and are bestowed upon many, these are often limited to members of the diplomatic corps, heads of state, senior members of the Vatican curia, and ordinaries (bishops, archbishops) around the world. Rarely does a request for the autograph of the pope receive positive reception from the "average layman." Written requests to Rome are immediately routed to the General Affairs Section of the Vatican Secretariat of State which sends out a litho print autograph of the Pope.

Giuseppe Cardinal Sarto (Pius X) as Patriarch of Venice

Authentic

D. GiuSarto Arciv.

Pope St. Pius X signed carte-de-visite

(Authentic)

Pope John XXIII (as Apostolic Nuncio to France)

Authentic

Pope John Paul I (poor forgery)

Offered by a Leading Auction House

and Subsequently Removed

What few authentic items reach the marketplace are generally in the form of signed photographs and books. Even rarer are typewritten or handwritten letters. In the majority of cases, authentically-signed photographs bear the blind embossed seal of the personal secretary of His Holiness. The stamp reads: Segreteria Particolare di Sua Santita and is placed near the autograph. Occasionally a letter from the secretary will also accompany the photograph or document. This is not to say that other autographs are not granted but, again, they are extremely rare.

As with presidents of the United States, obtaining an autograph of a pope while in office are difficult at best. It is often much easier to obtain an autograph from an earlier period in their career.  Authentic autographs of Pope John XXIII, (Roncalli) Paul Vi (Montini) and John Paul I (Luciani) appear on the market (as well as Wojtyla).

Following is an authentic autograph specimen of Pope John Paul I who reigned for 33 days. This is his signature while Patriarch of Venice:

Luciani ADS

(Authentic Examples)

John Paul II and Archbishop Dziwisz

(1997 Authentic Examples)