Astronaut James F. Buchli used at least one autopen example during his career as a space hero.  These fake autographs are still floating around and some may find their way onto eBay.  Collectors should be aware of the risk with James Buchli signatures, especially with STS-51C, STS-61A, STS-29 and STS-48 items.

This Guide will reproduce one known example of his fake autograph.  This comes from the archives of Space Autograph News, an underground and out-of-print newsletter published in the 1990s.

An autopen is a machine-generated signature used widely by celebrities and politicians in the previous century.  These fake autographs were sent by the thousands in response to fan mail.  Early NASA astronauts were known to use autopens, so savvy collectors always watch out.

Fortunately, if you can identify autopens, you'll eliminate a lot of risky material from your portfolio.  Here's a few general characteristics about an autopen signature:

• Uniform thickness of the signature, from beginning to end
• Consistent coloration of the signature
• Occasionally wobbling to the signature, as if the paper slipped during the impression
• Noticeable impression on the paper, since the autopen machine pushes down on the surface area.

In other words, an autopen looks almost too perfect.  That's the hand of a machine writing.  On the other hand, whenever someone scribbles their signature, natural imperfections occur.  That's what you want to see in an autograph--a natural blemished look.

Let me know if you have any updates to this Guide, and I'll keep adding to it.  If this Guide is helpful, please take a moment to leave feedback.  I'm trying to become one of eBay's best Guide writers, and I need your positive vote.  Thanks.