Here's a nonauthentic autopen signature by Leonard Bernstein on a white, 3" x 5" index card.  The signature is in blue ink and it was sent sent out in response to fan mail in the 1980s.  The signature is definitely an autopen, which is a machine-generated signature.  In other words, it's a fake.

I don't blame Mr. Bernstein for sending out this type of material.  He was a music artist, and his time was best spent in his profession, not signing autographs for strangers. 

Autopens can be tough to identify, because they look so real.  I caught this signature because it matches an example in a reference book in my autograph library on autopens.  This signature looks a little wobbly on the arc of the "B".  The line is thick and fairly uniform from beginning to end.  Real signatures look a bit sloppier.

Why should I care?  Because I'm an Autograph Superfreak.  Check out my credentials on the "About Me" link.  I've spent lots of time studying real versus fake autographs and publishing the results in my own newsletter "Autograph Research" and in my column in "Autograph Collector" magazine.  (Please don't tell my wife I've spent so much time on this subject.  She already thinks I'm nutty.)  Now I feel it's my mission to share this information on eBay, and hopefully, protect other collectors.

If you buy an autograph, you deserve to know if it's real or fake.  I hate seeing all the junk on eBay, sold by sellers that are either naive or conniving.  At least with this Guide, you know about one item to watch out for.

If this Guide is helpful, please take a moment to leave feedback.  Thanks for your time!  Have a great day.