The word signed is thrown around a lot in listings. If you're interested in collecting or investing in Chagalls, I've uncovered two phony signatures to be on the lookout for. Many of Chagall's lithographs are signed IN THE PLATE, in other words, he usually (not always) signed the original lithograph, and that signature will look the same for that print whether it's a run of 20 or 500. The Hebrew signature below is his plate signature. The PENCIL signature below the plate makes it more valuable, because Chagall himself has approved the print -- though not all his greatest lithographs were pencil signed!!!

Here's another good pencil signature. Note how confident it is. No two are identical.

Here are two phony Chagall signatures that appear over and over again -- even in pencil! (I don't know how they do it.) I call them Sig. 1 and Sig. 2, though I've just recently found one Sig. 3. They have a use: People can pretend they have a real Chagall to show off. But they're not worth much.

PHONY SIGN No. 1. These are identical, just photographed from different angles.

Sometimes it's hard to see, but you will know. You can copy the fuzziest picture, zoom in, and compare its basic shape. Back away from the screen if necessary.

PHONY SIGNATURE No. 2 (the flourish under the M gone, and the final L does not hang).

I don't know where these signatures got their start, but I've even seen one for sale in a Swiss gallery on another site (these images are all from eBay). Some sellers will let you know that these are "facsimile" signatures. Others are "not as described" and don't panic -- I've had no problem returning them.

I find it useful to do a quick Search in Top Window for a FACS (for facsimile) that I might have missed in a long description. I also recommend doing a quick search of OFFSET. An offset-lithograph is just a print or a poster, i.e., it's been through color-separation like all magazine photos, etc. Same with SERIOGRAPH (a nice poster) and AFTER (not actually by Chagall, or whomever). Finally, ask what medium the signature is in. An incomprehensible answer is obviously a red flag.

As I said, not all valuable Chagalls were signed. Runs of 6000 would have destroyed his hand!

Good luck!