We often receive emails from collectors asking us what certain abbreviations mean. Therefore, we wanted to create a handy guide to common autograph abbreviations for the collector. We hope you find it useful!

• ALS = Autographed Letter Signed (i.e. a hand-written letter)
• ANS = Autographed Note Signed
• AP = Autopen (machine-signed... see our eBay guide re: autopens for more information)
• BCS = Business Card Signed
• BW, B/W or B&W = Black and White
• C = Color
• CISP = Color Inscribed Signed Photo
• CSP = Color Signed Photo
• COA = Certificate of Authenticity
• D., d., Dec., or dec. = Deceased
• DS = Document Signed
• FDC = First Day Cover (issued by the Postal Service)
  
• HOF = Hall of Fame
• I = Inscribed or personalized
• IP = In Person
• ISP = Inscribed Signed Photo
• PP = Preprint (autograph is part of the photo... see our eBay Guide on preprints for more info)
• SIC = Signed Index Card
• SP = Signed Photo
  
• SPC = Signed Postcard
• STC = Signed Trading Card
• TC = Trading Card
• TLS = Typed Letter Signed
• TTM = Through The Mail
• UACC = Universal Autograph Collector's Club

Be sure to check out our other eBay Guides on autograph topics such as "Avoiding Fake Autographs", Recognizing Autopenned Signatures" and "Recognizing Preprinted Signatures".