Here's a nonauthentic signed photo sent by actor Jim Backus in the 1980s.  The photo is black and white, size 3 1/2" x 5 1/2".  The back of the photo is blank white.  The signature on the bottom of the photo is a printed signature, which is essentially a photographic copy of a real signed photo, or preprinted signature.  In other words, it's a fake.

I don't blame Mr. Backus for sending out this type of material.  He's an actor, and his time is best spent in his profession, not signing autographs for strangers.  I got this item by writing a fan letter to his offices off Bellagio Road in Los Angeles.  Here's a close-up of the signature.

Preprinted signatures can be tough to identify, because they look so real.  You really need to check out any autograph under magnification.  Then you can see that the signature and the background are on the same level.  A real signature seems to rise above the background.  Another tell-tale sign is the lack of any indentation.  A real signature can leave an impression in the photo.  Another way to tell is if an autograph looks too good.  Real signatures look a bit sloppier.  It appears this item was originally an 8" x 10" autographed photo, which was reduced to a smaller size.

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.