As you have seen I have many postcards and pictures of actors, actresses, musicians, sports stars from the 1800's and mid 1900's. This was actually me mums hobby then it became mine, buying them from estates actions, antique stores, etc.

In my years of buying, looking, and looking hard I've come to know the difference between a reprint and a real autograph. I'll start with items used to sign like pens and markers. Markers when you write on glossy paper tends to sit on-top of the paper because there is more concentrated areas of ink in all given areas and not too many pores for the ink to seep into. A pen gives off a light amount of ink and tends to blend easier. The paper that a marker and or pen is written on is something else to think about. Glossy paper doesn't have many pores at all, so anything added to it that is concentrated is going to sit on-top then dry. Satin/mate paper has pores and whatever is used will soak in and blend.

That being said, there are a couple other things you will need to look at an autograph with, a very good light source, like a lamp with the shade taken off and I use a 5x magnification lense. Stand near the light, but not too close, and turn the picture or whatever to a 30 to 45 degree angle away from you, then do the same angle to your left or right. Look through your magnifying glass and as the light hits the autograph, if the autograph fades into the picture as if it's glazed over it's a reprint. (On matte paper this is harder to determine you'll also need to use the next step.) If the pen or marker used is still visible or the pen or marker ink color changes it is not a reprint.

The next step, the one you will use for matte paper as well, look at the marker or pen lines, height, and/or indentions. Markers normally don't cause an indention unless the person bares down hard. Marker ink, half just sits on top of whatever paper it is written on, like what I was talking about in PP 1. Look at the edges of the marker lines under magnifition and light, is the edges raised, if it is, it is not a reprint. Pens tend to leave a line or mark through the center if the person bares-down hard. Do you see a line, an indention from the pen? If yes, than it is not a reprint. Look at any loops or writing that has been written over twice, like with cursive L's, T's etc. with pens on matte paper, because they are harder to judge, look to see if you see an intention area where the 2 lines cross, if you see one is it not a reprint.

Some are hard to figure out. I've spent time scratching my head because none of these tell-tale signs are there. If in doubt (even a very small doubt!) at this point take it to a person who has a better trained eye than yourself.

Now all this is just about reprints verses hand-signed. Whether the autograph was hand-signed by the right person is a totally different conversation. One I will add later.