Looking for suggestions - autograph appraisal

[Pendrench]

Hello -

Awhile back (while he was still in office) I wrote a letter to President Obama, and received a signed letter in response.

Since the response came from the White House, I know (to some extent) that the signature is genuine - but I'm not sure if it was hand-signed or if it was an auto-pen signature.

Either way, it's still something that I treasure - but I am a bit curious to see if he actually signed his response to me.

Therefore, I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation as to where/how I might be able to authenticate it (one way or the other).

I've tried looking online, but I'm not really sure who might be a legitimate appraiser.

Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Tim

PS - I live in Maryland, so if anyone knows a local place, that would also be helpful.

[yallerdawg]

1. I got a signed letter.

One day, I was looking at an auto-pen signature - and it looked exactly like mine.

Exactly!

Signatures on internet. One tell-tale sign - at beginning and end of long strokes, rounded point of ink where pen sets for an extra moment.

I have the letter in a glass frame on the wall next to me right now! A cherished possession!

[Pendrench]

2. Hi yallerdawg - thank you for responding (and for the information!)

From what I can see, there are rounded points at the end of the long strokes...so maybe it's real

Thank you again!

Tim

[yallerdawg]

3. Well, I wasn't very clear.

The rounded ends are from the starting and stopping point of the auto-pen, the ink flow.

The Obama White House said they passed on around 10 emails/letters a day for President Obama to read. I don't know if he or his staff composed the responses.

But I know this. My letter has the exact same signature as this one. Every stroke, every squiggle, exact. Like a photocopy.

Auto-pen.

[Pendrench]

4. Got it! I understand now.

The signature on my letter looks slightly different - of course, that just might mean that a different auto-pen was used.

I wish I knew how to post a photo here, so I could show you.

Thanks again

Tim

[yallerdawg]

5. Great!

In that case, you may have a real signature!

I saw an article one day about Obama's use of an auto-pen, and saw a letter with my exact same signature, and the characteristics noted about auto-pens.

Posting photo - if you can get it on your computer - I use Windows snipping tool to get exactly what I want - then browse the photo on free 'postimage.com' (their site, nothing downloaded) where it gives me an https copy for DU. It's a little work until you get used to it - then, it's addictive!

[Pendrench]

6. Wow - that was easy - thanks!

Here is the letter:

[yallerdawg]

7. I stumbled on an exact duplicate of mine. I know for sure.

Presidents create multiple 'signatures' to make it less obvious.

It turns out there are varying levels of fakeness in presidential signatures.

There are preapproved form letters with digital signatures. There are preprinted cards for birthdays and other special events. Autopen signatures generally are reserved for more personalized correspondence that doesn't score a real signature, say officials from administrations past.

Obama's staff is loath to talk about his use of the autopen.

The president prefers to keep the focus on the sampling of 10 letters a day that he reads from among the tens of thousands that ordinary people send to the White House. In many cases, he writes back to these people, with his own signature.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/obamas-signature-is-it-real-or-is-it-autopenned-459545