How to Identify an Illegible Signature

Autograph collecting has become a popular pastime for many sports fans. A signature from a favourite athlete can hold great sentimental value and be a prized possession for years to come. However, reading signatures isn't always easy, especially if you're new to the hobby. In this blog post, we'll share some helpful hints for reading signatures, including what to look for and what to avoid.

If ya know, you know

Experience is king in the memorabilia game, and the ability to identify autographs is no different. The more you familiarize yourself with a number of athlete and celebrities' signatures, the more you'll be able to confidently identify them! This is particularly helpful skill to develop for those obscure autographs, like David Ortiz or Willie Mays. 

Sound it out

The first letters of the name are often the most prominent in a signature, so if you can nail those down, that's a big hint! Then you can look for key middle letters to sound out the rest of it - I's, Y's, J's, T's, B's, D's and P's are commonly easier to identify as they stand out in the quick-handed squiggle of a signature. 

Context is key

Most of the time, the item on which an item is signed is a good piece of evidence for who signed it (and sometimes, if it's authentic). Baseballs, footballs and pucks are usually signed by baseball, football and hockey players. If a signature is on a photo of a person, it's probably going to be that person. Pretty simple stuff. 

Look for a jersey number

Athletes will often do you a favour and write their jersey number next to their signature. With a little context, that might be all you really need! This is particularly helpful on team-signed items, in which case you can cross-reference players with a numerical roster and hopefully identify the entire thing! 

Ask the experts

At the end of the day, we're all learning. If you're stuck on a player, you can always reach out to a certified authenticator like JSA, PSA or Beckett to not only identify the autograph, but to certify it as authentic. Alternatively, always feel free to email us, or reach out to us on social media.

Following these tips can help you read and identify signatures when collecting autographs. Additionally, learning about signature styles, consistency, pre-printed signatures, and trusting your instincts can help you avoid forged signatures. While autograph collecting can be a fun hobby, it's important to be cautious and ensure that your collection contains genuine signatures of your favourite athletes.