Looking for an opinion on this Melvin Ott signature
 

Hey guys. I was hoping to get a couple of opinions on this Mel Ott signature. I thought it was unusual in that it is signed Melvin Ott. I've never seen another Melvin Ott signature and was hoping a couple of you veterans would give your opinion as to its authenticity. As always thanks a lot.

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ams/Ottsig.jpg

that looks really bad IMO. The fact that it is Melvin is cool, but ugh. Looks like a roach's or that garbage outfit I can't think of right now..

Here is a PSA one. the slant looks bad to me on the M and other issues.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MEL-OTT-PSA-DNA-...item35b08aa278

Full name Ott signatures are notably rare. He signed his checks "Melvin Ott". After his death, Ott's widow would send out check cuts, but removed the "vin" from the signature and connected the "Mel" to the "Ott". It makes you wonder where all the vin's went! Here is a rare full name Ott from early in his career (1927):

Mel Ott signature
 

I'm doubtful about it, since I've never seen any "public" autograph that he signed as Melvin - always Mel.

He did sign checks as "Melvin Ott", though. Years ago, Mrs. Ott sent me one of his signatures cut from a check. She cut the signature from the check, then cut off the "vin" and taped the "Mel" back on to the "Ott". I've seen other examples like that over the years - I guess she considered his autograph to be "Mel Ott."

I've seen a few full sigs of his, but that one does not look right to me. I'd stay away.

Thanks a lot for your opinions guys.

I'm in no way an autograph expert, but I think I can still spot most of the fakes (because they're usually pretty awful or have very obvious problems). This one could very well be faked, but I'm just not seeing where it's all that obvious. Yeah, the Full Melvin is unusual, and the slant is uncommon, but overall it looks extremely similar to my eye to the authentic one posted, and it also looks very fluid and natural. I note that Richard S., thetruthisoutthere and David A. haven't yet opined - I hope we can find out what they think before this thread falls off the front page.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/murphyusa/309.jpg





In my opinion, the picture in questions contains a legimate Melvin Ott signature. It might not have been what he used when he signed autographs at the stadiums or when out but it is his full signature.

No, it's not. It's a very poor forgery.

Could you offer a little more as to what about the signature makes it a bad forgery? I notice that in the signature I posted the "e" in Mel is not connected to the M. But could you give a little more on the tells that I should be looking for in determining an authentic Ott signature from a fake?

A signature isn't judged letter-by-letter. The entire example looks nothing like Ott's actual signature.

good thing I don't do this for a living. :D

i agree, no good.