Help with this autograph!

[batsballsbases]

This may very well be an auto pen as Truman had to sign many of these kind of letters. Here is one also from that time to compare.

[mr2686]

Wow...this one certainly got me. A couple of things I'm curious about though. First, I always thought that with an autopen, there could not be any breaks in the signature at all...I'm guessing that's not true, and second, are autopen sigs still prevalent as far as Presidents go or did somewhere down the line they use secretarial versions?

[RichardSimon]

Presidents have used autopens and secretarial signatures throughout their terms.

[Oldtix]

Last summer, I read David McCullough's excellent biography Truman...a lengthy but very enjoyable review of his personal and political life.

As I recall, Truman reportedly dedicated many hours daily to personally answering his correspondence. He was of the old school that considered it good manners, and his writings provide an exceptional record of his presidency. He would have certainly taken the signing of condolence letters very seriously (particularly so near the start of his term in office), so I wouldn't dismiss the possibility too quickly. Not saying it's real...I'm no expert...but it's more likely for Truman than for later presidents.

[mr2686]

Rick, I was of the same opinion of Truman as you...very old school especially when it came to personally signing condolence letters. I'm sure he couldn't have signed every one, but I bet he tried. I really hate to think that "nothing says thank you for your sons and daughters giving their lives to this country" better than a form letter and an autopen.

[RichardSimon]

I repeat, I don't think it is an autopen but the entire document is printed. It is a document not a personal condolence letter.
Think about it,,, think how many of these he would have had to have signed.

[mr2686]

Richard, it's not my intention to argue with you, because I respect the heck out of you and your expertise...which is why you are the only person I would send autographs to for authentication. But to your point "Think about it,,, think how many of these he would have had to have signed". Well, this was signed on June 1st, 1945...just 1.5 months after Truman became President. Considering the bomb was then dropped in August, my guess is that the "majority" of the 300,000 - 500,000 American deaths (depending on who's figures you're going by) had already occurred. Now, that still would leave a lot of deaths, but it doesn't seem unmanageable especially when you consider how many autographs get pushed out in a 2 hour period by todays athletes and then you consider the character of that particular President. I know absolutely nothing about Roosevelt's signing habits, but I would bet a good sum that he would never be able to sign most of those types of letters due to the sheer volume that would have had to be signed before his death. My suggestion to the person asking the original question would be to make arrangements for Richard, or someone equally as knowledgeable, to take a look at the document in person.