What's an autograph, anyway?

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Everyone has their own flare about their signature so I'd say they are all naturally artistic.

But does the purpose of writing it matter?

[mighty bombjack]

To illustrate my question, is this an autograph?



The question of artistry is a subjective one, though this does at least resemble his autograph given to admirers.

On the other hand, it does not seem to fit the primary OED definition given above (although "especially" is a handy qualifier)...

[drc]

It's what Toyota uses to chart sales.

The Rousch name is half cursive, so at at least it's close.

I agree there is definitional gray area because of the way it was used, but if I had to pick what it is a) or b) I'd call it Rousch's signature/autograph. In part because it resembles his normal autograph on a baseball or photo. At the least, I wouldn't have a problem if a seller called in an autograph.

Though he wrote the entire address in cursive, and perhaps everything else he wrote, so I could understand someone say it's not his real autograph.

I think it's getting a little technical here.

[mighty bombjack]

Yes! The definitional gray areas are what I want to discuss.

More to come.

Anyone, please post any "gray" examples of autos that you have seen!

[mighty bombjack]

I found this one that I remember being very controversial. Most accepted that the Washington here was written by our first president, but can you call it an autograph? A signature? If not, what do you call it, and what is it worth compared to a beautiful, unquestionable autograph?

[mighty bombjack]

How about these MacPhails? The first is obviously a letter, and the second is an inscription in a book.

Autographs, or no?

[drc]

If Rousch had printed out the letters in his name, instead of using cursive, I would not have called it his autograph. So the Rousch is an interesting example due to his cursive addiction. Visually it's his autograph, but technically it is not.

[David Atkatz]

An "autograph" is anything written in the person's own hand. It does not have to be (or contain) a signature. Hence the autographic designations:

A.L. Autograph Letter (letter in the person's hand, no signature)
A.L.S. Autograph Letter Signed (letter in the person's hand, with signature)
A.D. Autograph Document (document in the person's hand, no signature)
A.D.S. Autograph Document Signed (document in the person's hand, with signature)
A.M. Autograph Manuscript (manuscript in the person's hand, no signature)
A.M.S. Autograph Manuscript Signed (Manuscript in the person's hand, with signature)

That return address cut is at least an A.D., and some would call it an A.D.S. That Washington cut is a piece of an A.D.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

An "autograph" is anything written in the person's own hand. It does not have to be (or contain) a signature. Hence the autographic designations:

A.L. Autograph Letter (letter in the person's hand, no signature)
A.L.S. Autograph Letter Signed (letter in the person's hand, with signature)
A.D. Autograph Document (document in the person's hand, no signature)
A.D.S. Autograph Document Signed (document in the person's hand, with signature)
A.M. Autograph Manuscript (manuscript in the person's hand, no signature)
A.M.S. Autograph Manuscript Signed (Manuscript in the person's hand, with signature)

That return address cut is at least an A.D., and some would call it an A.D.S. That Washington cut is a piece of an A.D.

Interesting. Where did you find this?

What about initials? I don't know the legal difference as to why I have to initial certin parts of a document and then sign my full name at the end, but are intitials an autograph?