Are Autopen Signatures Worth Anything?

Autopen signatures have minimal collector value — typically $5-$20 compared to $50-$5,000+ for genuine hand-signed items. Autopen signatures are mechanically reproduced using a machine that traces a template. They are not considered authentic autographs.

What Is an Autopen?

An autopen is a machine that mechanically reproduces a signature using a template. Public figures like presidents, astronauts, and celebrities use them to handle massive volumes of autograph requests. The signatures look real but are not hand-signed.

How to Identify Autopen Signatures

Compare multiple examples — if two signatures are perfectly identical in every detail, they're almost certainly autopen. Real signatures always have natural variation. Autopen signatures also show uniform pen pressure and sometimes have dots where the machine pen makes initial contact.