What kind of printing process would have been able to reproduce the smooth graduations in shade without halftone dots or the like? I just can't see how it could have been possible over eighty years ago.

Here's another image contrasting the photo on the front of the card with the back:

[img]http://www.olivepixel.com/misc/img088.jpg[/img]

I can't say if it's printed or not by just looking at a scan. But it is very possible that it is printed. Personally I would ask for the item back and offer a refund. I don't know about the value of this particular persons autograph but if it's valuable I would have it authenticated and researched and sell it at a later time if it turns out to be real.

Hi all!

I recently sold a signed card on ebay that belonged to my great grandparents. As far as I know it was genuine, but having received it the buyer has left this message:

[quote]Hello!
I recieved the card last Friday. I have been spending some time looking at it and it is obvious to me that the signature is printed and not hand signed.

What to do?
[/quote]

There is a high res scan here: http://www.olivepixel.com/misc/img087.jpg

Would a print from that era (between 1914 and 1926) be able to achieve the clarity and fine variation in tone present on the signature? If this quality was available, why is it not used on the text above?

[img]http://www.olivepixel.com/misc/auction/sig2.jpg[/img]