J.K.Rowling Autograph Authenticity Tips

[rochenry]

J.K. Rowling's Signature-

There is a lot of incentive for people to forge her signature so be very careful before you purchase her signature, and the best way to purchase signatures is from a reputable seller or from one of her books from 2007 onwards make sure it has a hologram sticker or has been authenticated at http://www.hp4u.co.uk Watch for the following points:

VERY GENERALLY SPEAKING, JK Rowling’s signature –

flows gracefully from one letter to another (with the odd exception of her being on the go as she signs the book)
is usually signed straight across the page, rather than diagonally (again with the exception being books which are signed in crowds)
generally uses white space and does NOT pass through large sections of text or graphics
is usually signed in ball point (especially in the UK books), roller ball or fine tip felt though we have seen lovely signatures in medium point felt - almost always from her trips to the USA
appears on the INSIDE of the book (Remember that signatures appearing on the outside of the dust jacket MAY have been scanned in to a PC and printed on the dust jacket using a laser printer.)
does NOT include multiple small bumps – this may be an indication that the signature was drawn or traced onto the page

Be cautious when purchasing –

later-printing signed books (Most signings were held to promote a book and most signatures are in first or early printings. This is especially true in the U.K. editions, where JKR generally signs the 1/1 hardback book at her signings, and allows only one or two books per person.) Although there ARE legitimately signed later-printing books, forgers love to use recent books, because they do not want to pay for expensive books.
ANY signed U.S. book which was printed after The Prisoner of Azkaban 1/1 (JKR’s toured in the U.S. for this book, then was absent except for very quick trip in 2000). Although a FEW copies of The Goblet of Fire managed to get her signature, JKR did NOT tour the U.S. for that book. There are only a VERY few signed copies of the U.S. Order of the Phoenix and several dozen to maybe 500 copies of Half-Blood Prince signed for the New York City reading in 2006.)
ANY signed UK Order of the Phoenix or Half-Blood Prince (There have been 2-3 brief signing sessions and one longer session for this book. They were by invitation only. True signatures in these books are QUITE rare.)
ANY signed paperback (There are definitely signed paperbacks, especially from early in JKR’s career, but they are relatively few. Please be careful.)

Remember to ALWAYS get an image of the actual signature you are buying BEFORE you make a purchase. Keep the image and if the delivered product does not live up to it, send the item back to the seller.