Signature Authentication Guides and Resources
The International Autograph Authentication Board (IAAB) publishes educational guides to help collectors, professionals, and the public better understand signature authentication and handwriting examination.
Authenticating signatures requires careful analysis of writing characteristics, comparison with verified examples, and evaluation of the context in which a signature appears. These methods are commonly used by professional handwriting and document examiners when evaluating autographs, artworks, and signed documents.
The guides below explain key aspects of signature authentication, including how experts analyze handwriting, evaluate certificates of authenticity, and examine signatures found on artworks.
Whether you are a collector, researcher, or simply interested in the methods used by authentication specialists, these resources provide an introduction to the principles behind professional signature analysis.
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Collectors who need a professional opinion can submit signatures through our online authentication service.
Featured Resources on Signature Authentication:
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Case Study: Detecting a Forged Alberto Giacometti Signature
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Core Authentication Guides
These core guides explain the principles and methods used by experts when examining signatures, autographs, and documents. They provide an introduction to handwriting analysis, signature authentication, and the evaluation of certificates of authenticity.
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Learn how experts examine signatures and handwriting to determine authenticity. This guide explains the principles of handwriting analysis and the methods used in professional authentication.
​Certificates of authenticity are widely used in the autograph market, but their reliability varies significantly. This guide explains how certificates work and what collectors should know before relying on them
Signatures on paintings and prints can play a major role in determining the attribution of an artwork. This guide explains how experts evaluate artist signatures found on artworks and art prints.
Modern and urban artworks often present unique authentication challenges. This guide explains how specialists examine signatures found on contemporary and street art pieces.
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Technical Articles and Additional Resources on Autograph Authentication and Handwriting Examination
IAAB also publishes technical articles and research-based resources addressing the principles and methods used in professional autograph authentication and handwriting examination.
These publications discuss the analytical approaches employed by document examiners when evaluating signatures, handwritten material, and questioned documents. Topics may include the study of writing characteristics, natural variation, comparison methodology, historical context, and other factors considered during expert examination.​
How Signing Conditions Influence Signatures
The appearance of a signature can be influenced by the conditions in which it was written. This article explains how factors such as writing position, signing speed, writing instruments, or large signing sessions may affect the form of authentic signatures and how experts take these elements into account during examination.
Why Authentic Signatures Change Over Time
Authentic signatures do not remain identical throughout a person's life. This article explains why signatures naturally evolve over time and how handwriting experts evaluate these variations when examining questioned signatures.
What Is an Autopen Signature?
Autopen signatures are mechanically produced using a device designed to replicate a person's handwriting. This article explains how autopen signatures are created and how experts distinguish them from genuine handwritten signatures.
Authentication Case Studies
IAAB will progressively publish case studies illustrating how handwriting and document examiners analyze questioned signatures and documents in real-world situations.
These studies will present practical examples of signature evaluation, comparison methodology, and authentication challenges encountered in professional examinations.
