Autograph authentication can be a very tangled issue. We all want to be reassured that an autograph is genuine beyond doubt. Though it can be understandable to want an authoritative opinion to reassure us that an autograph is real, the only certain way to know is through it's provenance. An examination by an informed eye may uncover aspects that could call into question an item's legitimacy, but it could not uncover proof that it was irrecovably genuine. If anyone tells you that they can guarantee or certify the authenticity of an autograph from an examination alone, they're not being forthright. There is no way to be certain without the provenance. The best way to get an expert's opinion is to become your own expert. Learn as much as you can about the signing habits of your subject. Study other examples of their signature, and compare them. Learn to trust your own instincts and gut feelings about them. Seek others' opinions if you feel the need, but you still need to come to your own conclusions. As stated on my home page, most of these items were obtained by a very few select collectors, so their provenance is known. Besides my own many years of experience as a collector, including a number of years running my own website, I also rely on Pete Connolly to co-authenticate my items. Here's a sampling of photos of Pete with some stars. From the top left, Carlos Santana, Woody Allen, Sting, Bob Dylan, Bee Gees, Garth Brooks, Mick Jagger, Faith Hill, Eddie Van Halen, Charlie Watts, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Lopez, Joe DiMaggio, Paula Abdul, Joe Cocker.