posted 02-20-2025 05:56 PM               

This is a rogues' gallery of astronaut forgeries from 20 to 25 years ago. These images are clippings from printouts I took from eBay and also big auctions, such as Superior. These examples show the poorly done forgeries from back then, but, sadly, many did sell, with one forgery shown here that sold for $2,250.

Forgeries have improved from these mostly poor attempts and, with authenticators now more experienced and capable, such forgeries are much less likely to be available - except on eBay, which has no safeguards.

In the below image, at the top is a fairly good attempt at a forgery, with a rare personalization added. Below that is a forgery that a child could have done, but it got a positive certification from PSA/DNA (who were terrible at authenticating astronaut autographs back then) and with that blessing sold for $511. At the bottom is a card priced at $38.50 with poor forgeries of the STS-1 crew. The buyer probably thought that he was getting a bargain.

The three Armstrong forgeries at top left in the image below originated from a very active forger who haunted our hobby for several years and specialized in only Armstrong and Collins forgeries, with one of his Collins forgeries at center right. At top right is a forgery sold by Seymour Rodman, who was an active dealer for many years. Below is a poor Christa McAuliffe forgery, and below that is an example of one of the large numbers of Charles Riser's infamous forgeries of much earlier times.

The forger of these Mercury 7 astronaut signatures was very ambitious to create seven different forgeries all together, but it didn't work out too well. But no matter, it probably sold. Below them is a forgery of the Apollo 10 crew from an active forger from Germany. At the bottom is a well-done forgery of Armstrong and Scott. This is also from a German source, with the Armstrong having a distinctive atypical loop at the top of the "A". This was a common characteristic of this forger's Armstrongs.

John Young's was a difficult autograph to obtain for years and this forger took matters into his own hands, with this Young forgery added to this Apollo 16 launch photo. It, along with authentic autographs by Duke and Mattingly, rewarded him $2,250. Below that and from eBay is a rare and very desirable GT-3 crew signed prime recovery ship cover - too bad the Grissom and Young are forgeries, and fairly bad ones, at that.

Everybody wanted an Apollo 11 crew signed crew photo and many a forger were glad to oblige. One result was this Apollo 11 crew signed crew photo below. But it is unusual in that the Buzz Aldrin is authentic, but both the Armstrong and Collins are (very poor) forgeries. This type and other Apollo 11-related photos were forged in fairly large numbers and were profitable creations for the forger for several years. The Armstrong and Collins forgery applications were easy, but a long trip for Aldrin's autographs to be added in person to bunches at one time was more trouble, but provided the finishing touch and was quite profitable. But odd that he didn't just save himself the trouble and cost and also fake the Aldrin's signature, too!

posted 02-24-2025 10:47 AM               

I always thought that Astrophilately faces three risks against forgeries:

• Higher value items. As all philatelic classes, higher value items are the most desirable pieces to be counterfeited.
  
• Autographs/signatures. This is a specific characteristic of Astrophilately. In other philatelic classes signatures are not of interest meanwhile we search, and PAID for signed items.
  
• Postmark devices. As a differential characteristic of Astrophilately are postmarks, it is possible to duplicate/forge a common postmark and use it along the time to cancel many covers with different dates.

posted 02-26-2025 07:17 AM               

There are still many forgeries out there today in the space autograph arena. With more interest in collecting space, more dealers involved, wider mass appeal with using ebay and the internet for sales, and with the advancement of technology writing features, they can be found rather quite obvious in most cases, but on the other hand, you can find more skillful attempts that I have examined.

Even during the recent American Space Museum memorabilia show in Cocoa Beach, FL, only a few days ago, I was able to view, appraise, and evaluate more than a dozen space collections. A couple of items brought in did have fake astronaut autograph attempts that were mostly on photos, but of those signed the majority of them in my opinion were totally authentic, including a rare Apollo 1 crew signed litho with excellent provenance.