Signatures vs. Forgeries

Did you know that handwriting analysis is sometimes used to ascertain whether the signature on a will or other legal document has been forged or was written by someone other than the person designated or the authorized signer? There are many indicators and clues that a trained professional graphologist looks for to prove their findings.

At the top is a forgery of Abraham Lincoln's signature by Joseph Cosey, who forged numbers of historical documents early in the twentieth century. Cosey cleverly used vintage writing instruments, inks and paper. The picture shows one of his less successful forgeries (straight across from start to finish) with Lincoln's actual signature, which shows his characteristic, uneven ups and downs.