Autograph Authentication – Steve Carlton

Confidence Grade: C (Likely NOT Authentic)

Overview

The autograph attributed to Steve Carlton appears on a vintage-style Topps baseball card image embedded against the backdrop of the Cleveland Indians’ now-retired mascot sign. The signature is rendered in blue ink and is presented as hand-signed directly on the card’s surface.

Upon detailed forensic review, numerous indicators point towards this being a mechanically reproduced or printed signature rather than a genuine, freehand autographed piece – likely either autopen or inkjet printed. Several red flags were identified throughout the signature analysis. The ink shows characteristics inconsistent with pen pressure, including ambiguous line tapering at stroke endpoints and non-variable line width across letterforms – particularly for cursive connections.

Candidate Identity (Investigative)

• Autographer is Known: Steve Carlton
  Identity is not under investigation.

No open-set identification mode was triggered.

Forensic Ink and Substrate Evaluation

• Ink Characteristics: The ink used for the signature is a uniform shade of blue, lacking pressure-dependent color variations or ink pooling that would suggest a writing instrument was applied directly.
• Ink Saturation and Edge Clarity:
• The stroke edges are uniformly sharp with no observable feathering or bleed into the card substrate, eliminating fountain or felt-tip pen application as likely.
• No signs of ballpoint indentations or texture distortion under lighting are visible, indicating no pressure was applied during execution.
• Mechanical Print Indicators:
• The edges of each stroke show telltale signs of micro-band patterning present in inkjet reproductions, particularly around curves in “S” and “C”.
• A lack of ink layering or irregular density further suggests the signature is printed onto the card, not inscribed with handwriting.
• No refraction of light indicates a lack of ink thickness typical of pen strokes.

Individual Signature Analysis

• Letter Structure and Flow:
• The first name “Steve” shows extraordinarily consistent stroke weight, with no variation during directional changes – which is rare in human motion but common in autopen or print reproductions.
• The “S” loops are symmetrical and overly smooth, showing no hesitation marks or irregular entry/exit strokes that would be expected in live writing.
• The second name “Carlton” includes a flourish-like loop in the “C,” but again lacks natural stroke inconsistencies. The “l” and “t” verticals are identical in dimension and finish, hinting at mechanical rendering.
• Tapering and Pen Lift:
• Absence of initial or final tapering commonly observed in natural hand signatures; most strokes begin and end abruptly, without soft taper or decay.
• No visible pen lifts between letters (especially between “e” and “v” in “Steve”), further confirming an uninterrupted mechanical process.

Collective Signature Analysis

• Uniformity and Stroke Modeling:
• Across the entire autograph, the uniformity of ink distribution, width, and pressure is unnatural. No fluctuations were detected in the curvature of high-velocity areas like the bottom loop of the “S” or “C.”
• Overall Impression of Execution:
• The signature’s flawless symmetry and artificial consistency testify against it being handwritten. It lacks the micro-shakes or slight hesitations intrinsic to genuine writing.

Red Flags

1. Non-variable stroke weight – Usually attributed to autopen or digital print.
2. Sharp, perfect edges – Inconsistent with ink bleeding or feathering normally caused by real ink-to-paper contact.
3. Lack of pen pressure or indentation – Strongly indicates the signature was not hand-applied.
4. Blue ink reproduction matching many printed “autograph” cards on market – Signature is likely printed as part of the card’s manufacturing process or post-processed digitally.
5. No evidence of overlay gloss effects or raised ink layer typical in Sharpie or ballpoint hand signatures.

Market Comparison and Similar Item Sales

• Printed Signature Cards (Steve Carlton Topps-style):
• eBay (Sold 2023): “$4.99 – 1987 Topps Steve Carlton card with facsimile printed signature”
  ➝ Identical ink and style match, strongly suggests a mass printed autograph.
• COMC.com: “$2.50 – Steve Carlton 1987 Topps Reissue with printed signature”
• Heritage Auctions: No recent sales documented of a hand-signed version of this specific card – all comparable sales were facsimile printed.
• PSA Autographed Card Auctions: Hand-signed 1987 Topps Carlton card (authenticated) ranges from $40 to $100, typically featuring darker inks, signature variation, and inscriptions absent in present example.

Conclusion: This autograph presents multiple technical indicators of being a printed signature integrated into the card rather than a unique hand-applied autograph. As such, it is considered “Likely NOT Authentic” (Grade C) based on the overwhelming presence of reproduction indicators and lack of forensic features indicative of human signature dynamics.

Submitted Image:

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