Autograph Authentication – Dustin Hoffman & Jon Voight

Confidence Grade: B (Likely Authentic)

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Overview

The item under analysis is a 25th Anniversary commemorative poster for the film Midnight Cowboy, bearing two autographs attributed to Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. The medium appears to be a glossy printed poster, commonly used in limited promotional memorabilia reproductions. Initial visual inspection reveals live-ink presence, with pen pressure variance and no obvious signs of mechanical reproduction. The setting and medium create complexity for authentication but do not preclude authenticity.

Candidate Identity (Investigative):
The signatures visually match the expected general structure and stroke characteristics of:

• Jon Voight – High confidence. Signature features appropriate letter looping for the “J” and distinctive ‘ght’ tapering in “Voight”.
• Dustin Hoffman – Medium confidence. The upper loops are consistent with early-career exemplars but some hesitation points were noted in the stroke continuity. Several stylistic elements (notably “D” and cross-stroke on “t”) suggest a natural hand but require deeper comparanda.

While Jon Voight’s match yields high confidence, Hoffman’s assessment falls between authentic and well-replicated hand signature. No pixel-for-pixel or autopen matches were discovered.

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Forensic Ink and Substrate Evaluation

• Ink Characteristics:
• Appears to be standard blue felt-tip or marker ink.
• Ink saturation is uneven and shows natural bleed and pooling typical of hand-signed Sharpie-style markers.
• Edge feathering seen on high-absorbency regions of the printed gloss, which is consistent with capillary action and real-time ink absorption.
• Substrate Interaction:
• Gloss surface slightly disrupted by pressure—indicating real-time application, not printed.
• Pen pressure variances discernible, especially in the downstrokes.
• No sign of toner artifacts, uniformity, pixelation, or overlaying inconsistencies that would suggest inkjet, laser, or photocopied reproduction.

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Individual Signature Analysis

Jon Voight

• Letterform Comparison: Matches public exemplars from known authenticated sources in key elements:
• The “J” flourish with angular downstroke.
• Slanted spacing and a blend of cursive with embellishment in the “ght”.
• Pressure Analysis: Clear signs of entry and exit pressure tapering in strokes.
• Flow Characteristics: Signature exhibits good velocity and rhythm, typical of a confident signer.
• Smudges/Bleed: Minor bleeding into the gloss around edges, consistent with hand-signed marker use.

Dustin Hoffman

• Letterform Comparison: Signature broadly matches many authentic variants with:
• Characteristic tall “D”, wide loop and close-set “u-s”.
• “Hoffman” portion shows slightly stiff lower zone—potential micro hesitation between ‘f’ loops—but within range for hurried signatures.
• Pressure Analysis: Less pressure variation than Voight’s, but still visible stroke contrast.
• Flow Characteristics: Natural line association, but lacks the fluid motion apparent in best-authenticated samples of Hoffman.
• Potential Issues: Minor signs of drawn or arced structures in a few terminal strokes; however, these could be situational (surface texture, angle).

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Collective Signature Analysis

• Ink Cohesion: Both signatures share similar ink type (tone, reflectivity), suggesting they were likely signed with similar or same-era felt-tip markers.
• Stroke Behavior & Timing: Overlap and interaction with the photograph (particularly over clothing textures and print shadows) support real-time, on-object execution rather than layered reproduction.
• Signature Positioning & Balance: Strategic placement around key imagery is common in fan-signed poster memorabilia. The flow across the surface lacks rigid alignment typical in autopen or factory prints.

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Red Flags

• No pixel-perfect match consistent with autopen devices.
• No evidence of machine printing (inkjet/laser) or photocopy degradation.
• No obvious forgery artifacts (e.g., tremor lines, entry dots, tracing halt).
• Slight hesitation in Dustin Hoffman’s signature lower zone, but not sufficient to disqualify as inauthentic.

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Market Comparison and Similar Item Sales

• Authenticated dual-signed “Midnight Cowboy” posters:
• RR Auction, 2022 – Signed 16×20 photo by Hoffman & Voight: $900–$1,200
• Heritage Auctions, 2020 – Movie poster signed by Voight only (authenticated): $350
• eBay (authenticated by JSA/PSA) – Similar dual-signed 25th-anniversary prints with personalized messages: $700–$950 range
• Unsigned 25th Anniversary promotional poster: ~$30–$50 unframed in collector sales

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Conclusion

The signatures on this item are consistent with known hand-signed autographs from Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, with higher confidence in Voight’s signature. The ink patterns, stroke flow, and lack of mechanical or template-based duplication support hand execution. While some minor hesitations in Hoffman’s signature suggest caution, no definitive red flags emerged to categorize as reproduction or forgery. Given current evidence, the item is likely authentic.

Confidence Grade: B (Likely Authentic)

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Submitted Image: