DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 336 — Real vs. Fake: Identifying Forged Engraver Signatures on Prints

Engraver signatures—found beneath images on maps, portraits, historical prints, and fine engravings—are among the most frequently forged elements in the works-on-paper market. Counterfeiters often add handwritten signatures, enhance faded plate signatures, erase original engraver names, or print modern facsimiles onto old paper to increase market value.

Authenticating engraver signatures requires a forensic understanding of ink behavior, plate impressions, paper age, printing technology, typographic consistency, magnified stroke analysis, and historical engraver activity.

This guide provides the complete professional method used by experts to determine whether an engraver signature is genuine, altered, erased, or added later.

Inside, you’ll learn how professionals:

• Distinguish engraved plate signatures from modern handwritten forgeries

• Identify typographic traits of engraved vs. lithographic signature styles

• Evaluate ink penetration, feathering, oxidation, and interaction with period rag paper

• Detect pencil, pen, gel-ink, and modern additions to printed signatures

• Examine plate impressions, burr structure, groove depth, and pressure marks

• Identify erased or replaced signature lines using raking light and magnification

• Compare signatures to documented authentic engraver exemplars

• Evaluate era consistency—matching engravers to artists, publishers, and dates

• Detect facsimile signatures printed via inkjet, laser, or digital reproduction

• Analyze paper attributes: watermarks, laid/wove structure, fiber consistency, aging

• Identify cut-off margins, patch repairs, replaced lower borders, and altered paper

• Recognize modern toner dots, inkjet micro-droplets, and digital print edges under magnification

• Assess value impact of authentic vs. forged engraver signatures

Whether you’re evaluating copper-plate engravings, steel engravings, mezzotints, lithographs, maps, book plates, or historical portrait prints, Volume 336 gives you the complete forensic system needed to authenticate engraver signatures with accuracy and protect against costly mistakes.

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