Watch Out for Pre-Printed Autographs — Don’t Get Fooled!

Over the years, I’ve seen a flood of so-called autographs online that are actually pre-printed. They’re super easy and cheap to produce in mass quantities and end up fooling a lot of buyers who don’t know what to look for.

What’s a pre-print?

Simply put, it’s a photographic reproduction of a real signed photo. Someone takes an original autograph photo, makes copies of it, and sells those copies as if they were genuine autographs. Some stars use pre-prints to keep up with high autograph demand, and some sellers exploit this by selling copies—sometimes of real autographs they’ve collected, sometimes forged—without being upfront about it.

The key is: the autograph is part of the photo itself, not actually signed on the surface. Even if the original autograph was real, these copies have zero collectible value.

Some sellers are sneaky about it, hiding the word “preprint” deep in the auction description or using confusing terms to trick buyers. Others list pre-prints right alongside authentic autographs — making it even tougher for buyers to spot fakes. There are honest sellers who clearly label items as “PP,” “RP,” or “facsimile,” which is great, but still, those aren’t real autographs.

How to Spot a Pre-Printed Autograph (Once You Have It in Hand)

Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell before you buy unless the seller is upfront. But if you get the autograph in person, try these tips:

Flat Signature Look
The autograph will look like it’s underneath the glossy photo surface and appear very flat.
Reflection Test
Hold the photo near a bright light and tilt it. A real autograph is signed on top of the photo, so the ink’s reflection will look different from the rest of the photo surface. A pre-print will reflect exactly the same as the photo — it’s part of the image.
Identical Copies
If you have two of the same photo, check the autograph closely. Real autographs never look exactly the same twice. Pre-prints will be exactly identical because they’re copies. You can also Google the photo and see if the exact same autograph shows up elsewhere.
Feel It Out
Run your finger lightly over the autograph. Real ink or paint pen will feel raised or different from the photo surface. Pre-prints feel completely smooth. Be careful doing this and compare with a known authentic autograph if you can.
Last-Resort Solvent Test
Some try using alcohol on a cotton swab to remove part of the autograph. If it’s a pre-print, the ink won’t come off, but this method can damage authentic autographs, so it’s not recommended.

Pro Tip for Searching Online

When searching for autographs on eBay or elsewhere, add these negative keywords to your search to filter out most pre-prints:

-rp -pp -reprint -preprint -print -rpnt -copy

For example:

johnny depp signed photo -rp -pp -reprint -preprint -print -rpnt -copy

Make sure you clear the “search title and description” box so you don’t accidentally exclude legit sellers who say they don’t sell reprints in descriptions. This simple trick cuts out the majority of pre-prints, though a few sneaky ones still slip through.

Why Pre-Prints Exist

Many celebrities are just too busy to personally sign every autograph request. They often use services like Studio Fan Mail that send out pre-printed autographs in response to fan mail. It’s a shame, but understandable given demand — and many fans don’t realize what they’re actually getting.

Some Celebrities Known for Sending Pre-Printed or Secretarial Autographs

(Partial list — but definitely worth keeping in mind!)

Alan Alda, Alex Rodriguez, Alyson Hannigan, Andy Garcia, Angelina Jolie, Benicio Del Toro, Carmen Electra, Christian Slater, Clint Eastwood, David Duchovny, Dean Cain, Drew Barrymore, Gillian Anderson, Halle Berry, Hank Azaria, Henry Winkler, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Garner, Jensen Ackles, Jessica Biel, Jim Carrey, Jodi Foster, John Travolta, Kaley Cuoco, Kate Mulgrew, Kathy Ireland, Kim Basinger, Krista Allen, Lauren Graham, LeVar Burton, Marg Helgenberger, Matthew Fox, Matthew Perry, Minnie Driver, Neil Patrick Harris, Neve Campbell, Nicholas Cage, Ozzy Osbourne & Family, Poppy Montgomery, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Robert Patrick, Rod Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Rock, Thomas Jane, Tim Allen, Tobey Maguire, Tom Arnold, Tony Hawk, Tyra Banks, Zoey Deschanel, Most TV Cast Photos, Most Star Trek actors.

Bottom Line

Educate yourself, buy smart, and buy from trusted sources like us. And if you ever have questions, just ask — we’re here to help.

Sincerely,
World of Autographs

P.S. Don’t forget to have fun with your collecting! Life’s too short to stress over every signature.

Now click or touch here go buy some of our authentic autographs!