Finding the First-Rate Autograph

In the autograph community, Judy Garland is legendary. Autograph uncovers why this troubled entertainer’s signature is among the most difficult to authenticate.

By Tricia Eaton

Judy garland’s talent, larger-than-life personality and reputation for outrageous behavior earned her Hollywood renown. From her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to her celebrated performance at Carnegie Hall, Garland lived up to her title of “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.”

She’s famous in the autograph community for a second reason. Garland’s signature is one of the most erratic and difficult to authenticate. After studying more than 400 examples of authentic signatures, forgeries and secretarially-signed items, I’ve found no one trick to picking out an authentic Judy Garland autograph because few aspects of her signature remained consistent over her life. But even though the actress and singer’s autograph lacked lifelong telltale traits, it often would be fairly consistent for a year or more. I’ve included an autograph timeline that you can compare signatures you’re considering against. Studying Garland’s major signature changes can also reveal what was going on in her life—her emotional state—as well...

Read the entire story in June’s Autograph magazine.  Click here to buy this issue of Autograph, on sale in bookstores and newsstands now, or call 1-800-996-3977 or 714-263-3560.