AuthenticATION
Here at Autographs Authentic, we take authenticity very seriously. We are well aware of the vast number of fakes and forgeries out there in the marketplace today. We like to think we are doing our part to make sure bad items don’t enter the marketplace and create problems for fellow collectors. That’s why we’ve employed one of the best forensic handwriting experts in the country. Our very own Doug Martin works exclusively for Autographs Authentic and has been in the autograph authentication business for the last 30 years. Doug’s expertise, formal training and education makes him a strong asset to not only our company, but the autographs industry as a whole. Doug owns his very own forensic handwriting authentication business called “Verified Authentication, and is our primary authenticator here at Autographs Authentic. In addition to Doug’s formal training, he’s been actively involved in the autograph industry since 1990. In this time, he’s worked with some of the worlds leading experts in the autograph industry. He’s a collector who has amassed one of the largest collections we’ve ever seen. Doug is also very active with law enforcement and has opined in a court of law of many occasions. He’s been called to testify as a handwriting and autograph expert over 50 times in the United States. Simply put – he’s one of the best. Thank you, Doug!
Doug Martin's Education and Formal Training credentials
September, 1988
Valencia Community College (Orlando, Florida) Instructor – Ronald Dick
Introduction to the field of questioned documents, examination of hand writing and hand painting, examination of signatures, acquisition of special material, document problems, legal aspects of questioned documents, legal aspects of questioned handwriting, handwriting systems, acquisition of exemplars.
May, 1990
International Association For Identification (75th Annual Education Conference)
Document Diamonds, automated handwriting indentification, document dating by ink, Signature comparison workshop, Digital imaging and enhancement, preparation of court charts.
June, 1991
International Association For Identification (76th Annual Education Conference)
Signature workshop and questioned document examination, the relationship between disguised handwriting & years of formal education, Identification of altered letters and numbers, ink analysis manual for investigators.
September, 1992
National Academy of Forensic Examiners (Branson, Missouri)
Disguised writing, forgery detection via ink analysis, report writing, questioned document examination, pen computing, digital signatures, copied & printed signatures, Opinions: Letters of opinions and reasons why.
May, 2000
Tri-State Annual Education Conference
Digital imaging, questioned document case review, forensic sciences, examination of forged papers, examination of (ink, paper, handwriting, copied items used to forge documents), examination of altered documents.
Verify the authenticity of your item
Doug is highly respected in the hobby and his letters of authenticity give signed items added substantial value in the marketplace. Having said that, there are crooks out there who recognize this and have forged his letters and his signature on fake letters. If you have purchased an item that supposedly came with a letter of authenticity from our authenticator, Doug Martin, and want to be sure it is in fact his letter, please send us a message directly on our website and we will have Doug verify it for you. Be sure to include a photo of your item along with the reference number on your letter.