In my role as a collector and dealer, I am constantly searching for items that have been signed by Churchill. As part of my routine, I regularly scour websites such as eBay for authentic signatures of Winston Churchill. However, I have consistently come across letters that are claimed to be genuine but are actually far from it. Although these letters may have originated from Churchill's office, they were not written or signed by him.
Without having the physical letter and a magnifying glass in front of you (which you should always have), it may seem like an authentic and valuable item to bid on, especially since the starting price is only £4.99. However, it is important to note that the letter is a printed version of an original, and therefore not worth as much as an expert might expect, typically around £1500. If you do happen to have a magnifying glass available, you can easily compare the printed letter to any handwritten letter created with a pen and ink, and you will immediately notice the distinction.
Throughout his lifetime, Churchill's office would often send out letters, similar to this one, to fulfil the requests of those who sent him gifts or letters of admiration. These letters were of exceptional quality and were often mistaken for authentic, printed with great care and precision. However, due to his busy schedule as a political figure, Churchill did not have the luxury of personally responding to each and every request he received on a daily basis.
All of the printed letters mentioned share a common trait - the absence of a salutation such as 'Dear Mr Smith'. This is a clear indication that the letter was printed. Some letters may have had a name added at the beginning, but it is usually evident that this was done either with a typewriter or pen, possibly by someone in Churchill's office or someone attempting to make the letter appear authentic.
Do not underestimate the extent to which certain individuals will go to earn quick money. It is a common occurrence to find that the signature has been cut from the bottom of these letters and displayed on its own, making it even more challenging to identify.
The signature in question appears to be authentic and can be compared favourably to other known genuine examples. However, a magnifying glass will prove to be quite useful in this instance, as it will reveal the truth upon closer inspection. A magnifying glass with a magnification of 10x is recommended, which can be easily obtained online or at a stamp shop (if you can find one!). It should be noted that under magnification a printed signature will have a uniform colour density, while a genuine signature will exhibit variations in colour and ink throughout.
One can easily observe this by making a simple comparison. Obtain a confirmed authentic signature written with a fountain pen (or create one yourself if necessary) and then compare it with the printed sample under a magnifying glass.
When examining an authentic signature, you can observe the diverse density of ink and also identify the 'bridges and tunnels' where the lines intersect, which may not be evident in a printed version. A thorough comparison of both signatures can provide a clear understanding of this concept.
Additionally, when examining printed letters, one may notice the absence of indentations on the paper from the typewriter strikes. However, it is important to note that there is still a possibility of finding a typewritten letter with a rubber stamp signature, so it is best to not make absolute statements.
In this collection, I have included some of my own items as well as images provided by other dealers. These items display a range of sizes and styles and can be addressed from various locations such as Downing Street, Hyde Park Gate, or Chartwell. Moreover, his printed signature can also be found on official documents and there are also documented letters with a rubber stamp signature. Recently, I came across one of these items being sold on ebay. Therefore, caution must be exercised when purchasing items with a signature of Winston Churchill, as they may not be genuine.
These facsimile letters are highly sought-after and still hold significant value. They can be found being sold for as much as £100, even though the sellers are aware of their true nature. However, they typically sell for around £25 -£40. If you come across one being sold at a reasonable price, I suggest adding it to your collection.
One may observe that the letters frequently bear a raised imprint for the House of Commons (although there may also be other distinct stamps) or are written on official letterheads with 'Chartwell', 'Downing Street', or 'Prime Minister' printed on them.
The 'Prime Minister' label may also be found on the envelopes (see below). Overall, these letters have a very authentic appearance, although they are all printed and not actually signed or handwritten.
While these are not arranged in a chronological sequence, it is worth mentioning the evolution of his signature. Since these are directly transcribed from an authentic letter before being published, they can also serve as a valuable resource for comparing handwriting.
Several additional letters were dispatched throughout the years, with the one provided below being just one of them. If anyone possesses other illustrations or comparable items, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you in order to further develop this document.
In addition, on the printed letters, where the letter appears to be typed, you will see that there are no indents in the paper from each letter strike. But a warning here! You could well find a letter which is typewritten, but could still contain a rubber stamp signature, so never say never!
I have shown here ones in my own collection plus a couple of images sent to me by other dealers. As you can see they vary in size and style, and could be addressed from Downing Street, Hyde Park Gate or Chartwell. His printed signature can also be found on other official documents as well, and there are also known letters which bear a rubber stamp signature as well, indeed, I saw one of these being sold on ebay not so long ago! So beware, if it has a Winston Churchill signature on it, take extra care, as it may not be authentic!
These facsimile letters are still very collectible and still have a value, and I have seen them being sold at up to £100, even when the sellers are fully aware of what they are, but most only sell for around £25 so if you see one for sale at the right price, then I do recommend adding one to your collection.
You might note that the letters often have an embossed stamp for the House of Commons (other different stamps may also exist) or are on official ‘Chartwell’ ‘Downing Street’ or ‘Prime Minister’ printed letterheads.
Even the envelopes might bear the ‘Prime Minister’ label as well (see below). All in all these are very genuine looking letters, but nevertheless all are printed and none authentically signed or written.
So there you have it, conclusive proof that the letter you have seen on ebay which looks to be a bargain, is in fact printed and worth only between £20 and £30 but still very collectible.
If you are at all unsure then simply use our Quick opinion service here.
I hope this has helped, and that you won’t get stung by one of these!
Copyright Autografica and Garry King January 2024