Lord Austin's Signature

[Tony Griffiths]

To compare: updated to include a letter to Stanley Edge.

[Tony Press]

1 and 3 are close - the final is most likely the secretary as thought before

[Chris Garner]

The Stanley Edge Archive held by the A7CA contains several letters to Edge from Austin and which contain his signature. Enclosed is one.
  Edge - Austin Signature.pdf (Size: 922.38 KB / Downloads: 40)

[Tony Griffiths]

Updated

[Tony Press]

4 and 6 are similar 'early' signatures as opposed to the later 'Lord' signatures without the H (and a bit more finished)

[Hugh Barnes]

Now we have a number to compare, I have a real problem with the 'A' in example 1 (the one that was for sale). It has a 'shaky' quality that makes me think someone was trying to get it right...

[JonE]

or he was ageing...

[Mike Costigan]

I don't think Sir Herbert 'aged' to that extent. He died aged 74, but was active and in good health until he contracted pneumonia as a result of attending the funeral of an employee killed in a bombing raid on the factory.

The ebay signature has the look of someone trying to copy an existing signature by moving the pen too slowly (having said that the presentation suggests 1940s or 1950s, and it doesn't seem realistic that someone would forge his signature at that time).

[Tony Press]

His death was over 70 years ago and 74 was a good age for then !

[Chris Garner]

In his final days, Lord Austin, confined to Lickey Grange with pneumonia, had an office adjoining his bedroom. On the day of his death he had read and signed various papers that morning.