Donitz signatures...

[Antonio Scapini]

Hi guys, I'd like to buy a Donitz signature, I saw these in a dealer website.
From what I can see I think that the first can have some possibilities and the second one let me some doubts.
I don't know very well th Donitz hand written signature so I wait some of yours opinions.

Thanks!


PS: in the second image I delete the dealer water mark, is this the reason why you can see some black dots on the signature.

[hucks216]

I certainly wouldn't be happy with the second example.

[Jan Klaassen]

True; the second one seems forged. It really looks like someone was trying very hard to copy the real one. The first autograph seems much more smooth, like it has been done by someone who was familiair with it. Original or not, the first one stands the best chance to be.

Just say away from #2

[VtwinVince]

Second one is probably okay. His signature deteriorated considerably by the mid 1970's.

[Eric JB]

Note that his original wartime signatures aren't that smooth as the stamped version on the UBootskriegsabzeichen award documents.

His wartime signature done by hand looks more like the second one then the first one, as the first one is more looking as done like the stamped version.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

[Antonio Scapini]

Note that his original wartime signatures aren't that smooth as the stamped version on the UBootskriegsabzeichen award documents.

His wartime signature done by hand looks more like the second one then the first one, as the first one is more looking as done like the stamped version.

yours friendly

Eric-Jan

I've done a little research, and I think that what Eric-Jan wrote is correct.
The wartime signatures of Donitz are more similar to the second one! The first have a lot of differents particulars that a pre-45 signature don't have.

We wait some more opinions to understand...

[Antonio Scapini]

I post another signature of Donitz, this one is an original from 1939.

[JG 51]

I post another signature of Donitz, this one is an original from 1939.

It differs quite a lot from the second one. Still it could been written at the end of his life or in a stressful situation ?

[Jan Klaassen]

The one you posted doesn't really look like #2...as it's much 'smoother'. But indeed, it could have been during the final decade of his life...

[Jody]

Doenitz Signature

Hello,
I agree with Eric-Jan, many of Doenitz's signatures especially the ones from the 1970's look like the 2nd example shown.

Here are two stamped versions in my collection and I know many fakers based their wares on these stamped examples.

I was also told (Bill Stump among others) that Doenitz did have a secretary and this person could duplicate his signature very well and many war-time examples have these 2nd person signatures. Many of these appear on postcards signed for the HJ, etc.

Regards,
Jody

[hucks216]

Here is an example of Doenitz's signature just 6 years before he died - taken from Vol 2 of Leaders & Personalities Of The Third Reich by Charles Hamilton (Pg 287).