For autograph as manuscript written by its author, see Autograph (manuscript). For collecting of autographs, see Autograph collecting. For other uses, see Autograph (disambiguation).
An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word autograph comes from Ancient Greek (αὐτός, autós, "self" and γράφω, gráphō, "write"), and can mean more specifically:[1][2]
- a manuscript written by the author of its content.[1][2] In this meaning the term autograph can often be used interchangeably with holograph.[1][3]
- a celebrity's handwritten signature.[2] Autograph collecting is the activity of collecting such autographs.[1]
History
What might be considered the oldest "autograph" is a Sumerian clay table from about 3100 BC which includes the name of the scribe Gar.Ama.[4] No ancient written autographs have been found, and the earliest one known for a major historical figure is that of El Cid from 1098.[5]
Autograph manuscript
"Autograph" can refer to a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist. This meaning overlaps that of "holograph".[3]
Celebrity's signature
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