Galileo’s Manuscript Forgery: How a Watermark Exposed the Truth
The University of Michigan’s Galileo manuscript, long thought genuine, was exposed as a forgery in 2022—thanks to a paper watermark no expert had noticed before.
Bart Baggett- Ask a Forensic Handwriting Expert
Articles by Bart Baggett.
Bart Baggett- Ask a Forensic Handwriting Expert
Articles by Bart Baggett.
Marie Antoinette’s Redacted Letters: Secrets Revealed by Science
Centuries-old redacted letters between Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen have revealed their secrets, thanks to advanced X-ray fluorescence imaging.
The Maharaja’s Will: How Forensic Evidence Unraveled a Royal Forgery
Maharaja Harinder Singh Brar’s will sparked a decades-long inheritance battle. Forensic handwriting analysis revealed the signatures were traced, leading to a landmark court decision.
Adolf Beck: The Handwriting Error That Changed British Justice
Adolf Beck spent years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit, all due to handwriting evidence and mistaken identity. His case changed British law forever.
Why Most Americans Can’t Read Cursive Anymore
Most Americans can’t read cursive handwriting. Here’s how volunteers in the National Archives’ Citizen Archivist Program are making history accessible—one document at a time.
Operation Bernhard: How Nazi Counterfeiters Fooled the Bank of England
Operation Bernhard was the Nazi plot to destabilize Britain with expertly forged banknotes. The Bank of England caught the fakes by spotting a single serial number.
The Baron of Arizona: James Reavis and the 12-Million-Acre Forgery
James Reavis claimed 12 million acres in Arizona and New Mexico with forged Spanish land grants. Forensic document examiners exposed his fraud, leading to conviction.
Robert Durst’s ‘Cadaver’ Note: The Handwriting That Ended Decades of Denial
Robert Durst’s handwritten ‘cadaver’ note, sent anonymously to police, became the evidence that helped convict him of murder after years of denial and speculation.
CBS Bush Memos: The Cost of Skipping Authentication
In 2004, CBS aired memos about President George W. Bush's National Guard service without forensic authentication. The controversy led to a major retraction and changed several careers.
Charles Manson’s Disputed Will: The Ongoing Battle Over His Estate
Charles Manson’s 2002 will, produced by a prison pen pal, has sparked years of legal battles over his estate. The authenticity of the will’s signature remains unresolved.