autographist

plural autographists

1. One who collects or authenticates autographs.

   [Joseph] Kyselak, who described himself as an "autographist," was no innovator either.

   1994, Paul Hofmann, The Spell of the Vienna Woods: Inspiration and Influence From Beethoven to Kafka, New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN, page 193

   2 more examples

   He was particularly famous as an autographist, however, and his judgment in all matters concerning the genuineness and value of autographs was unerring.

   1893 November 1, The Bowdoin Orient, volume XXIII, number 8, Brunswick, M.E.: Bowdoin College, →OCLC, page 147

   Above all things, my dear autographist, get your victim's name correct, do not add insult to injury.

   1904, Harry Furniss, Harry Furniss at Home, London: George Bell and Sons, page 267

2. One who signs an autograph.

   The autographists have not been very happy in their quotations.

   1889 December 14, Punch, volume XCVII, London: Punch Publications Ltd., page 280

   1 more example

   It was quite a troublesome task to keep the autographists within their proper limits, but I was very peremptory—though jocosely so, of course—upon the subject.

   1871 April 1, “My New Idea”, in Charles Dickens Jr., editor, All the Year Round, volume V, number 122, London: Chapman & Hall, page 428

   Synonyms: autographer

3. One who copies a historic document.

   Where no modern editing has been done on a number. with an 18th century edition merely being handed over to an autographist or engraver for re-copying, it is all too easy for careless, incorrect 20th century reprints to result.

   1957 April, Laurence Taylor, “Flute Facts: Editing "Old Music"”, in The Instrumentalist, volume XI, number 8, Northbrook, I.L.: The Instrumentalist Publishing Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68