UV Analysis Protocol

Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs) were not widely used in paper manufacturing until the late 1950s. A 1930s Babe Ruth signed baseball or letter that glows bright blue under a 365nm UV light is a modern forgery. Follow this protocol.

JavaScript required for interactive checklist. Manual Steps:

Turn off all ambient light.
Shine 365nm UV light (NOT 395nm) on the item.
If paper glows bright ice-blue, it contains modern OBAs (post-1950s).
Check ink for unexpected fluorescence indicating modern gel/rollerball pens.

Phase of 3

Preparation & Equipment Check

Do you have a true 365nm UV flashlight? (Common 395nm lights emit too much visible purple light and will yield false negatives).

Paper Brightener Test

Turn off ambient lights. Illuminate the paper/baseball. Does the material glow a bright, fluorescent "ice blue" or white?

Context: If the item is dated before 1955 (e.g., a 1920s letter), it should NOT glow. It should look dull or slightly yellowish under UV.

Ink Analysis

Examine the signature ink under the UV light. Is the ink fluorescing (glowing red, orange, or bright yellow)?

Context: Vintage fountain pen ink, iron gall, and early ballpoints do not fluoresce. Many modern gel pens and specific sharpies do fluoresce under UV.

Protocol Passed

No modern anomalies detected via UV.

Note: This does not guarantee authenticity, it merely clears the item of obvious modern material forgeries. Proceed to Pressure Analysis.

Red Flag Detected

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