Signed BTS albums - a Guide
Disclaimer:
- This applies only to @BTS_twt. All groups are different!
- I'm focusing on group signs here
- There are exceptions to some of the things I'm going to talk about. I'll try to mention them
- It takes practice, but anyone can do it

BTS has been consistent in how they sign albums since debut (thank goodness); therefore, except in rare cases, it is easy to tell which albums are real and which are forged!
It is safe to buy signed BTS albums as long as you know what you are looking for

This blog is a great source of info. I highly suggest reading it for details about the boys' signatures. It also has a lot of photos to practice on
Part 1 - http://cafarnaumbox.blogspot.com/2015/12/how-to-spot-fake-signed-autographed-bts.html?m=1
Part 2 - http://cafarnaumbox.blogspot.com/2017/02/how-to-spot-fake-signed-autographed-bts.html?m=1

Solo signed
I won't say too much because I don't know enough about solo signed albums
- Generally from giveaways
- HYYH ones are not very rare so they are cheap (around $100). Others are much rarer and are more expensive than group signed albums

There are two types of signed albums - Promo albums and non-promo (MWave) albums.

Promo: Given by BTS/BH to people in industry such as PDs or those they work with. Has a silver "bimae" (not for sale) sticker (LY Answer and beyond may come w/o stickers!)

Regular - have gold C/C1/C2 (1 CD or 2 CDs) sticker found on any album you buy
- Mostly from MWave - Sold by groups directly to their fans
- BTS did this for Dark and Wild, HYYH Pt 1, and HYYH Pt 2
These are the most abundant signed albums. Regular ver are cheaper than promo

Most signed albums, except for D&W and HYYH, are promo albums (there might be exceptions) bcs BTS rarely signs regular albums for fans.

At fansigns, BTS signs inside the album on their individual pages! If anyone tells you the album is from a fansign, that's a big red flag.

If an album has a silver bimae sticker, there is a good chance that it is real. The stickers only come on promo albums and most are signed before being given away. However, there have been fake albums with bimae stickers, so still be careful!

How to tell if a BTS signature is real
1. BTS always signs in the same order - RM, Suga, Jimin, Jungkook, J-Hope, Tae, Jin (clockwise from top middle)
2. Their signature styles are consistent for each era
3. Pen pressure is NOT a good indication (BTS have similar pen pressures)

In general, the older the album, the more detailed the signatures! You can see the progression (degradation) of the signatures below
Always compare to albums from that era

(I've seen BTS sign older albums for s/o and so their signatures don't match that era, but it's rare)

Other signed items
- BTS has signed only a few posters and photocards. They are rare. If you see them for cheap, they are fake
- BTS never sign unofficial merch. Those are fake
- BTS do sign some non-album items like Summer Package 2014
Apply the same rules to see if it's real

Misc.
- LY Answer and beyond - sometimes don't have any stickers if it's bimae signed
- D&W and HYYH are the most common, but white Pt1 and blue Pt2 are a bit rarer (white sold out for a while)
- Wings signed with white marker is rarer
- 2C4S is the rarest and signed with gold

Please do not sell or give away fake signed albums. A fake signed album is worth less than an unsigned - it's ruined. If it's given to someone else, somewhere down the line, someone is going to get scammed. Please be aware

Unlike some groups, BTS never has managers sign their albums. If someone tries to say the signatures look funny because it's manager signed (which I've seen happen), it's fake.
So don't believe "proof" in the form of certifications, fansigns for album covers, or manager signed

- The rarest signed album is Skool Luv Affair Special Addition. It's price is around $700. There are maybe around 7 in the world. Non-signed ones go for around $200 (even w/o PC)
- If you get a fansigned page, there should be a "To: xxx" on it! If not, it is probably fake

Tae signing promo albums. These are passed to industry people (like music show PDs), not sold. Eventually, they end up on the market for people to buy when these people decide they don't need the albums. As you can see, he's not signing these at a fansign https://twitter.com/BTS_twt/status/1241277057784360960?s=19

Correction to this tweet https://twitter.com/bt21onamazon/status/1163632487509086208
BTS had non-promo signed albums for 2C4S, ORUL82, SLA, D&W, and HYYH Pt 1 (has a lot of solo signs) through YesAsia, MWave, Soompi. D&W and HYYH Pt 1 are the most common

There are promo signed versions for these albums as well

Signed #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_PERSONA and #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7

Knowing groups signs is very different from knowing solo signs. I only know group signed albums

Solo signs can look very different from group signed stuff because there's a lot more room to write. I don't collect solo signs and have not looked at enough to authenticate

Other rare merch https://twitter.com/BTSMerchUpdates/status/1276353321876336640?s=19

After YNWA, BTS stopped signing all versions of their album and generally stuck to one version

There are a few exceptions where they signed for people/friends who ask and it is a random version - whatever album the person had on hand
@BTS_twt

- Wings: Mostly W bimae, but I/N/G have C1 signed copies
- LY Her - O
- LY Tear - O
- LY Answer - E
- MOTS Persona - Ver 3
- MOTS 7 - Ver 4

There are times where other versions are signed; the signatures themselves are the best indications of authenticity. But vers # can help