1. A method of collecting and authenticating an electronic signature and document signed thereby, comprising: storing respective representations of first and second handwritten signatures for first and second signatories and associated first and second authenticated electronic signatures of said first and second signatories, respectively, in a database; creating a message digest for a document file associated with a document to be signed; appending said message digest to said document file; transmitting said document file with said appended message digest; accepting a representation of a first unauthenticated handwritten signature and a first unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file; accepting a second unauthenticated handwritten signature and a second unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file as verification that an identity of an entity providing said first unauthenticated handwritten signature and said first unauthenticated electronic signature is the same as an identity for said first signatory; receiving said document file with said appended message digest, said first and second unauthenticated handwritten signatures, and said first and second unauthenticated electronic signatures; and, comparing the stored first handwritten signature and the stored first authenticated electronic signature with the first unauthenticated handwritten signature and the first unauthenticated electronic signature, respectively, and the stored second handwritten signature and the stored second authenticated electronic signature with the second unauthenticated handwritten signature and the second unauthenticated electronic signature, respectively, to authenticate said first and second unauthenticated handwritten signatures, said first and second unauthenticated electronic signatures, and said electronically signed document file.
1. A method of collecting and authenticating an electronic signature and document signed thereby, comprising: storing respective representations of first and second handwritten signatures for first and second signatories and associated first and second authenticated electronic signatures of said first and second signatories, respectively, in a database; creating a message digest for a document file associated with a document to be signed; appending said message digest to said document file; transmitting said document file with said appended message digest; accepting a representation of a first unauthenticated handwritten signature and a first unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file; accepting a second unauthenticated handwritten signature and a second unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file as verification that an identity of an entity providing said first unauthenticated handwritten signature and said first unauthenticated electronic signature is the same as an identity for said first signatory; receiving said document file with said appended message digest, said first and second unauthenticated handwritten signatures, and said first and second unauthenticated electronic signatures; and, comparing the stored first handwritten signature and the stored first authenticated electronic signature with the first unauthenticated handwritten signature and the first unauthenticated electronic signature, respectively, and the stored second handwritten signature and the stored second authenticated electronic signature with the second unauthenticated handwritten signature and the second unauthenticated electronic signature, respectively, to authenticate said first and second unauthenticated handwritten signatures, said first and second unauthenticated electronic signatures, and said electronically signed document file. 10. The method of collecting and authenticating electronic signatures and documents recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting of said document file with said appended message digest is accomplished by e-mail.