16. An apparatus for collecting and authenticating an electronic signature and document signed thereby, comprising: means for storing respective representations of first and second handwritten signatures and associated first and second authenticated electronic signatures of first and second signatories, respectively, in a database; means for creating a message digest for a document file associated with a document to be signed; means for appending said message digest to said document file; transmitting said document file with said appended message digest; means for accepting a representation of a first unauthenticated handwritten signature and a first unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file; means for 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; means for 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, means for 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.
16. An apparatus for collecting and authenticating an electronic signature and document signed thereby, comprising: means for storing respective representations of first and second handwritten signatures and associated first and second authenticated electronic signatures of first and second signatories, respectively, in a database; means for creating a message digest for a document file associated with a document to be signed; means for appending said message digest to said document file; transmitting said document file with said appended message digest; means for accepting a representation of a first unauthenticated handwritten signature and a first unauthenticated electronic signature with respect to said transmitted document file; means for 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; means for 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, means for 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. 19. The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein said means for appending said message digest to said document file comprises a general purpose computer specially programmed to append said message digest to said document file.