wet signature
n. An original signature written on a piece of paper, as opposed to a fax copy or to an agreement offered verbally or electronically.
Examples
2000
Just last week, one of the companies that had been competing in the residential market, DTE Edison America, decided to fold up its offices here, citing the so-called wet signature requirement and saying the marketplace just isn't profitable enough.
—Tom Johnson, “ Energy suppliers reaching out with borrowed hands,” The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), February 27, 2000
1999
Insurers are working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to modernize and standardize troublesome state regulations. Many states, for example, have rules that require a "wet" signature on a policy or physical delivery of the policy, thus preventing policy issuance via by the Internet.
—Gene Linn, “Industry lags in Internet sales,” The Journal of Commerce, July 08, 1999
1994 (earliest)
Freddie believes that change will speed the loan delivery process, but the elimination of seller signature requirements will also trim time from the loan swap process. Freddie sellers are required to complete the agencys Global Trading Partners Agreementan agreement that binds lenders to the terms and conditions of recorded telephone conversations and electronic or fax transmissions in lieu of a wet signature on a paper document.
—“Freddie Eliminates Ink From Contracts,” The Mortgage Marketplace, January 17, 1994
Notes
Word Spy fan Shirl Kennedy was kind enough to suggest this word.