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Tricks of the Trade

This group offers helpful tips for maximizing your collecting experience! This group is geared towards in-person autograph collecting. Posts in this group have the potential to be included in future 'Tricks of the Trade' columns in the magazine.

Members: 131
Latest Activity: Sep 28, 2023

Discussion Forums

How to keep 11x14's from bending in the field?

Started by BC. Last reply by wjfranz (Bill Franz) Aug 25, 2016. 1 Reply

Beginner looking for advice on framing.

Started by Simon Tam. Last reply by Simon Tam Aug 10, 2016. 8 Replies

Paint Pens vs. Markers

Started by Louis Becerra. Last reply by Lisa Meyer Jul 19, 2016. 21 Replies

Can Something Be Applied To An Autograph To Protect It?

Started by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS. Last reply by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS Jun 26, 2015. 4 Replies

Is there any way to fix a faded autograph?

Started by Daniel Alayof. Last reply by Scott Paul Jun 16, 2015. 5 Replies

Best paint pen for leather/cleats?

Started by Mike P. Last reply by BC Jul 30, 2014. 1 Reply

Taking A Picture Signing Is Best Authentication

Started by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS. Last reply by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS May 3, 2014. 1 Reply

How to protect autographs on diecasts

Started by PICTURE PROOF AUTOGRAPHS May 2, 2014. 0 Replies

Comment Wall

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Comment by michael hardin on March 11, 2010 at 12:33am
silver paint pen or gold paint pen on it
Comment by Jason Boyd on March 10, 2010 at 11:23pm


what type of pen/marker would work best for a Jeannie Bottle autograph?
EX. gold/silver paint pen/marker ; sharpie ; etc. i'd really appreciate your opinion.
Comment by mike2359 on February 22, 2010 at 7:21pm
I used Blue sharpies when getting my home plate signed by hall of famers, over 50 autographs and no smudges or bleeding, everything came clean and color never faded. I have seen bases signed with black sharpies and they come out almost faded and bleed, and yes I have seen the yellow bleed from the black ink. My friend has a baseball bat that he tried to get signed by players and it didn't work out too well, smudges, bleeding and because it was a glossy bat, the whole thing is a mess
Comment by Sheldon Gajarian on January 1, 2010 at 10:17am
Also, another hard and fast rule, never use a sharpie on baseballs, the ink soaks in a mashes in real leather or yellows with black. The only only exception is if you buy one of those stadium balls in a pinch, the kind with a team logo, you can't use a ball point pen, the cheap Taiwan pleather can't hold the ink and they fade, here a sharpie must be used.
Comment by Sheldon Gajarian on January 1, 2010 at 10:13am
I've never nor will I ever use a blue sharpie, it's personal preference. Since autograph collecting hit mainstream and card companies got involved, blue denotes big business, or a reseller gathered it, or a paid for signature, just my opinon...
Comment by Alex Westgerdes on December 9, 2009 at 11:16am
One of the few tricks I use when I do a NASCAR signing is to bring a silver Sharpie to an event, especially if you want a diecast signed. If you are going to an event where they are more than one driver signing, bring several of them.

One, most collectors want to get their diecasts signed on the windshield (sponsors logos on the hood, too small of a space on the roof with the moving roof flaps) and the only way it can be seen easily is to use a silver Sharpie.

My best example is the Clint Bowyer signing I went to in 2007. At the time, he had Jack Daniels as a sponsor and drove an all black car. I thought the better of it and got a silver Sharpie for my car to be signed. As I was standing in line, one of his PR people went through the line and was asking for a silver Sharpie. I handed mine and she thanked me.

Well, it became my turn in line and the PR girl went to Clint and said he was the one who gave up the pen. He thanked me, shook my hand, and asked me how many autographs I wanted...I got three hero cards signed, my diecast signed, and four trading cards signed.

Ever since then, I have carried a silver Sharpie to a signing when a diecast is involved. You never know if they need it more than you do.
Comment by Jeffery Kite on November 19, 2009 at 4:51pm
I have found that if you are getting an autograph on a 3x5 card or something, if you get them to sign in pencil, the autograph won't fade because pencil ink will last forever! Also, if I want to get a picture of a celebrity signed, I will cut their pictures out of old magazines that you can find for pennies on the dollar at most flea markets and thrift stores. If all you want is an autograph and don't care about what it is on, this is ideal. And if you send it through the mail, you have not lost anything very valuable if it gets lost or damaged.
Comment by Louis Becerra on November 10, 2009 at 4:45pm
No proble, Russ. That part of why this forum and my column are here - to create productive dialogue among collectors that will help enhance everyone's collecting experience!
Comment by Stephen Duncan on October 31, 2009 at 7:47am
"Blue" sharpies do have a very true ink that stands up well and lasts longer over time than black, especially when exposed to light. Black has a bit of yellowness that tends to come out and black may even "dissapear" over time. Some stars are just looking for a reason to say no to signing. Blaming it on a blue sharpie is just plain silly. I am always ready to ask the celeb to inscribe. Usually solves the issue.
Comment by Joshua Windon on September 29, 2009 at 2:03pm
I am relatively new to the hobby and do know that those who want signatures in Blue sharpie are often considered professional. I also know that autographs in blue sharpie typically capture a higher price when sold. Why is that? Is it because of the contrast that it provides against the picture?
 

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