We're an eBay affiliate and may be compensated on purchases made through clicks.

Autograph Common Sense

Let's take some time to talk about autographs, sounds silly right? In the last few weeks a number of new & old collectors have popped in here on this site and elsewhere with items they want to know about...Is this real? What's the value? and so on.

Many of us collect different things, some only collect sports, some mostly music, astronauts or presidents, whatever you collect this topic will fit into any category, for my purposes, seeing as I collect celebrity autographs, these are the examples I will use.

There are so many things that should be looked at when you are deciding what you should collect and where the actual value can possibly end up.

Lets start with the item. Is it a photograph? Maybe a poster and is it original or a cheap copy? What size is it? Was it produced in a photo lab or printed out on your computer? All of this matters.

Maybe it's a size that the signer rarely autographs. As we saw recently with an oversized Armstrong photo selling for 10 times the normal price.

A photograph should be a good size to display with a strong autograph that you can see clearly ...even from across the room. If the celebrity signed in a dark area with a dark pen (as many do).....the value will be different..... far different.

Avoid magazine pages or flimsy paperstock lithographs, they will not last for the long term, and computer printed images will fade and look horrible in time, that is if the sharpie doesn't bleed into the image. Good lab produced photos have a lifespan of 100 years or more. Paper stock magazine pages will crumble to dust over time....think about old newspapers.

While we are on the subject of images.....is that image from the celebrity's most famous role? The one character which he or she is know for worldwide? This is also of huge importance but it is also a double edged sword on occasion. Certain celebrities are so well known for a specific role that nearly everything signed by them in their career is images of that role. Sean Connery will always be James Bond, and for 50+ years he has been singing James Bond images, posters and memorabilia. He has certainly signed far fewer pieces from Highlander or Indiana Jones, both of those franchises will always have a place in collections and will have collectors who want them.

Other examples of this would be Joe D on a Mr. Coffee ad photo or a shot swinging a bat in uniform, Armstrong in his NASA jumpsuit or a business suit. Roger Maris in pinstripes or in a Cards jersey. Which do you think will be more valuable to the average fan? Sure a shot of Joe D holding a Mr. Coffee coffee pot would be a fun piece for someone who owns a dozen Yankees shots of Joe, but what would the "normal" fan prefer?

There are rare celebrities whose career has given them multiple characters with far reaching long term recognition. Al Pacino will always be Michael Corleone and Tony Montana. Harrison Ford has both Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Other celebs aren't that lucky, but if they are recognized forever as one character ....that is nothing to sneeze at, and it is probably a good bet that if you want to add that person to your collection, it is probably wise to be sure you get the right item signed. Marlon Brando on a Godfather photo would likely sell for 20 times what a standard Brando image would bring. Heath Ledger photos as the Joker ( I only know of about a dozen) will sell for far more than any other Ledger graph.....no offense to the Brokeback fans.

Be smart about what you add to your collection and if you are in a position where you have to be buying a piece.....save up and holdout for the right piece

Posters, props and costumes are all options for signing, but again.....quality always matters, both in the item signed and the autograph ......choose wisely.

Of course sometimes you have no choice but to compromise, especially when you are in search of a celebrity that is no longer with us, just take your time and be patient, don't jump into anything without doing your homework.

I am sure there are dozens of other factors.....these were just the few that popped into my head in the last day or so. Please add to the list.

10 members like this

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on November 5, 2016 at 1:05pm: Cycleback.com

Comment by Paul on November 5, 2016 at 1:16pm: Hendrix would be upset over those chinese guitars.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on November 5, 2016 at 1:42pm: And the possibilities - an unusual quality book photo presents a good opportunity, sometimes, for a seldom signed image.

Comment by Paul on November 5, 2016 at 1:54pm: Has anyone ever seen a signed pick gaurd break down ?

Comment by Hugh Costra on November 11, 2016 at 7:21am: Thank you Pete.

Me as a small collector, what i learned by coming here it's what you say. Before i just buy an autograph of a celebrity that i like just if it's genuine and if the price is good for me. So i bought some very bad autographs (now i know, thanks to you). But i was happy at the moment to have one from him/her.

With Harrison Ford it's a little different, cause what i see regularly it's very expensive for a very bad signature, so when i see a good vintage signature even on a magazine page at a very low price i want to buy it !

For you it's not good to do that, i understand, but me i prefer a good signature on a low quality image that the reverse. That's a point of view of a small collector ;)

Comment by Pete Bendu on November 11, 2016 at 8:16am: I understand the points from every side in this idea, but you must be aware that every collector even those that claim to do this for themselves only....should have in the back of their mind the slightest hope that their collection will continue to hold value or possible gain in value......If it is for your retirement or something to leave to your family, as collectors we can't keep spending money on items that will lose value. We do that enough in our lives with cars and appliances and just about everything else we buy.

A photograph will likely have a good long life, as I mentioned in the blog post....a lab photo (properly produced) will last 100+ years. A magazine page will crumble to dust like old newspaper and start chipping at the edges, until the piece looks horrible.

Buying a magazine page at a good price from a deceased celebrity is one thing, especially when your possibilities are very limited. Any living modern celeb will have plenty of material available on good items. Spend wisely on your collection now, even if it means waiting or saving for a bit. It will pay off for you in the future.

I wish someone would have told me these little facts, back when I started collecting. I can't make anyone take my advice, you will do what you want to do, but I can be sure to put this out there in hopes of helping someone....someday.

Comment by sling on November 11, 2016 at 8:43am: ####swell said

Comment by Barry S on November 11, 2016 at 8:52am: That's all that need to be said Pete. Quality over quantity. I wish I had done this starting out also. Some of my most cherished pieces my children will one day have to throw away, because I'm the only one who loves them.

Comment by Pete Bendu on November 11, 2016 at 8:59am: I say give your family the first option always, but certain things that you know your family won't treasure or sell for some kind of needed income.....that's the stuff you should hold aside and make a comment about in your "Last Will & Testament"...make your family donate them to a worthy cause, or stay in touch with like minded collectors so that your family knows who to contact if anything should ever happen to you.

My wife has known since I met her, that anything I own should be handled by my 2 closest friends in this hobby. They will know what they want, and where to get the best possible money for the rest. Having a game plan in place, can never hurt.

Comment by Barry S on November 11, 2016 at 9:03am: When I die my wife's new boyfriend will sell all my stuff, probably buy a boat. I've always wanted a boat.

Comment