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Authenticity is Everything
Has anyone grown as a collector?
I've learnt heaps about preservation and the connection made with other collectors is always resourceful, i always believe the best authenticators are the die hard fans (collectors) themselves.
I like to upgrade my collection, so to speak, trade the silver for the gold as it grows, anyone else?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on
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I have been a collector my whole life, my first autograph came when I was about 8 years old.....I guess I weighed in at about 80 pounds then. Now in my mid 40's, I am about 265 lbs. So yeah, I would say I did a whole lot of growing as a collector.
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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on
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Pete, that's a good one!!!
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Permalink Reply by Paul on
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Once you finished growing up you grow out and then gravity kicks in and you start to sag.
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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on
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I started collecting in general from my earliest memories. I got into autographs in the early 70s quite by accident. I certainly have grown in knowledge and fundamentals since then. You learn more from your failures than your successes I believe. I have collected most of my life prior to the internet and that has been a great advantage. There were fewer places to get autographs so collections grew at a slower pace. Through the mail was primary way of collecting for young people with little money. Today with deep pockets someone can amass an impressive collection in a very short time. I have been trying to improve my collection over the years from just a sterile signature to letters and documents. I think these give a better sense of a person than a nicely place signature. I am in a minority it seems on that score. If I have a choice between a signature on an index card and the same signature with a greeting I always chose the latter.
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Permalink Reply by James on
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Yes, I've definitely grown as a collector over the years. I got my first autograph probably around the age of eight. My biggest "score" at an early age (about 10 years old) was when I got to meet Mickey Mantle in-person and get his autograph on an old exhibit card. About a year later, I got a huge thrill when I got Home Run King Hank Aaron's autograph during his last year season when Milwaukee played Kansas City at Royals Stadium. It was only on a piece of notebook paper but I was still on cloud nine. The value of the autograph never ever entered my mind. All I knew was that I had Hammerin' Hank's autograph, and I was the luckiest kid in the world.
I didn't really get serious about collecting autographs until my early 30's. My first purchase was a Michael Jordan signed photo that I bought from a dealer at the local mall. I soon learned it was fake, and then I learned to only consider MJ autos from Upper Deck.
On January 17, 1998, the most dominanting player in basketball history, the great Wilt Chamberlain finally returned to his alma mater, the University of Kansas, after a forty year absence. The Kansas Jayhawks retired his jersey to the rafters of Phog Allen Fieldhouse. After the game was over, Wilt stayed and signed more than a thousand autographs for free for the fans. It was so exciting to meet him, and get my picture with him. He was the nicest autograph signer I've ever met. And four months before his passing, he came back to Kansas for a Sports Collectors show, and I got his auto on a ball for only $125. That was in 1999.
Over the years I've made mistakes...got burned, but I've learned a lot. My skills have much better over the years. The first autograph that I became somewhat of an "expert" on was Mark McGwire's in the late '90s when he was a hot commodity. Since then, I've gained skills in other areas as well. And this site has certainly helped a lot. Kudos to Steve Cyrkin for having this great website. I used to be mainly into sports autographs, but realized that there was no reason to limit myself because I'm very much into music, movies, and politics as well. So my collection has expanded into other areas as well. Now "expanded" doesn't mean I have a massive collection. But I've got some nice pieces that I really treasure.
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Permalink Reply by James Stone on
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Oh course! 5 Years ago I didn't know anything, now I could write a book on this hobby. I think I am fairly good at knowing the value/rarity/authenticity of about 50+ autos,
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