Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bradford on January 19, 2017 at 7:01am

Sorry Ben. It looked shakier and and not like some of his vintage signature that I'm accustomed to seeing. Good on getting it confirmed by knowledgeable sources.

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Permalink Reply by James on January 19, 2017 at 2:48pm

I'm shifting gears just a bit, but I have an off-topic question.

As far as what to have signed, would a Star Wars comic book be an okay thing to have signed?

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on January 19, 2017 at 3:22pm

With the grading companies witnessing, slabbing and certifying signed comics, there is a market for signed comics, but I can't imagine that market having as wide an audience as photos and posters.

My best advice is to get what you like signed, especially if you don't care about resale value.

Yes, I do have some comics signed, but the vast majority of them are signed by the creators, not the celebs who stared in the projects the comics are based upon.

There are of course exceptions to the rule.

 

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 19, 2017 at 4:12pm

For me personally, the actors had nothing to do with the comic so why have them sign it?

One time I met Mark hamill the guy in front of me was getting a comic signed and mark quipped "i thought my acting was really good in the comic".

IMO especially if you're paying for an autograph, it's a better idea to get something related to their work. Movie poster, photo, prop... there's a ton of possibilities.

But then there's people that get presidents to sign baseballs, so it all comes down to what you like to collect, like Pete said.

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Permalink Reply by James on January 19, 2017 at 5:15pm

Great advice, Mike and Pete. Pete, I'm just curious. What might you think your "Empire Strikes Back" is worth? That's awesome in my opinion! Are there 14 or 15 autographs on there?

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on January 19, 2017 at 5:53pm

Lucas, Kersh, Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Prowse, Jones, Daniels, Baker, Oz, Mayhew, Williams, Bulloch, Colley & Sheard. 15 and done. I haven't considered selling it, so I really haven't tried pricing it.

It's not something that can be replaced. Kersh, Sheard, Carrie and Kenny are no longer with us, a vintage Jones, a vintage full Hamill and uninscribed Oz.....it sure as hell wouldn't be cheap.   

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Permalink Reply by James on January 19, 2017 at 6:39pm

It's beautiful, Pete! I showed you the signed "Return of the Jedi" original album (though sigs are more modern) soundtrack from 1983 that I'm buying. It has nine sigs. Lucas, Williams, Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Daniels, Mayhew, Bulloch, and Rose (signed twice).

Since it's my first piece, I wanted autographs on a "vintage" piece. As you suggested, photos and posters are the most common and popular medium to have signed. I like it, but I just hope if I ever decide to sell that an album isn't too odd of an item for resale. I mean I've seen them bought and sold before. It's a verbal abridged version of the movie. Do you have any thoughts whether this is an "acceptable" item for Star Wars fans? I do like it, I just don't know if others will.

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Permalink Reply by James on January 19, 2017 at 6:45pm

Here's a pic. Oh, and Mike, feel free to offer your thoughts too.

Attachments: No photo uploads here

• IMG_4707.PNG, 6.1 MB

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on January 19, 2017 at 7:24pm

There is nothing wrong with the item, as long as you like it, that is what matters most and you likely saved a small fortune on it due to the fact that Baker didn't sign it. If he had put pen to paper on that piece, silly as it sounds, you would have paid double for it. Triple if Oz was on there. Selling it down the road may be a bit on the tricky side.

For nearly 30 years SW collectors were extremely lucky, in that the majority of the main cast of the films were around and signing memorabilia. People tend to pay a huge premium for a full cast piece.

Now please remember you did ask for an opinion, you likely won't care for mine. Condition is huge factor, every ding, dent or crease will have serious collectors pass it up, and let's face the facts ....Jedi isn't a well loved film. The "Story of" record isn't the film soundtrack, which would likely be a better piece in the eyes of most collectors.

The piece already has some strikes against it, and being incomplete doesn't help matters. Tacking on McDiarmid, and maybe the 3 credited Jabba puppeteers will help some, but if you put it in front of Frank now he will only sign it if he inscribes it, and Baker, well we know that isn't going to happen.     

You like it, my advice is that you should continue liking it and don't get ahead of yourself thinking about selling it. 

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 19, 2017 at 7:29pm

Lol if you put it in front of frank now he won't even sign it.

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Permalink Reply by James on January 19, 2017 at 10:46pm

Pete, I really appreciate your candor. That is, in fact, what I wanted. I understand the things you're saying about condition and it being incomplete. Obviously, I really wish Kenny Baker was in it, but as you say...that isn't going to happen. There are five stars I'd really like to add to it if it were ever possible: Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones. Of course, that's no small task.

Now I could be wrong, but I think having John Williams and George Lucas is a big plus because I seem to see many multi-signed items that either don't have one or the other or both, even more so it seems John Williams. Also, from my limited experience, Ford, Lucas, and Williams can be more of a challenge for multi-signed items since they don't do shows, and even more so Lucas and Williams since I don't think they do private signings either, and Ford has done some. For me personally, in looking for a multi-signed item, I had to have Lucas...the creator, and John Williams...the maestro, the creator of timeless iconic music.

The five I've listed that I'd like to add will be challenging if it ever happens at all. Of those five, I think I'd like to add Frank Oz and James Earl Jones the most.

As far as condition goes, I know it's important, but can be incredibly challenging to find signed albums that are 34 years old in near mint condition. You know, of course, sellers who are selling vintage signed albums of music stars will always say..."item in good condition for its age". It just seems like albums in particular tend to get worn quite a bit over the years. You know what I mean? Like, for example, Iconic Auctions, a few months back sold a nearly 40 year old Prince signed album for $3000 that was pretty beat up with a couple of holes in it. In fact, compared to that Prince album, this Jedi album looks pretty good. And I'm not being smart with you because I greatly respect your opinion and all the advice you've given. It's much appreciated. But I really don't know how Star Wars collectors are. Are the a bit more particular in what they're looking for?

The seller pointed out that multi-signed pieces can take a collector a decent amount of time to accumulate, especially when trying to add the likes of Ford, Lucas, and Williams. The seller said he got Ford at an aviation event in Wisconsin in the middle of 2016, he got Williams before a show in Boston in 2016, and Lucas he got either before or after the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC in 2015.

I've looked at a few of the recent past sales on eBay, and some stuff is going pretty high, at least for photos. An 11x14 of Ford, Hamill, Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams sold for $1800. An 11x14 of just Ford, Fisher, and Hamill sold for $1600, and a 16x20 of Ford, Fisher, Hamill, and Mayhew Sold for $2200.

But anyway, does the thing I said about condition make sense? Do collectors take age into consideration?

Anyway Pete, thanks for all your help.

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 19, 2017 at 7:39pm

Pete and I are almost always on the same page and same is true here.. it's a decent piece, but you are missing main cast members and have secondary cast members that are unnecessary. Condition isn't the greatest, and I'm never a personal fan of dark signatures on dark backgrounds. If you're happy with it that's all that matters. With names like Ford and Williams and now fisher, it will likely be easy to sell in the future, but it won't get top collectors breaking open their piggy banks over it.

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