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Authenticity is Everything
Personalized or Autograph Only? Extra script or less? More Valuable or less? More Marketable or less?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by wascher on
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I believe it is a personal thing for the buyer and what they are willing to pay. It also depends on what is added.... if it is just things like "Love" or a famous saying that person says, I believe the piece is nicer than just an auto. In addition, the extra inscription to the ones I study (which is strictly Michael Jackson).... would personally give me more assurance that a piece is not forged. His autograph is faked by many, to the point of having TPO's not be able to detect good forgeries.... but his handwriting is unmistakeable, as he used certain alphabet characters in lower and cap throughout his writing (and rarely EVER changed it up), plus the flow is one of a kind :) When there is more on the piece, you have more to look at, and forgers are not always the best at inscriptions.
That's my take on the ones I study.
wascher
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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on
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I agree with Wascher, more writing on a piece is a plus, especially with a signer that is heavily forged.
It's a tough sell if the person is alive and signing, when they inscribe a piece to someone specific. On the other hand an inscribed item from Ruth, McQueen, Brando or someone of their stature, will obviously not turn buyers away.
Wascher does MJ....I do Star Wars, a Peter Cushing Star Wars photo is quite valuable if not inscribed to someone, but a Cushing Star Wars photo uninscribed with "May God's blessing be with you always, in all Sincerety," Peter Cushing will sell for 3-5 times more.
Items where the celebrity adds their character name can certainly sell for more than just their signature on the same piece. If the person is a regular at conventions signing for a fee that is a bit different. Dave Prowse is a perfect example, there are tens of thousands of pieces out there with Dave Prowse is Darth Vader.....that will not add value. Harrison Ford adding Han Solo will triple the value.
Mickey Mantle signed a ton of stuff in his day and it still sells at a premium, if he added No 7, or HOF '74 , Triple Crown 1956, MVP years, or his lifetime Home runs 536 ......each of these inscriptions just adds value.
Something as silly as adding a middle name to a signature can add value ....check out the prices on a Derek Jeter signed baseball....then look at the Derek Sanderson Jeter signed ball.
As long as it is not made out to someone, every added bit can only help.
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Permalink Reply by Bradford on
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Great posts gentleman. So do you believe if the inscription is made out to someone (personlized) then the piece is worth less or just harder for someone to sell? (which might equate to the same thing)
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Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on
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Agree with Wascher, it depends on the buyer. Some items unpersonalized can go for 10 times than those that are personalized and some stars will only personalize due to people selling them.
If the person is dead and there are not a lot of examples of their signature or living but a near impossible signer then even anything personalized is valuable.
Personally I prefer one personalized and one unpersonalized but having anything from a favourite star is good as far as I am concerned
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Permalink Reply by Full Time Flipper on
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if its made out to someone with a relatively common/modern name and not a nickname its usually worth more id pay a bonus for a Hendrix with a to Rogers love Jimi though its highly unlikely but a John or peter or similar would attract those buyers at a premium im sure
the more writing the better for me especially if it helps tie it down to a particular time or event the closer i feel to that signing the better
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Permalink Reply by Null on
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Generally speaking, "inscriptions" make it more valuable, "personalized" makes it less valuable. Inscriptions typically cost extra at a show, so it makes sense.
There is a fine line where "personalized" no longer matters, and that is when you start getting into some really old stuff such as Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, etc.
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For anything fairly modern the personalized aspect will kill the value, despite the inscription. I would never buy a "To Timothy" Mariano Rivera autograph, even if he inscribed "Enter Sandman" after it. Now a "To Timothy" Babe Ruth autograph is a different story, but that is the "fine line" I'm speaking of when we switch into LEGENDARY autographs.
Now, if there are several "Timothys" out there who have been hunting for a Mariano Rivera autograph signed to them, this could increase the sale price on that auction, but highly unlikely. I know I searched for a LONG TIME for a "To Ryan" Mantle, and when I finally found one I bid up to $500 on it... it sold for $80. LOL.
One thing to note is I don't really count "Best Wishes" as an "inscription", as I haven't seen that dramatically increase the sale price on items.
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That's a good word, Ryan. Legendary status makes for different rules (especially considering if they are deceased).
Something else to consider, regarding inscription, is whether or not a personalized letter with lots of inscription brings about more consideration. Best wishes, Bob is one thing....writing Bob a letter that's tied to an event (like you say) or has particular meaning would be a much more valuable item (IMO) regardless of who it is made out to.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on
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As others have indicated, there is no hard and fast rule.
A personalized photo of Humphrey Bogart... highly desirable and valuable. Not sure if undedicated makes much of a value difference.
The other side of the coin is a personalized photo from a common show signer like Walter Koenig. Not worth the paper it is printed on except for the original recipient.
The "unpersonalized is better" mentality seems to be strongest in sports, but I would happily take a personalized Ruth or Gehrig any day. In fact, I would prefer it over an unpersonalized example in many cases.
Doesn't seem to be as big of a factor in historical autographs. Don't think I've ever heard anyone say they would only settle for an unpersonalized Teddy Roosevelt signed photo. :-)
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