Authenticity is Everything
Do Inscriptions Like “Thank You” or “Best Wishes” Affect Autograph Value?
It’s common knowledge that an autograph addressed to a specific person (for example, “To Sally”) usually decreases its value, but what about inscriptions like “Thank you” or “Best wishes”?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on
-
Could indicate a TTM response, a preprint, or just an inscribed hand signed item. "It depends." With a live graph I don't see any issues from my POV. It is common to see or "My Thanks Bo°'80." or "Best wishes Bo°'93" (Bowie) or "My best wishes, Jackie Gleason." It is more handwriting to me. Never a negative - IMO. In exceptional cases. the autograph[j might be dedicated and inscribed to an important or significant person ("David Bines," "Mush" etc.). Here are some interesting inscriptions (and dedications):
-
Permalink Reply by Tim Haft on
-
Would you say generally just having “Thank you” is good, bad, or neutral?
-
Permalink Reply by Findbooks on
-
A bland "Thank You" accompanied by a signature but not addressed to an individual by name would make me suspicious. Who does that?
-
-
It’s common knowledge that an autograph addressed to a specific person (for example, “To Sally”) usually decreases its value
Like Eric, I don't believe that is univerally true, Tim. There is bound to be a proportion of buyers who do believe this and who choose not to purchase items that are so inscribed. That's fine.
However, I have always favoured - personally - inscribed items, with names or without. There is more meat to work with in terms of authentication for one thing, and it adds an individual cachet to the item which elevates it above the no-frills autograph. Obviously it is a matter of personal taste, or opinion, but in my experience it has easier to sell higher.end items where there is any kind of association attached to it.
-
-
I never said it was universally true. I said it usually decreases value.
-
-
In some cases you have no choice. It would be foolish to pass on a vintage set of Honeymooners signatures because of a dedication. That is how they come. Six of the seven sets I know of are dedicated. There was an eighth I had but that has been sold - that was also dedicated.
-
-
I wasn't even sure I had a plain "Best wishes" but I do:
But to me that is lifeless compared to the following playfully written 1951 Fredric March: "For rev. Jack Leon from his salesman friend (handkerchiefs) Willy Loman. (FM)" It speaks to the stockings (what Willy really sells) that haunt the plot and play. (The only reason I have that Kier Dullea is that is the same crew photo his mother had bedside in 2010). Apologies for the poor scan. It is an on set candid stamped by Lippman.
-
-
And there is this. Gloria Swanson signed photograph as seen in the film. She has actually written the name of the film as well as "1949" which is the year before release. Inscriptions like these add value if anything. The Garland is made out to the Palace's lighting director.
-
Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on
-
My rule of thumb is:
1) The rarer the signer, the more important having additional handwriting becomes. It's not true in every single case, but I've never really seen an argument from a bookseller or third-party about why a historic autograph is "lessened" if it has some corroborating handwriting. If anything, it provides additional proof points for why a signer's handwriting is the way it is.
2) A lot of the terminology that booksellers use to define signed books (i.e. "inscribed", "association copy", "presentation copy") is just buzzwords. 95% of the time, it doesn't matter who the book is inscribed to or what the inscription itself says. There are only a handful of cases I generally see - like 1-2% -- where a "presentation copy" adds value to the book because of a close personal tie between the author and the recipient.
3) I haven't seen much evidence that most "inscribed" books from modern authors need a premium vs. a flat-signed book. I personally don't care whether a book is inscribed to Jim, John, Jane or Steve. I literally have 140+ signed items from one single author, and half of them are addressed to random recipients. It won't impact the price I (if I choose to) sell the collection for down the road.
-
Permalink Reply by michelle on
-
Hi Crazyrabbit. so which author out of interest do you have an impressive 140 signed items?
-
-
Ms. Atwood - got another... 15-20(?) signed pieces last year. Closing in on 150.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve on
-
I would say an added inscription without the use of a specific person's name adds value, especially to a rarer signature. The more writing, the better. I have a George Foreman signed 8x10 and he put an inscription about loving America (can't remember the entire thing, but was about 10 words or so). To me it is an added value, but of course someone may only want a signature on their piece with notihng else.
© 2026 Created by Steve Cyrkin, Admin.
Powered by
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
