I've had a bit of time to think this week. The thought occurred to me how different autograph collecting is to other areas of collecting.

When you think about it, the concept of paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars to own a signature that may or may not be "real" is quite surreal. On top of that, each signature is unique and cannot be matched precisely to any other example. Roger Epperson's banner flashes "Is it or is it not Real? Find Out. For Sure". In reality, however, there is no cast iron guarantee of authenticity when you buy an autograph.

I collect a lot of things other than autographs, like movie posters, postcards and press photographs. The chances of buying fakes in these areas is tiny by comparison to autographs. You do get the odd scam but fakes are few and far between and usually easy to spot. I don't know about stamps and coins but I would imagine it is easier to test their authenticity with certainty (e.g. by testing the metal/paper or examining them under a microscope) and they can usually be compared 1:1 to genuine examples.

Over the years I have spent very considerable sums on individual autographs and have acquired a great many less expensive pieces too. None of these were officially authenticated in advance and none of the better pieces came with a lifetime money back guarantee either. At the end of the day I used my own knowledge/research and my gut feel as to the trustworthiness of the sellers and the stories they were telling me about the items they were selling. You could also say there was more than a small element of blind faith - or madness - in some cases.

If an autograph is not real it's usually worthless. In my profession I have been taught to think rationally and cautiously but somehow I am happy enough to take the "all or nothing" risk involved in buying autographs. I know for sure that I have made some very expensive mistakes in the past (certainly running into many thousands of dollars) but that has never put me off. Brings to mind a headline I read about a man who had been exposing himself around my home town - "Seek Help Man Told"(!)

Perhaps autograph collecting is like betting on the horses. You do your research but you also place a lot of blind faith in the horses you back and have to trust that the race is fair. Every now and again you lose your shirt but you still come back for more. 

Can anyone think of collectables that share the quite unique risks of autographs? Really old vintage wine maybe - either tastes great or is like vinegar!