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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on October 15, 2022 at 10:51pm

Interesting thread -- I was actually thinking about this a few weeks back, because I was looking to streamline a couple parts of my collection.

When I go thrift-hunting or looking online for autographs, I have a certain set of principles I follow that have worked well for me, even if it's for items I generally wouldn't consider / normally buy:

1) Biographies are my overriding priority -- I always make a beeline for the section, and I look for interesting signature attributes (association copy, ephemera included). I place a priority on Hollywood stars/musicians/politicians. Anything related to a Canadian Prime Minister or U.S. President is an automatic pickup, regardless of whether I like the politician or not.

2) Fiction comes next - I have certain key authors I "auto-buy" because I'm collecting their work, even if it isn't signed, because there's usually a strong chance that I can get them signed down the line if I run into the author at an event or other function.

3) Interesting lithographs or other signed documents -- if I see a "a target of opportunity" and I know that I can either integrate it into my collection or save it to flip down the line (the latter being a very rare scenario), I spring for it immediately. There are several items I've bought online because of the provenance or literature associated with it that turned out to be a very wise investment that paid dividends down the line.

4) I have a very good quid pro quo relationship with a friend of mine where we both source signed books for each other. I get him any and all signed sports books I find, and he does the same for me with signed biographies. Stuff I normally wouldn't purchase, like a signed hockey book from a coach or a sports biography, are now items I've looked for much more frequently over the past few years, and it's paid dividends for both of us -- I don't collect signed NHL magazines or player-signed football programs, but I'll get that for him if it means he can source a signed Ndaba Mandela or Atwood for me, and it's worked well so far.

Conversely, there are a number of reasons why I stay away from purchasing certain signed books, including (but not limited to) the condition of the book not being satisfactory, the price point being too high for me (anything priced over $10 for a single book at a thrift store is out of the question except in special situations, while online, I'm willing to spend up to $100 or more if it's a "grail" I can either get pre-signed or get signed down the line), or I'm not able to easily verify the signature for certain authors.

At the end of the day, education and knowledge of the general sectors you're collecting is key, because it allows you to much more easily understand desirable signature attributes and items you wouldn't otherwise buy, particularly if you see it in a store or online and need to make a snap decision over whether to purchase or not.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 15, 2022 at 10:59pm

I am VERY happy to see such criterion. A+

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on October 15, 2022 at 11:05pm

The powers that be would love to see more sight unseen buying based on stickers. That is the way of it. What is wanted. Don't buy into it. The names "Suckerpunch" and the others tell you that they now what they are doing.

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