Your Thoughts: JustCollecting's 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Autographs of 2015

JustCollecting.com has released their index of the 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Autographs of 2015.

Compiled in conjuction with Paul Fraser Collectibles as part of their PFC40 Index, there are actually two lists: one with the most expensive autographs of living celebrities, and one with the most expensive autographs of celebs who have passed on.

Here they are:

The 10 most expensive "living" signatures (signed photos unless otherwise stated)

Fidel Castro: £3,950 ($6,100)
Paul McCartney: £2,500 ($3,870)
Prince William (album page): £2,500 ($3,870)
JK Rowling: £1,950 ($3,000)
Muhammad Ali: £1,950 ($3,000)
Ringo Starr: £1,250 ($1,960)
Madonna: £995 ($1,540)
Prince Harry (album page): £600 ($925)
Barack Obama: £350 ($540)
Pope Francis: £175 ($270)

The 10 most expensive "dead" autographs

James Dean: £18,000 ($27,840)
Bruce Lee (album page): £11,000 ($17,000)
Lord Nelson (handwritten letter): £10,500 ($16,240)
Princess Diana: £9,500 ($14,700)
Albert Einstein: £8,950 ($13,850)
Neil Armstrong: £8,500 ($13,150)
John F Kennedy: £7,950 ($12,300)
Winston Churchill: £7,500 ($11,600)
Marilyn Monroe (album page): £6,950 ($10,750)
John Lennon (album page): £6,950 ($10,750)

Other highlights

Vladimir Putin has the best performing signature over the past 12 months – up 25% from £100 to £125 ($155 to 195), although Barack Obama's is worth more, £350 ($540).
The best performing autograph since 2000 is Beatle George Harrison's – up 1823.1% from £195 ($300) in 2000 to £3,750 ($5,800) today.
Princess Diana signed photos are worth £9,500 ($14,700).
Photos signed by all four Beatles are the most valuable item on the PFC40, at £28,000 ($43,300).
The PFC40 has increased in value by 479.4%, or 12.4% per annum, since 2000.

According to Dan Wade, Head Writer at JustCollecting:

The PFC40 Autograph Index, compiled by JustCollecting, has tracked the values of 40 of the world’s most sought-after autographs since 2000. The prices given are an evaluation of the market value for a fully authenticated, best quality signed photo (unless otherwise stated), based on close monitoring of dealer and auction sales.

A “best quality” example features a photograph in superb condition, depicting the subject in their most famous era, with a sharp signature acquired during that period.

Read the full article, JustCollecting's PFC40 Autograph Index. It has interesting details I haven't covered here.

Do you agree with their index? Which ones would you add or remove from the list, if any? Do you think the values are in line?

Share your thoughts.

Tags: 10 most expensive celebrity autographs, Paul Fraser, justcollecting, most expensive autographs, pfc40

1 member likes this

Comment by terrier8HOF on October 18, 2015 at 8:21am: those prices look like they were grabbed from Ebay's outrageous "buy it now" prices, where the items sit there for years.

Comment by Kevin Glackmeyer on October 21, 2015 at 7:10am: What about Ray Charles? I can't believe his name isn't on the list.

Comment by michael bartow on October 21, 2015 at 7:34am: Funny how they show the prices but trying to get that price might be harder then it seems.

Comment by kevin conway on October 21, 2015 at 8:37am: Looks like reality and fantasy are intertwining here.... Most of these prices sounds like what Fraser lists them for in his catalogs , which are about 3-5 times REAL values, i.e. auction prices.

If anyone has been on eBay you know sellers list all kind of unrealistic prices. But, ACTUAL prices people are wiling to Pay is a different story. i.e. a Marilyn Monroe album page for $12,500, when they go regularly PSA certified for $2000 ?

Comment by a pug called eva on October 21, 2015 at 8:44am: Just Collecting? More like Just Bull....

With my three livings and three deads I'm quids in.

If Mr. Fraser wants to stump up anything like these prices bring him on in!

Comment by michael bartow on October 21, 2015 at 10:30am: Well the race at Dover I used a newer silver paint pen from Uni pen and was happy that the autographs came out well. Now I found another paint pen on eBay. The pens name is Sakura. The person is selling them for about $3 for a pen with a discount on shipping if order more. I bought from them a gold, silver and a bronze paint pen. I opened the bronze one and just for giggles used it to mark up a hero card. So far from what I seen the signature I wrote on it stands out. Now I will try using it again in the spring and see what the signature looks like then. I guess I'll bite the bullet and order atleast 2 each so I can switch out without worrying that the pen took a dump on me.

Comment by Bruce Juice on October 21, 2015 at 5:24pm: Prices are mostly WAY too high -- even for auction sites. Ringo Star for almost 2 grand? McCartney almost 4 grand?! And those prices are for signed photos. As we know, those are about 4-5 times what they would go for at most respected auction houses. Just Collecting just went down big time in my opinion.

Comment by william on October 22, 2015 at 2:02pm: is this Real or faked its from 1903 and ink is above paper

Comment by wascher on October 24, 2015 at 3:54pm: Michael Jackson 's drawings (legit ones) were going for 15k and more, up until 2012. Then forgers flooded the market with fake drawings, and now they are under a grand. One or two legit ones will still trickle in and they go for peanuts... because people don't know which are legit and real anymore. One might get lucky to find a diamond in the mess but its pretty darn rare.

Comment by David Jones on August 1, 2017 at 8:12am: What a load of nonsense. There is a lot of top quality signed material from Diana, Neil Armstrong, Paul McCartney, JK Rowling and others at much lower prices on quality auction sites and even from some reputable dealers.

I have known Paul Fraser autographs for years and they have always been ridiculously over priced.