Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cogo on November 16, 2015 at 8:19pm

I´m hoping that Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Queen, John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen/E Stree Band is the correct answer to your question:

http://live.autographmagazine.com/photo/my-wall-of-favorites-elvis-...

;-)

No but seriosly, I guess you never can go wrong with at least John Lennon and Elvis Presley. 

Good luck collecting!!

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on November 16, 2015 at 8:45pm

Depends on your budget. Most everybody seems to focus on high dollar items. For those whose budget is more limited there is higher percentage of potential profit for your dollar invested than the big names. I can name several entertainment autographs that can be found under $100 and sold quickly for $200 to $250. Not a bad return in my point of view. Will I tell you who? Nope. I suggest you buy who you like, get the best examples as you can afford, and let the chips fall where they will. I never buy just because I think I can sell it for a profit. That's bad karma. If I don't like the person I don't buy it. Then my knees won't get weak when it's time to sell. Period.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Banks on November 16, 2015 at 9:06pm

Joe, give me your top 5. I am not looking to flip but more of a long term.

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Permalink Reply by michelle on November 16, 2015 at 9:53pm

I   also only buy items that I like .  You can never go wrong with a set of  beatles but  the problem with buying an autograph for a long term investment is you cannot predict when you come to sell it that you will get a large return on it as  you can't   predict what other rare autographs there will be for sale in an auction.     Sometimes its the combination of autographs on a page that can send prices sky high.  A basic Churchill sig on a very dirty piece of paper with his American counterpart  went for about 3  times its estimate  in a recent auction

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Permalink Reply by Paul on November 16, 2015 at 10:19pm

Charlie Sheen.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on November 17, 2015 at 3:41am

Collectors are a fickle bunch. What's hot today is stale tomorrow. In my opinion, autographs are not investments. It's a hobby that's meant to be enjoyed. If you happen to have some good business sense you can make some money as well. Double bonus. 

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on November 17, 2015 at 6:04am

I would never advise anyone to buy autographs for long term investment like Joe said the market changes.  I have been collecting since the early 1970s lots of things popular then are not today.  There are tons of people who collected Jim Beam bottles and Avon bottles that you could not give away today.   My best advice is to find an area you really like and concentrate on that.  As far as my own collection is concerned I would doubt very much if I could even get my money's worth out of it.  I collect movies and television shows I grew up with or liked in the 1960s and 70s many were black and white.  Few kids today would give them a second glance.  One thing about the "Top five" would be that because they are big you will pay a lot for them.  Having said that it is my belief that historical figures will always hold up pretty well since there will always be historians.  Washington and Jefferson unless we get too politically correct, and begin to judge them on 21st century morals.  Lincoln is a safe bet.  JFK because of his tragic death.  For non-presidential I would think Benjamin Franklin, Martin L. King, Jr., Neil Armstrong and Albert Einstein will likely have future value.  For music the great classical musicians Bach, Mozart etc. will always have a following. Modern is a bit of a crap shoot depending on taste but the Beatles and Presley probably.  Entertainment the Wizard of Oz, the Universal horror monsters, Superman and Star Wars.  As I said before you will likely pay a lot for these so am not sure about an investment,but I think there will always be a market for them.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Banks on November 17, 2015 at 10:15am

Wow.  Excellent advice Scott and thanks for the breakdown in genre. 

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Permalink Reply by Paul on November 17, 2015 at 12:34pm

Long term, you be talking Beatles items when the other two Beatles give up the ghost, if you leave them to your children they should come out in front.

Jim morrison and Jimi Hendrix will always be sought after.

It's difficult to get your money back if you go to sell something. The guys in the business wouldn't pay full retail,then turn around and resell the autograph for a loss. If you consign a piece you pay commission at auction, you may or may not come out in front.

Just collect what you want and don't over pay for something.

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