How many of us at some point in the past met someone famous, but never asked for their autograph? Did you know that the signatures of many famous people can be worth hundreds of pounds? So are you thinking now, maybe I should have asked them after all?
My own collection started when I was only 14 years old and today, 45 years later, I am still collecting, but now with an eye on the value of the investment.
During those years, we’ve seen the hobby of collecting autographs and the interest in ‘celebrities’ rise to the point where the crowd at a major movie premiere can be ten people, many with photos or books hoping the stars of the film sign for them. Some of them will be professional collectors, who are only interested in the profits to be made, as the market has increased tremendously over the last 15 years to over £20,000,000 in 2011.
The value of some of these autographs has risen well above the rate of inflation at the time, and with interest rates now at an all-time low (December 2011), it makes sense to look for alternative investments, and autographs are certainly worth it. one that should be considered.
Just ten years ago you would have been able to buy a signed picture of the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, for less than £300, but that same signed picture now could well cost you over £2000, which is a massive increase in price. the value in the eyes of anyone.
Real investment potential comes when demand for a firm increases, and sadly, that usually means someone dies. At that point supply stops, demand rises and prices rise accordingly, and although that initial spike will drop after a short while and the price will level off, it will still be a higher price than before its demise!
However, this type of increase only happens with the biggest names that have achieved worldwide fame for something significant (so you can forget about Jedward!). Everest Conqueror Edmund Hilary’s signature, for example, used to sell for around £15 before he passed away, but now he may have to pay £70 more and his value continues to rise.
Current names to invest in would include the UK’s first Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, silver screen legend Christopher Lee, or any of the Apollo astronauts, especially those who walked on the surface of the moon or accomplished any of the following. space firsts.
Look for people who have actually achieved something that has been recognized around the world, Roger Bannister and the first mile in under 4 minutes, for example. These can currently be found for under £30, but be aware of Sir Edmund Hilary’s going price!
The value of a signature can vary greatly depending on what the signature is on, the size of the item, the condition, and of course, whether it’s dedicated to you or someone else. Generally speaking, signed photos are best, the bigger the better, and remember that some dealers or collectors will only buy non-dedicated items as these are much easier to sell. The state is always important and, like everything, the better it is, the greater its value.
Authenticity is of course of the utmost importance and you can help protect yourself here by buying from well-known and established dealers. There are several well-known associations that most good dealers belong to, the most common being the UACC, but make sure your dealer is a registered UACC dealer and not just a collector member. Anyone can join some of these associations, and the unscrupulous dealer will simply join as a member and use these new “credentials” to try to create the air of an established and knowledgeable dealer.
Some associations, such as AFTAL or PADA, only accept established distributors, have very strict membership rules and do not allow just anyone to join. All good distributors who are members of any of these three associations will be clearly listed on their respective websites, so don’t take the word of distributors that they are members. foreverLet’s check first! What if they are members of nowhere? Well, I’ll let you decide for yourself! Just remember that if a sale goes wrong for whatever reason. you may find yourself alone when trying to get a refund. If the dealer is a member of a recognized association, then he has a much better chance of solving the problem.
There are also plenty of books available to help with authentication and collection, but there is nothing better than experience, and you can only get it by studying signatures, meeting celebrities, and learning more about their signing habits, the paper and pens used, etc. . It can be a real minefield, but it can be very worthwhile.
One thing you need to be very careful about is ‘provenance’ as many well meaning people will tell you this is all important but it is not as most provenance offered with autographs is of no value real, and is very rarely ‘proof’ of any authenticity. In fact, most provenance is simply a story and nothing more. “my aunt had her autograph book signed when she was working as an usher at the Woolwich Granada, when the Beatles played there in June 1963” Certainly the Beatles played there in 1963, but that piece of information can easily be found on the internet or through the many books documenting the Beatles’ career. And the autograph book it’s in? Surely that proves that the signatures must be genuine since it contains other lesser names from the same period? Well, that autograph book could easily have been bought on eBay for £20 with the seller adding the Beatles’ signatures himself. It is a very simple scam that tricks the uneducated every week. So education is the key here, and only experience can provide that education.
The actual provenance of autographs can only mean a good and verifiable link from one good source to another, such as the item in question having passed through the hands of several well-known and knowledgeable dealers. Each of those merchants would have had the opportunity to check and verify the authenticity of any item, and it is doubtful that several would make the same mistake of perhaps passing off an Autopen signature, for example, as authentic. However, beware here of auction labels on items as “proof” that they have passed through Christies or elsewhere, as sometimes these labels have simply been printed on a home computer and pasted on later.
There are also cases where an item may have some provenance because it has been signed at a paid signing arranged by a known dealer. Many stars have done this, and many well-known people have attended autograph shows or events where they sign items for money. You should still be sure about these signatures though, as the less scrupulous have been known to simply buy one item at a signature and then create 50 more when they get home, while using the photo they took at the signature to ‘prove’ that an item is authentic.
What about a COA? Any dealer worth their salt will tell you the same thing, they are worthless and only prove where and when you bought the item, a COA will never prove an item is authentic it can only say it is authentic but if the dealer is a dud then your COA is also a fiasco! Any good dealer will of course issue a COA or similar, and very importantly this should always have your full contact details but never with an autograph just because it comes with a COA.
If you are simply looking for investment and have little knowledge of autographs then be sure to try to establish a relationship with a dealer, this way you will learn much more and often be offered items that may not be on the market. regular catalog dealers, as they become aware of the kinds of things you may be interested in buying.
The autograph market is very driven by nostalgia and, in turn, by demand. So look for names that remind people of a time, place, or event, whose names are known to people all over the world, who will continue to be remembered by that name for years to come. John Lennon is a perfect example, as his music is heard every day all over the world, it reminds them of their wedding, their first date, their youth and so many important places and moments, so their signature will always live up to the most investable autographs.
Some names rank better than others, but make the right choice, buy at the right price, and you could make a hefty profit when it comes to selling.
