subject: Collecting Authentic Autographs Is A Challenge [print this page] For many people, collecting is a dedicated hobby and one that is generally recognized as an aid for the relief of stress. This becomes apparent particularly when a collection is seen to be growing. It may also be considered to be a formidable challenge and one that requires determination, persistence and knowledge. As you observe your collection develop, a natural sense of accomplishment and pride is then felt; especially with something personal such as collecting authentic autographs.
While it may be considered that collecting autographs is a relatively new type of hobby, it can be traced to sixteenth century Germany. Comparatively, the Emperor's signature in ancient China was considered to be beyond a monetary value and the ownership of it was a great honour. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the most sought after authentic autographs or signatures, were from celebrities in music, politics, literature and religion.
However, the main concern for any serious collector is that their collection consists only of genuine signatures! Imagine having in your possession an autographed item from a famous person, which you believe to be genuine and then discovering that it is in fact a copy? The collecting of autographs can be extremely rewarding; in personal satisfaction and monetarily. However, it is at the same time, an area in which fraud and misrepresentation is always present. Therefore, any collector should always be aware of the credentials of a source.
The value of authentic autographs can be affected by four basic criteria! The first and main one relates to the signatory and how famous or infamous they are? For example, an autograph from Marilyn Monroe is still extremely valuable today, due to her enduring popularity. This is as opposed to the autographs of current television personalities, which are worth relatively little due to being easily available. A rarity, such as the autograph of Napoleon Bonaparte would be worth several thousand dollars!
The material on which the autograph has been placed is also relative to the value. A letter that is hand written may be regarded as having the greatest value; not only does it display the signature, but it is personal and provides insight into the person's character. A signed typed letter, photograph or documents also have value, with size of the material playing an important part. An autograph in ink is worth more that one in pencil, because it fades and is generally not as legible. This is accompanied with the condition of the autograph, regarding material creases or marks of any kind.
During the nineteen eighties, the collecting of autographs reached practically hysteria levels in its popularity. It was usually considered to be a hobby for the younger people, but in this time period, members of all age groups became interested in the hobby of Philography. Commercial enterprise soon realized the huge potential of the memorabilia market; the celebrities put a price on their signatures and with the dealers, turned a childhood phase into a huge business venture!
