subject: How To Spot A Fake Celebrity Autograph [print this page] If you collect and/or sell celebrity autographs, there are several things to keep in mind when engaging in this exciting hobby. Here is some advice for anybody who wants to purchase a celebrity autograph and avoid getting a phony replica of something genuine and valuable.
It can be quite difficult at times to spot a fake celebrity autograph. It's common for someone who's famous to change their signature through the years for one reason or another. But sometimes this process can be as simple as checking the correct spelling. Often, the imposters will incorrectly spell celebrity names and these are easy to spot. Another simple technique is checking the material's age. You can easily check the age of the material, for example, if you spot laser-printed photos with signature included, supposedly belonging to older celebrities - these are obviously phony since this technology didn't exist in the older days.
There are autographs called "secretarials", or autographs signed by a celebrity's assistant - these are quite common given the hectic schedule of the average celebrity. These types of signatures are also often printed in bulk on 8x10 photos and are not worth the paper they are printed on. Don't invest your money on these secretarial autographs, and be careful whenever you encounter a celebrity autograph set that comes in bulk photos - this is a telltale sign of a secretarial.
Familiarize yourself with how celebrities lived their lives if you wish to make maximum profit out of your hobby. James Dean, for instance, lived up to his "live fast die young" slogan, gaining a lot of controversy and dying at the young age of 24. The age that the celebrity passed away can play a significant part in how much their autograph is worth. Marilyn Monroe and Bruce Lee, two artists who died in their 30s under controversial circumstances, are examples of such. You can gain a large profit by selling these autographs.
More up to date celebrities can also turn a quick profit if the celebrity has been in or continues to be headline makers. Think along the lines of Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie. The big names in the sporting world aren't an exception to this rule. This rule certainly applies to athletes like David Beckham, or Lebron James, who is one of the top players in the NBA, but also a very controversial one, due to his "Decision" to sign with the Miami Heat.
Before you add another celebrity autograph to your collection, or for sale, think about the possibility that it might be a fake. All it takes is common sense, whether you may be selling your genuine celebrity autographs, or determining whether the celebrity's John Hancock is the real thing or not.
