The Art of Athlete Autograph Acquisition Detailed
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Piece outlines tips for celebrity signature collectors
From Examiner.com:
Prior to diving into the celebrity autograph world, it's important to make a list of the players whose signatures you need. This will provide a focus. Typically collectors seek out a specific team based on where you live, who you followed as a child, or a few heroes that offer inspiration. The Hall of Fame can also be a guideline. Many people choose to assemble entire teams or at least the prominent stars.
Some of the more widely collected teams include:
* 1919 Chicago "Black Sox"
* 1923 New York Yankees
* 1927 New York Yankees or "Murderer's Row"
* 1934 St. Louis Cardinals of "Gashouse Gang"
* 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
* 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates
* 1967 UCLA Bruins
* 1969 New York "Miracle" Mets
* 1975 Cincinnati Reds or "The Big Red Machine"
* 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey
* 1983 Edmonton Oilers
* 1985 Chicago Bears
* 1992 Dallas Cowboys
The next phase of the project includes a little bit of research. Are the athletes around to accommodate an autograph request? Some autographs can be obtained through mail while others can only be acquired from dealers, collectors shows or private signings. The difference in price can be several hundred dollars. Autograph requests should always include a letter and Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. After all, the athletes are often nice enough to take the time to read the letter and sign an autograph. They should not be burdened with having to pay postage just to return your item. I advise to keep the letter short explaining why you admire them or how you appreciate their contributions. Send only items you're willing to lose - index cards, photographs, posters, and/or sports cards. The reward can be great.
Unfortunately, there's one big problem that always comes up with autograph seekers. Fakes permeate the hobby and can be found everywhere from small shops to on-line auction houses. If you're looking to obtain an authentic signature outside of obtaining it in person or by mail directly from the athlete, be sure to work with a reputable dealer. Quality "Certificates of Authenticity" are essential. If they're signed by a president of some company that claims it's legitimate it may not good enough. The movie "Tommy Boy" says it best:
Ted Nelson: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of .... That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
The good signatures will come with a Kodak of the athlete signing the exact item, with acknowledge of the event by the promoter and/or athlete. The certificate, autographed item, and event could be tied together with a hologram/serial number. But, nothing beats obtaining the autograph in person and chatting with your hero
From Examiner.com:
Prior to diving into the celebrity autograph world, it's important to make a list of the players whose signatures you need. This will provide a focus. Typically collectors seek out a specific team based on where you live, who you followed as a child, or a few heroes that offer inspiration. The Hall of Fame can also be a guideline. Many people choose to assemble entire teams or at least the prominent stars.
Some of the more widely collected teams include:
* 1919 Chicago "Black Sox"
* 1923 New York Yankees
* 1927 New York Yankees or "Murderer's Row"
* 1934 St. Louis Cardinals of "Gashouse Gang"
* 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
* 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates
* 1967 UCLA Bruins
* 1969 New York "Miracle" Mets
* 1975 Cincinnati Reds or "The Big Red Machine"
* 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey
* 1983 Edmonton Oilers
* 1985 Chicago Bears
* 1992 Dallas Cowboys
The next phase of the project includes a little bit of research. Are the athletes around to accommodate an autograph request? Some autographs can be obtained through mail while others can only be acquired from dealers, collectors shows or private signings. The difference in price can be several hundred dollars. Autograph requests should always include a letter and Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. After all, the athletes are often nice enough to take the time to read the letter and sign an autograph. They should not be burdened with having to pay postage just to return your item. I advise to keep the letter short explaining why you admire them or how you appreciate their contributions. Send only items you're willing to lose - index cards, photographs, posters, and/or sports cards. The reward can be great.
Unfortunately, there's one big problem that always comes up with autograph seekers. Fakes permeate the hobby and can be found everywhere from small shops to on-line auction houses. If you're looking to obtain an authentic signature outside of obtaining it in person or by mail directly from the athlete, be sure to work with a reputable dealer. Quality "Certificates of Authenticity" are essential. If they're signed by a president of some company that claims it's legitimate it may not good enough. The movie "Tommy Boy" says it best:
Ted Nelson: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of .... That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
The good signatures will come with a Kodak of the athlete signing the exact item, with acknowledge of the event by the promoter and/or athlete. The certificate, autographed item, and event could be tied together with a hologram/serial number. But, nothing beats obtaining the autograph in person and chatting with your hero
posted by Chris and Frank at 12:01 AM
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