Investing in Autographs: A Beginner’s Guide
How many of us at some point in the past have met someone famous, but never asked for their autograph? Did you know that the signatures of many famous people can be worth hundreds of British pounds? So you’re thinking now, maybe I should have asked them after all?
My own collection started when I was just 14 years old and today, 45 years later, I continue to collect, but now with an eye toward investment value.
During those years, we have seen the hobby of collecting autographs and interest in ‘celebrities’ rise to the point where the crowd at a big movie premiere can be as many as ten people, many with photos or books waiting for the stars to from the movie sign for them. Some of them will be professional collectors, who are only interested in the profits that are made, as the market has increased enormously in the last 15 years to over £20,000,000 in 2011.
The value of some of these autographs has risen well above the inflation rate of the time, and with interest rates now at their lowest point (December 2011), it makes sense to look for alternative investments, and autographs is certainly one that should be considered.
Just ten years ago you would have been able to buy a signed image of the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, for less than £300, but that same signed image could now well cost you over £2000, which is a massive increase in the value in the eyes of anyone.
The real investment potential arises when demand for a firm increases, and sadly, that usually means someone dies. At that point, the supply stops, the demand increases, and the prices rise accordingly, and even though that initial spike will drop after a short time and the price will level off, it will still be a higher price than before it disappeared!
However, this type of rise 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 woman, Margaret Thatcher, screen legend Christopher Lee, or any of the Apollo astronauts, especially those who walked on the surface of the moon or achieved any of space scoops.
Keep an eye out for people who have actually accomplished something that has been recognized around the world, Roger Bannister and the first mile under 4 minutes for example. These can currently be found for under £30, but keep in mind the current Sir Edmund Hilary 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 is dedicated to you or someone else. Generally speaking, signed photos are best, the larger the better, and remember that some dealers or collectors will only buy non-dedicated items as these are much easier to sell. Status is always important, and like everything, the better it is, the higher 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, like AFTAL or PADA, only accept established distributors, have very strict membership rules and don’t allow just anyone to join them. All good dealers who are members of any of these three associations will be clearly listed on their respective websites, so don’t take the word of the dealers they are members of. forevers check first! What if they are members of nothing? Well, I’ll let you decide for yourself! Just remember that if a sale goes wrong for any reason. you may find yourself on your own 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 many 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 worth it.
One thing 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 worthless. real, and very rarely is it ‘proof’ of any authenticity. In fact, most of the 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” The Beatles certainly played there in 1963, but that bit of information can be easily 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 have easily been bought on eBay for £20 with the seller adding the Beatles’ signatures himself. It is a very simple scam that fools the uneducated every week. So education is the key here, and only experience can provide that education.
The actual provenance of the autographs can only mean a good, 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 dealers would have had the opportunity to check and verify the authenticity of any item, and it’s doubtful that several would make the same mistake of perhaps passing off an Autopen signature, for example, as authentic. However, beware of auction tags on items as “proof” that they have been through Christies or elsewhere, as sometimes these tags have simply been printed on a home computer and attached later.
There are also cases where an item may have some provenance because it has been signed at a paid signing organized by a well-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 still need to be sure of 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 article 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 they can only say it is authentic but if the dealer is a dud then your COA is also a dud! Any good dealer will of course issue a COA or similar, and very importantly, this one 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 an investment and have little knowledge of autographs, then be sure to try and build a relationship with a dealer, you will learn a lot more this way, and often be offered items that may not be on the market. regular catalog of dealers, as they become aware of the type of things you may be interested in buying.
The autograph market is very much 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 reminded of that name for many years to come. John Lennon is a perfect example, as his music is heard every day around the world, it reminds them of his wedding, his first date, his youth and so many important places and moments, so his signature will always live up to the most investable autographs.
Some names rate better than others, but make the right choice, buy at the right price, and you could make a sizable profit when it comes to selling.