Autograph Hell

Really great article worth sharing!   Autograph collector supplies nonprofits with auction items with half the proceeds going to a great cause! Autograph collector Chris Tyson holds a basketball signed by Spurs legend David Robinson. Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / ©2012 San Antonio Express-News The silent auction table is a sports fan's dream come true. Framed and signed Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili jerseys rub shoulders with a Masters flag autographed by Fred Couples. For old-school fans, there's a signed photo of former Cowboy Daryl "Moose" Johnston and a basketball inscribed by Spurs great David Robinson, complete with a Scripture addendum. The auction offers enticements for the nonsports fan, too, including a guitar signed by Willie Nelson and autographed photos of comedian George Lopez, actress Eva Longoria, musician Merle Haggard and other ce...

If you are like me, you've collected autographs for years and have built up quite a collection.  I have albums upon albums full of my coveted autographed pictures, and closets full of autographed books and memorabilia.  I love it.  I was recently asked what my most prized autograph is and I had to think about that for a while.  That is a hard question because each one has a story and is special in its own way.  I love my autographed picture with President Reagan but I also love my signed boxing gloves my Mohammed Ali!   Tell me what your most coveted autograph is!

In the world of autograph collecting there are some specific and unique terms that all collectors should learn. As you are buying and receiving autographs it is important to be able to understand the code and language of the hobby. 1-Per: An athlete or celebrity only signing one item per person. Some organized signings advertise only one item per person, and when collectors mention the event, they will say it’s a 1-per. AWOL/MIA: A celebrity who avoids collectors and leaves through the back door. Bandwagon: Other fans from the concert follow collectors and can ruin a signing opportunity because it looks like too large a crowd is waiting for the celebrity. Bandwagoners are not often prepared and get trivial items signed, such as business cards or the caps they’re wearing, and sometimes only take photos. Beauty Pageant Wave: Describes the gesture given by the celebrity when they see that you want an autograph, but just wave instead. Cell Phone Routine: The celebrity spots a group of c...

At his death in May of 2010, Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts left behind the memorabilia he had collected in his 19-season career in the major leagues and his four sons. Now, almost a year after his death, the sons can't decide how to divide the mementos. During his career, Roberts had acquired a Babe Ruth signed baseball, a 1950 National League championship ring and a collection of hand painted game-used baseballs. Because they were not able to decide, Roberts' sons put the collection up for sale. The collection was dispersed in a live auction, conducted by Hunt Auctions. Before the auction the pieces were appraised. Two of the more valued items included Roberts' Hall of Fame induction ring was estimated between $15,000 - $25,000 and his 2008 World Series ring at $20,000 - $40,000. His sons have kept more of the personal mementos of Roberts. In addition to excelling at baseball, in college Roberts also played basketball and won a trophy for the top colleg...

There is a new source for autograph collectors: Memorabilia . MemReg.Com is a registry website for autograph collectors. Autographed memorabilia can be registered and documented online. The website will create a permanent digital history of all the unique items. By applying a registration time-stamp to the item, the existence and circumstances pertaining to the origin of such item will establish authenticity of the autograph. According to Memorabilia Registry the date of an autograph and when it happened in a celebrity's career has a remarkable impact on the value of that item to collectors. MemReg.Com hopes to give memorabilia collectors an arena to showcase their items to other collectors and potential buyers. MemReg.Org began this year and is new resource for autograph collectors.