April 4, 2009 8:08 pm

International Autograph Society Meeting - Worms, Germany 21st March 2009

This was the first time ISITREAL.com and www.autograph-club.org held a show together on the beautiful Rhine River in Worms, Germany.

Worms was just a short drive from Frankfurt and the show was easily accessible fo those traveling long distances.

The main focus of this show was on the joy of collecting autographs rather than selling autographs although a rather impressive display of quality autographs was available from dealers.

Founded in 1986, the club Board decided to continue its growth and become an International Autograph Organization. Members from the United States, Norway and Switzerland attended the convention and viewed exciting autographs which collectors brought from their collections. Throughout the day, those who attended shared their friendship, personal experiences, and educational stories. One collector spoke in length to the group on how he obtained one of his most treasured autographs. Lectures that were held in English during the event were also translated into German.

Because of the club’s popularity and growth especially on an International level, the Board of Directors voted to increase the Board from six to eight members. Of most importance the new Society logo was introduced and members in good standing who abide buy the club’s Code of Ethics are now allowed to display the logo in their advertisements and on the web sites.

Two new autograph related books were introduced for the first time with discussions about them to the collecting community.

Hundreds of forgeries were on display for educational purposes and the ISITREAL team was on hand to exhibit their reference library. A popular event was a competition amongst collectors where they could view 30 autograph examples and try to determine which were authentic, Autopen, pre-prints or secretarial.

At the end of the day, this very educational meeting continued with an exciting visit to the Worms Stadtarchiv. The Golden Book of the City was on display as well as lessons regarding the care, preservation and restoration of autographs.

The Press was in attendance throughout the show and published different articles which helped further the introduction and promotion of autographs to their readers.

The next autograph meeting and show will be held on June 12, 2010 at the “House of Handwritten History” located in Kesswil, Switzerland. Kesswil is a short drive from Friedrichshafen and the Zurich Airport.

Admission to the show is free and everyone is welcome to attend. Autograph dealer’s are encouraged to book their tables in advance. Cost for a dealer table is only .00. Tables are free for collector’s who desire to trade autographs or display their collection.

The first 50 collector’s who come through the door will receive a free copy of the current issue of Autograph magazine courtesy of Steven Cyrkin, publisher. Copies of the club’s magazine Autographensammler will also be handed out to those collector’s.

During the show a raffle will be held three times. Collectors who hold the winning ticket will win an autograph that has a value of at least .00

This is an International show and we hope to see many of our members and friends from around the world during this event.

For further information, please go to International Autograph Society Meeting - Kesswil, Switzerland - June 12, 2010

Interested in becoming a member of the International Autograph Society? Please click membership application …Thanks!