Imagine the thrill of getting a handwritten letter from your favorite celebrity. What bragging rights are you qualified for when you own a copy of a document that includes a list of Mussolini's officers, with his signature on it?
Autograph collecting has been one of the most passionate collecting hobbies ever pursued. I use the word pursued, because autograph collectors must diligently pursue to be successful.
Collectors of signed items know that what they have in their hands when they get a long sought after autograph, is much more than ink on a piece of paper. It's a snapshot in time. It's a minute taken out of a busy day from a famous celebrity to communicate with a fan. It's a piece of history that is unique.
Because of these factors, some autographs are very valuable and are obtained as investments.
What makes an autograph a good investment? Of course, there are many variables to this question, but here are a few tips:
* Scarcity: For example, some famous figures signed almost everything put in front of them, and some almost never signed anything.
* Authentication: Some items are self-authenticating. For example, a signed check made out to a celebrity is tough to argue against it being authentic.
* Historic value: A signature is one thing, but when that signature is attached to an important historic document, value jumps dramatically.
* Timing: The release of a new movie, the death of a celebrity or the announcement of a major event can all have an impact on the price of an autograph.
* Well bought is half sold. That's an old saying that's true in every business. If you're buying at a good price, it's much easier to make a profit when selling. I prefer the auction method for most sales because the market determines the value of the item being offered at that point in time.
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