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I am thinking about investing in a Mark Twain autograph for my office. I've always enjoyed quoting him and he's a sort of role model for my own writing in that respect. There's some other authors and historical figures that I would also like to collect. Anyone out there know of good resources for this type of thing other than Ebay?

Brian

Hi Brian,

I just googled "autograph collectors" and there are entire organisations and collectors clubs just for people who have an interest in collecting autographs! Who'd a thunk it?

What an interesting hobby! Anyway, maybe a bona fide club or organisation in the list could help you track down your Mark Twain autograph! Good luck!

Does it have to be Mark Twain? How about Samuel Clemens?

I've found one on Ebay for $700 dollars.. no idea if it's real though. Not sure how to buy a reliable autograph with proof of authenticity. I have almost zero trust for Ebay.

Brian

Canvess your local library. They may have a book with the signature in it. Check it out, put it on your scanner and make a copy. That will be just as good as a supposed original.

Dodgy business autograph collecting. Authenticity is hard to prove. Many experts have been fooled. There is a lot of money to be made and faking is relatively easy. I watched a TV program where an expert was asked to look at an autograph collection and appraise its value. The Beatles autographs were there. He said that almost certainly they were fakes. He knew because the Beatles actually had employed autograph writers who signed all of the fan mail on their behalf as they did not have time to do it themselves. So in his words even the genuine ones were fakes.
The only autographs I collect are the ones at the bottom of cheques or banknotes.

That's why I am so hesitant to buy anything. But I still think it would be cool to have an authentic Mark Twain.. there must be a way to get one that's authentic.. but I have no doubt even in the best scenario it is risky..

Brian

Hey Brian, Try this web site. Don't know if it will help but it's still a cool web site.
PBS has a show called History Detectives that investigates historical items including autographs for authenticity. I have a link to their web site below. Ben

http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/techniques/document_feature.html#

HIDee Brian!

I just searched "rrauction.com"..where two "Samuel Clemans" autographs recently fetched $1188..for a Signature, & $2022 for his Autograph on a "Program/Menu"...

He's WAY-cheaper than a Hemmingway...$6991 and $2640..(Tho a Ralph Waldo Emerson Signature slid for a mere $161 there!) Chas Dickens went for $1355-a-Sig...& a Letter of his, $4774..(So probably the More Ink, the Merrier!)

An Abe Lincoln Letter: $27,738..(Sold ages-ago at auction for $41...so I guess these Autographs are pretty Good Investments...IF ya get an Authenticated One.)

Winning Bidders get socked with a 20% Premium on toppa The Winning Bid...(Which'd have Mark Twain rollin' in his grave, I'd bet!)

Good Luck with your Hunt, Amigo...Twain's onea my Personal Heros, too!

Big Good-Luck Guy Hug,
Stan

Brian,

This is what one of my in-laws does. She searches for family members of the deceased person. She has received personal letters from several government officials this way. The folks she's asked have always been very polite to her.

Charlann

Ironically I have the reverse problem. I have and autographed copy of the Robert Hunter album Promnotory Rider that I've thought about selling. It's limited edition picture disc (only 1000 copies pressed) that he signed on a book tour he did. It contains a bunch of his stuff that the Grateful Dead did and a bunch of his own stuff. Now I know he signed it, he even laughed & said "that's really a collectors item now." But why would anyone else believe it's his signature. I've contacted a couple places that verify signatures and was told he's so obscure they didn't even want to bother with trying to verify it. So I guess I'll keep it.

-Rick

I Have An Autographed Picture Of Johnny Cash I would Sell

Rick,

It likely doesn't have a big market value. There's no law that says you have to authenticate it to sell it, but to get a lot of money the buyer may want that. Not sure, even authenticated, it has that much value. I had to really think when I started reading your post who he even was.

I think there's a lot of interest in Johnny Cash stuff now, but he's not one of those on my personal list of interests.

Brian

gosh, what a morbid direction this threat took ... I have some non-signed drum sticks that I caught at some concerts I attended (you know at the end of the show, when they line up stage-front and toss stuff into the crowd). Anyway I've never collected autographs but I'll keep this in mind if presented with the opportunity.

I would think the joy is not resale value, but knowing you actually met that person, and being reminded (upon seeing the autograph) of that exact moment in time.

Speaking of drumsticks, I have a story to tell about a drumstick "souvenir."

I was at a 10 Years After concert in Portland, Oregon in about 1969 or 70 when they had "festival" seating in the concert hall, meaning everyone sat on the floor.

In one of the the songs with a rapid fire tempo the drummer was getting really wound up and on a hard rimshot he broke his drumstick in half and sent the end flying into the audience. It came straight out toward me and impaled the leg of a kid sitting on the floor in front of me. The kid pulled it out of his leg and had to wrap the wound with someone's tee-shirt to slow the bleeding, but he was excited that he had a broken drumstick from 10 Years After!

Post deleted by Jack Swain

I happen to be an autograph collector. If you want some good information, check out this board:

http://celebrity-forums.movieeye.com/

You'll find a lot of knowledgeable folks there who will give you some great insight into the hobby.

I'm best friends with Brandon Steiner of http://www.steinersports.com if that's any help. I know all his goods are authentic, but I'm not really a big sports guy. I had him sign his book for me though. I should've had him put one of his holograms on it as well haha.

As an associate he says I'm entitled to half off anything he sells, and he sells a lot. He invented the sports memorabilia industry. You should see his house. It's fit for someone who invents an industry, and last I checked it's worth around $20m.