5 Most Expensive Autographs

1. Most experts beleive the signature of the playwright William Shakespeare is the most expensive autograph in the world. Only six authentic signatures exist and each one would be expected to fetch around £2.5m at auction.

2. The highest price ever paid on the open market for a single signed autograph letter was $748,000 in 1991 for a letter written by US President Abraham Lincoln on January 8, 1863, defending the Emancipation Proclamation.

3. Double Fantasy was John Lennon’s last solo album released during his lifetime and is a collaboration with Yoko Ono. In 2003, the last copy autographed by Lennon before he was killed by Mark Chapman was sold for $525,000, becoming the most valuable record ever. if you own it please dont play it!

4. Jimmy Page’s signed guitar is one of the most prized signed possessions on sale at £49,000. The Led Zeppelin star began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and has been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame twice.

5. A piece of paper signed by Jimmy Hendrix has a starting price of £41,000. The guitar genius, who died aged just 27, is widely considered to be the greatest guitarist in the history of rock music.

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Autograph Storage

1. Storing your autograph collection in large photo binders is a great way for presentation and preservation. Keeping each photo on its own page behind the clear plastic sleeve is easy and convenient and protective. Also, regular three ring binders with three hole punched acetate or plastic sleeves are also a great choice for displaying and protection of your autographed photos. After you fill more than two binders, start standing them upright between bookends. Never lie them flat or stack the binders! Store the binders away from heat and moisture!
2. If you choose to store your autographs seperately, place each one in a seperate actetate or plastic sleeve or between two sheets of fresh acid free paper in seperate large plastic bags, manila folders or envelopes and file them loosely, but firmly and upright, in a metal storage cabinet, a strong and sturdy covered box or plastic chest. Acetate and plastic sleeves, notebooks and photo binders can be purchased in any stationary store. Always keep the storage area clean and neat, and especially cool and dry!
3. Framing your favorite autographed photos is a great way to enjoy your collection. When framing, always use a heavy mat board (even a double mat), so your autograph is not touching the glass. Also, keep your framed autograph away from direct sunlight and bright lightsas this will fade them. Take care of them like a museum takes care of their paintings. If you can't avoid hanging it where it will get direct sunlight a few hours during the day,cover it up till the sunlight has moved..

Obtaining Authentic Signatures

Autographed Memorabilia

There's nothing quite like having an autograph of your favorite sports star. The tradition spans back almost a century, when early baseball stars like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio signed their names on simple items like baseballs and bats. It was all good fun back then. No one would have known that autographed sports memorabilia would someday be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Now, of course, everyone knows that autographed sports memorabilia is worth a bundle, and the autograph industry has become big business in America. That does not, however, mean that you have to spend big bucks to get your favorite star's signature. Here are a few tips when collecting MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL autographed memorabilia that should save you some money and provide authenticity.The best way to get your collectibles autographed by your favorite star is to attend a show where he or she might be signing autographs. Yes, you'll have to stand in line, but you have the certainty that your autograph is authentic. If you are looking to buy online, there are other ways to ensure authenticity. Third-party companies exist whose sole purpose is to make sure that consumers aren't being ripped off with forgeries. Obviously, an authenticated autograph with no documentation can easily be forged, and unfortunately millions of collectors worldwide are defrauded by these scams. If you demand authenticity certificates and a picture of your favorite star signing the autograph in question, you can feel better about paying good money for it. In addition, authentic autographed memorabilia has a much higher resale value than unauthenticated memorabilia. If you think in these investment terms, it's a no-brainer.

Pre-printed Signatures

 Pre-Print (A) - This is when the celebrity signs one photo and has many copies made from it. Usually they are a just a little blurry and easy to recognize when held up to the light as they dont change color which a genuine signature might.  Sometimes they try to fool you by using a heavy stock paper with a Matt, velvety or high gloss finish on the photo. Don't be fooled,check carefully.
Pre-Print (B) - A previous negative of the signature is used to apply the autograph to any new photo negatives or older favorite negatives on a particular chosen area, and becomes part of the finished photo. Better quality than Pre-Print (A), but still recognizable as not real.
Pre-Print (C) - This is when an existing photo has a seperate signature printed onto it so it appears raised off the surface and not part of the photo. But it is also recognizable as a fake under a light or loop, and it looks unnatural.

Secretarial Signatures

 This is when a celebrity has their secretary or assistant, etc. sign their signature for them. Usually if you get a personalized "Sharpie" response from a "Major" star very quickly, this may be the case, but not always. I've received some signed photos where the secreterial signature is very good and some where it is not even close to what it should look like. In this case, you know it is fake, so you really do have to do research if you want to know if the signature is authentic. You can check mags and websites for genuine examples of their signatures which have normally been obtained in person to compare it with. Sometimes the secretary will inscribe your name on a pre-printed photo around the printed signature.

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