It's odd to think as a 12-year-old that many of my favorite actors and actresses had already passed away. There was no way to get Judy Garland to ever sign a photo for me. Clark Gable had been dead for years. I began a mission to write to stars and request their signature; some sent notes, others sent photos. My collection highlights include Bette Davis, Jimmy Stewart, Claudette Colbert, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. When stars did revivals, I wrote to them in care of the theater.
Of course today, people spend hours waiting outside restaurants or other venues, hoping that someone like Tom Cruise will sign something for them. Why bother? Professional autograph seekers turn around and sell the autograph for hundreds of dollars. Autograph collecting should be more of a personal experience. This lens describes a little about my collection and how you can start your own!
How to Start Your Autograph Collection
Tips for collecting Old Hollywood
Sadly, many of your favorites may have since passed away. If you're a fan of movies from the 1930s, there are very few of the major stars that are still with us.
But take heart, you can still collect their autographs from established and reputable dealers. Sometimes you can find an old scrapbook at a garage sale, and low and behold, there are vintage signatures that the seller wasn't even aware of.
Here are some tips to collecting old hollywood star signatures.
But take heart, you can still collect their autographs from established and reputable dealers. Sometimes you can find an old scrapbook at a garage sale, and low and behold, there are vintage signatures that the seller wasn't even aware of.
Here are some tips to collecting old hollywood star signatures.
- Find out if your favorite is still alive - search for them on the Internet. You can often find a mailing address, whether it is an agent or their personal home address.
- Write a fan letter - A nicely worded handwritten note or card gets more response than a computer-generated mass letter requesting an autograph. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope and include something for them to sign. You may not want to send anything too valuable though - you might not get it back.
- Write a letter to an agent, publicist or studio - you might get a signed photo, not as personal because it is usually mass-generated.
- Attend book signings - When stars write their autobiography, they often have book signings. These are fun, the "author" generally says a few words, or reads a chapter from their book. If they're really big, like Bill Clinton, you have to take a number and expect that the book will not be inscribed.
- Internet searches - you can find a lot of smaller web sites devoted to autograph sales and collecting. Be wary of authenticity though, ask for a certificate of authenticity and know the value.
- Auction - Christies and Sotheby's often do major entertainment memorabilia auctions. When they had the Marilyn Monroe and Katharine Hepburn estate sales in the past few years, many signed photos, scripts and other memorabilia were made available.
- eBay -- Love eBay but again, be wary of authenticity of the signature and know who your dealing with. Many of the newer stars are marked up so high, you can write to the star for a much cheaper price. The old stars are the ones that are usually not as attainable, so just keep checking to see what is available.
- Antique shows - sometimes antique shows, especially the big ones, have an area of movie memorabilia. Dealers sell vintage autographed photos, you just to be sure they're for real.
Graciousness by the old stars
Many big stars of yesteryear could show today's stars a thing or two about class
I once bought a list of addresses for many of yesterday's stars. Today, these are available free on the Internet with a little snooping.I would circle everyone I wanted to write to, and send a personal, hand-written note telling someone like Hedy Lamarr how much I admired them.
In each envelope I would place two 3" x 5" index cards and a self-addressed stamped envelope. I remember writing to Fred Crane, an actor who played opposite George Reeves as the Tarleton Twins in Gone With the Wind. He wrote all over that index card. It was really thoughtful.
There was a class shown by these stars. You knew they were writing back to you themselves -- the handwriting was often scrawling, like someone aged. The only time I did not receive an authentic signature was when William Powell sent back one card -- it was ink stamped with his signature. I knew at that time that he was over 90 years old, it was fine!
So many have since passed away, it's very sad. On the other hand, it's neat that I have a small piece of them.
Autograph Collector Magazine
A long-time magazine devoted to autograph collecting
There were many autograph collecting newsletters and magazines over the years. This is one of the survivors, and it's still good, but tends to focus on today's stars.They list values of individuals renowned throughout history, such as authors, military men, politicians, athletes and sports stars - anyone of recognition.
A subscription is a little high -- $29.95 though you can catch it online at www.autographcollector.com
Phony signatures
Old stars were notorious for having a team sign for them!
Not every signature is authentic.And there's a big difference between someone like Jean Harlow signing a photo and her mother, who practically signed every "authentic" signature of hers out there. Experts in authentication look at how an "s" is curved or how wide the signature runs, they look at curly-q's and flourishes and often times the signature is a mess. If it's too carefully written, it was probably signed by someone on the stars' staff.
For the pros, they can distinguish facsimilies, rubber-stamped signatures, secretarial signatures, autopen and of course, forgeries. In some cases, you probably can too.
I once ran into Bob Hope at LAX. He was gracious when he signed my scrap of paper, but for the life of me, you would never recognize it as reading, "Bob Hope." In-person signatures are the most authentic, because you know that person is right in front of you. Hard to come by when the person you're seeking is no longer with us. So you must rely on dealers who are not on a scam, who get their signatures from good sources, and know what the value is.
How much is it worth?
Autograph values go up and up and up!
Sometimes I can't believe that I paid good money for Walt Disney's signature 20 years ago. But, in retrospect, that signature, now framed and not going anywhere, has increased in value substantially.My signatures, which are mostly inscribed to me, are worth something to me personally. The ones that are not inscribed, are quite valuable.
When a star passes away, all of a sudden, anything related to them goes up in value on eBay. I've been collecting memorabilia on June Allyson for years. She passed away in July 2006, and all of a sudden a magazine she graced the cover of is priced $20 higher than usually the case.
Of course, the knowledge that that person will never again sign another autograph makes things even more in demand. Autographs by stars who had short lives but continue to target new audiences like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean are highly coveted. The value of their signature is in the thousands at times.
There are many books available giving monetary value of signatures. Sometimes a signed poster or photo is better than a scrapbook or informal signature on a piece of paper. Signed books are valuable, especially by the author of a first edition. I had Ginger Rogers sign her biography many years ago. She was at a book store, came in waving from her wheelchair, was a little out of it. A little sad, but I cherish the book.
Books on autograph collecting
It is a business for some, for others, it's a hobby
The Standard Guide to Collecting Autographs: A Reference & Value Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009) 
Collecting Autographs for Fun and Profit
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Autograph Collecting: A Practical Manual For Amateurs And Historical Students (1894)
Amazon Price: $28.08 (as of 12/22/2009)
Collecting Autographs & Manuscripts
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Finding autographs on eBay
Some are authentic, be wary!
I don't know how much I trust buying autographs on eBay. It is so easy to fake this stuff. I have purchased vintage autographs, most of the ones I've bought are through established and known dealers who can authenticate the autograph and provide an authentication certificate of some kind.
Also, if you have books on signatures, you can make side by side comparisons. Old Hollywood stars did not use Sharpies in those days!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Some Informational Sites on Autographs
Why do people stand in line for hours to get someone famous to sign their book, a photo, their shirt? It's something to cherish. Here are some links to some autograph sites.
- Autograph Collector Magazine
- As seen above, but another link to the site.
- World of Autographs
- Celebrity and Sports autograph site. Mostly the newer stars but has some good info to start.
- Reel Classics
- You can find some of older Hollywood addresses here and it is an interesting site, overall, for updates. Reel Classics also has links to autograph dealers who sell vintage autographs.
by astagirl
I love autographs of famous people. While I don't have a desire to own Abraham Lincoln's signature, it is worth hundreds of thousands. I like autograp...
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