Have you got some old autographs in a small back and you are not sure whether they are worth anything? If so then read on to find out what exactly the factors are that indicate an autograph value. Sadly this is not always an exact science and that is why many sit on autographs or autographed products and think that they may have a gold mine n their hands, sadly then disappointed by the fact that they do not.
In order to best taper those expectations, here is what will have a big impact on the value of your piece.
Who it Was
Naturally one of the most important pieces of information is who’s autograph it is. Contrary to what many think however, it is not always about the popularity or the celebrity status of the person which makes a difference. For example someone like Paul McCartney you would think has a lot of value for his autograph, but given the fact that he has signed so many through the years, it is unlikely that he will hold as much value as someone like John Lennon.
Dead or Alive
When someone dies, their value goes up in terms of things that they have touched or signed, and that is simply because they can no longer do it. Many people will sit too autographs for years until this takes place, in order to get maximum value out of what they have.
Rarity
The scarcity of the autograph is also a crucial factor here, and this is often one of the most value-deciding aspects of an autograph. For example, the John Lennon signature will of course be more valuable than Pauls’, but the signature which he gave to Mark Chapman on the day he died, that is a one of a kind and will be worth big money. Equally you could say that if all 4 Beatles have a signed piece, which is something very rare, then the value will be significantly higher. The rarity of the signature or the moment which it represents is greatly important in deciding what the value of an autograph is.
Package
Sometimes it is not just the autograph which makes a difference, but rather the entire package. To use this Beatles example again, a guitar which was played by Paul or George and then signed by the rest of the band is going to be worth a staggering amount, this is not just because the 4 autograph are there, but also because of what the package represents. The same could be said for a Tiger Woods signed red shirt from his last day at the Master which he won, or a signed pair of Jordans from his game 6 win against the Jazz. Beyond the actual ink which has been used, extra items or supporting products is going to significantly increase the value of the autograph.
As you can see there really is a number of factors which go into pricing an autograph.
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