You've recently become interested in collecting autographs and want to know how much an autograph you want to buy is worth on the market today. Or, have you inherited an estate from a family member and been surprised to find a lot of autographed photos, items, cards, or posters that you don't know how to find the value of or who to sell them to?
You can find out how much your collectible or autographed collectible is worth in a number of ways. With online auctions and stores, the internet has put the whole world at our fingertips. Price guides that can be bought at most bookstores give a "rough estimate," but in the end, an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Now, online auctions are a great way to do just that.
The value of autographed memorabilia is based on its supply, demand, condition, shape, content, subject, and rarity. There are people who want to buy and sell autographs from certain celebrities. That makes the market, which sets the price that both buyers and sellers can agree on. Most people start collecting autographs because they are interested in a person, their job, or a certain subject. It's one of those hobbies that, once you try it out, you fall in love with. Then, over time, they became a great investment. Those of you who have inherited collections may have been surprised to learn that they were worth more than you thought.
The price of a signature from a person depends on many things. The following abbreviations are used to explain what kind of letter or document is being sold.
- AL: Autograph Letter (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
- AD: Autograph Document (hand-written by the person to be collected, but not signed)
- ADS: Document Signed by Hand (written and signed by same individual)
- ALS: Autograph Letter Signed (hand-written and signed by same individual)
Autograph Manuscript #!# (hand-written; such as the draught of a play, research paper or music sheet)
- AMsS: Signed Autographed Script (hand-written and signed by same individual)
- AMusQs: Autographed Signed Musical Quote (hand-written and signed by same individual)
Note written by hand (much shorter than a letter)
ANS: Signed Autograph Note (hand-written and signed by same individual)
- LS: Letter Signed (hand-written by someone else, but signed by the individual sought to be collected)
- DS: Document signed (printed, or while hand-written by another, is signed by individual sought to be collected)
- PS: Signed photograph or postcard
- SIG: Your signature on an index card, a piece of an autograph book page, or a letter.
- Autographed Signed Quote (hand-written and signed by same individual; poem verse, sentence, or bar-of-music)
SP: Photograph that was signed
- TLS: Typed Letter Signed
- TNS: Signed Typed Note
- A folio is a sheet of printer's paper that is double quarto size or larger and has been folded in half once to make two leaves.
#! An octavo is a page of a handwritten book that is about six by nine inches. (At first, this number was found by folding a printer's sheet of paper into eighty leaves.)
- Quarto: A page in a handwritten book that is about nine and a half by twelve inches. (It used to be decided by folding a sheet of printer's paper twice to make two leaves.)
Not only does the category affect the price, but the condition, quality, rarity, and the person of interest will also have a big impact. As you'll see in future weekly articles, each abbreviation will be explained in detail so that you can learn more about how to value your collection.
