At some moment, anyone who owns an autographed celebrity photo has likely considered the fact that maybe the item is not authentic. With options like having it appraised to acquire knowledge of the general value, the amount of current interest, or whether it can be certified authentic are all things thought up when considering insuring items, passing them down, or when you are ready to sell.
Collecting Celebrity Autograph photographs may be a hobby for a lot of people but the celebrity autograph industry is large venture nowadays.
Creating an autograph collection can be the perfect stress-free hobby that might additionally be considered an incredible investment when done properly. In addition, collecting autographed memorabilia is a fun pastime with great excitement in the "hunt" to find that new addition to your collection and promise of resale profits down the road.
The most important thing to consider however is where and how to start. You must start with an authentic autograph. Wolves are wearing sheep's clothing all over the place. Con-men are at their best so you need to be educated if you are going to do any autograph purchases. Without question if you can take any advice it would be this: Only buy autographs that are accompanied by a COA from a UACC Registered Dealer or from PSA/DNA or JSA. These are the 3 most trusted documents out there and oh yeah, ignore any items with 'Forensic Documentation' or 'Full Written Appraisal' which are well known in this industry to be attached to forgeries. When you start your collection with these simple rules you will avoid 99.9% of the headaches of being ripped off and having created a collection which will end up virtually worthless. Remember, autograph collecting is fun but it's definitely a wise investment so don't jump in blind. Be smart.
When it comes time to sell an autographed celebrity photo or any autographed music memorabilia out of your own collection, you'll undoubtedly want to understand how to decide the most effective cost for your piece. A good tool is Google and their "SHOPPING" tab as well as online auctions with using their "Completed" searches. This can give you a general idea of what things are selling for and you can price accordingly.
When most of the people think about Celebrity Autographs on photos, they leap to the most famed actors and actresses of the time. Understandably so, you have to realize this is where the forgers make their most money as well. Their art of deception has gotten so convincing that they employ collectors to take photographs of celebrities signing to use with their forged items to convince buyers their items are real. If you've already purchased autographs that do not come with a UACC Registered Dealer COA and without 3rd Party Authentication from any of the top authenticators you can still have the option of having the item Authenticated. Either that or you can pursue the online Twitter, Facebook, or other associated accounts of their agents to see if they can help.
Accumulating autographed photographs out of your favorite celebrities can be a thrilling assignment and there are numerous ways in which individuals can gain autographed celebrity photographs. Be warned however that writing to celebrities or sports stars through the mail may often reap confusing results. With all the top stars known for sending fake secretarial autographs back, you are basically left in the middle of a mine field.
Amassing autographed celebrity photographs may be an ideal hobby for any individual looking to spend their time doing something constructive. It provides people the facility to have a section in their home stocked with memorabilia of favorite movies, film stars, athletes, or musicians.
Autographs have always been a very hot commodity; folks scrambling for memorabilia with the all of a sudden scrawled signatures of favourite celebrities, rock stars, heroes, and athletes.
While online retailers are obviously the #1 source for purchasing autographs, one of the most exciting can be at a live auction. We must caution you though, over the past several years Charity Auction Fundraising has been a major target of fake autographs. These major forgery businesses have been offering their wares on consignment to unknowing and unsuspecting charities so even if you do find yourself at any type of auction that has autographs, the same rules apply. If the item does not carry any of the pre-mentioned documentation, you are gambling and likely to get ripped off. Always play it smart. It's hard because as you'll soon see, you'll get caught up in the excitement and desire to acquire incredible autographs to add to your collection but always remember this, the item while exciting to you is only worth something if it is real.
If you are looking to expand your education on the ins and outs of autograph collecting you should start also using the few online autograph forums and blogs. Publications like Autograph Magazine have started an Autograph Live forum where you can and should post images and ask questions about your potential buys. Also there are "Quick Opinion" services for an evaluation of an autograph from a 3rd Party Authenticator on items that aren't already PSA/DNA, JSA, or UACC Registered Dealer authenticated. Use these services. They are always at or under $10 and again, if you absolutely have to have an item that doesn't have a UACC Registered Dealer COA, this is the next best thing.
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