Redartz: Good day, everyone! On today's plate: autographs. Long a part of hobbyists of all stripe: film buffs, book mavens, card collectors, history students, and so on. The opportunity to have a cherished item signed by it's creator, or some other relevant figure, is one valued by many. How valued? Look at ebay and see what signed athletic jerseys bring. Or an authenticated Lincoln document. Or a first edition signed novel by a prominent author. Having that autograph on any item gives said item a truly personal connection, and often an air of history.
And comic fans are no different, we love autographs too. At least, some fans, at some times. There are many who, being concerned with condition above all else, frown upon signed comics. That personalization is considered a flaw rather than an enhancement.
How about you? Do you desire signed comics? Or would you keep them pristine? Perhaps signed on an interior page? Have you any cool signed comics (or cards, or books, or anything else)? Break out a Sharpie and put your thoughts down. Meanwhile, here are three signed treasures from my humble stash:
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| "Wonderful Life" signed by Steven Jay Gould |
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| Johnny Bench signed ball |
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| Avengers Annual 7, signed by Jim Starlin |
8 comments:
Nice objects Red. The Johnny Bench signature is actually really nice to look at.
Personally I'm not a fan of autographs on comics. I have one signed comic which was purchased accidentally. Coincidentally this was also a Jim Starlin sig, and I only noticed it when reading the comic. I don't even remember the comic itself but it was one of his independent releases.
Outside of that I only own two autographs. One is in the Sal Buscema autograph series IDW Hulk book. And the other is John Peel, the legendary underground/alternative DJ who influenced me more than anyone outside of my family.
So yes, autographs are cool if they mean something special on a personal level but I don't actually collect them. Am I right in saying that the autograph market outside a few stellar names is weak?
I'm a bit of a presidential politics reader, so I'm still trying for a signed copy of 'All the Presidents Men' by Woodward and Bernstein. Will get one some day soon.
I have a few signed comics, just bought a Steranko-signed one, but haven't had sufficient interest to attend any shows to get mine personally autographed. My big interest has been meeting celebs of my youth and getting autographed glossies, it's been folks like the Monkees, as well as sci-fi stars from our childhood.., it's been great fun. Some are no longer with us, so it's even more poignant.
One nice item is I had a high quality original Galactica jacket made and had several of the cast members (Hatch, Benedict, Herb Jefferson, Sarah Rush, Anne Lockhart, Terry Carter and Jack Stauffer) sign the inside lining.. I'll most likely have that mounted and framed someday soon.
And my story of getting Jim Lovell to sign my 11x14" pic of him was quite funny.., someday I'll share.
Redartz, in the dinosaurs topic from a few months ago I mentioned that I also had a copy of "Wonderful Life" - but mine was a paperback and definitely not signed by the author ! Did you hear the recent news that paleontologists have discovered the common ancestor of all vertebrates - a tiny fossil about 1mm wide which lived on the sea floor about 540 million years ago.
Colin B- I don't know about the autograph market in general, but at my flea market excursions there are loads of signed ball cards very cheaply priced...
David_b- good luck on your " All the President's Men " pursuit. That would be cool indeed. Woodward and Bernstein are obvious choices; would you attempt to get signatures from other participants in the national drama ( say, John Dean for instance)?
Colin J- yes, I did see that story. It's a great time to follow paleontology: it seems every week brings an amazing new discovery to light.
I'm not a big fan of autographs. When I have the choice at cons between a photo op and an autograph, I always go for the photo.
I will say this about that:
I have Steve Carlton's signature. Not an autograph, his signature. I don't want to get into all the details, but back in the day, one day at work, something he had signed came through and, long story short, it somehow went missing. No one, or pets, were harmed during the commission of this event. As far as I know...
For those who don't know who Steve Carlton is, he is a left handed former major league pitcher. One of his many claims to fame is winning 27 games in 1972 for the Philadelphia Phillies, a team that won 59 games that year. The gentlemen is a legend...
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Colin B - I suspect autographs of the true "greats" like Babe Ruth and the Beatles will always grow in value, like Action #1. Johnny Bench (baseball above) is nearly a complete unknown, I would imagine, to anyone under 45, like the Who, Stones, Zepp, and Pink?
Regarding Baseball and Football they are rapidly becoming old-man sports in the USA, anyhow; basketball (and soccer) attract the younger crowds but younger crowds don't seem much interested in collecting anything, anymore, since the internet.
I do have an autographed "History of Comics" by Steranko. Cost me $25 on ebay. I dig it but then I have strong emotional connection to his History, Cap Americas, and Shields. How many comic readers under 45 know who Steranko is, I wonder? And, with the auto it sells for the same as no-auto on ebay.
And I do have a Russ Heath auto on a "Our Fighting Forces" for which he drew the cover. What'd I pay at the con for him to do that a few years ago? $5? It was on a whim. But I still dig it.
All that said, I would definitely purchase an auto by Herge on a Tin Tin item and (?) on a D.C Thomson item esp. Korky the Cat or Dennis the Menace.
And that's tha. CHeers All
To Colin Bray's point about personal value, I agree. I have exactly one - in 1988, the Smithsonian had an exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of Superman ("Many Lives, Many Worlds"). My mom works there and at the opening, managed to snag an autograph of Christopher Reeve on a cocktail napkin, which I see every morning in a little frame. The definitive (in my view) Superman actor, and an all around good guy.
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