March 2005
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1. Welcome! The Autogram is a free monthly newsletter about autograph collecting. Here's what you'll find:
Original articles that will show you the ins and outs of this fascinating and exciting hobby; Information that is based upon sources which we know to be reliable; A format that provides a solid and valuable benefit for our subscribers.
Original articles that will show you the ins and outs of this fascinating and exciting hobby;
Information that is based upon sources which we know to be reliable;
A format that provides a solid and valuable benefit for our subscribers.
Question: I want to start sending requests to celebrities for autographs, what should I include in the letter? Tammy T., New Jersey
Answer: When writing a letter to a celebrity, it is advisable to write no more than one page. Although celebrities may be thrilled that you appreciate their work, or liked their acting in a certain TV show or movie, they simply do not have enough time to read multi-page letters from fans. Also, when writing to a celebrity, try to include some specific references to their work that you particularly enjoy. Be very specific in your descriptions. Mention character names that they have played and movies in which they have starred or appeared. This makes a much better impression than just simply saying... "I enjoy all your movies. Send me an autograph". Be courteous and respectful. My experience has been that celebrities are truly impressed with kind treatment from their fans and they usually reward it.
Question: Recently, I inherited a large autograph collection I wish to sell. I want to avoid selling in an online auction. Can you help? Henry C., United Kingdom
Answer: There are two big advantages in selling to a dealer. The first is the immediacy of the transaction. You don’t have to wait for the auction to take place or for the buyer to pay and you receive your money as soon as the deal is done. The second is that there are no consignment fees involved.
Find a dealer you are comfortable working with. If you want a second or third opinion, that is fine. But we don’t recommend sending the same offer to more than a 4 or 5 dealers. The fact that your items have been “shopped” all over can devalue them as not being “fresh” to the market. Also recognize that there is no bigger turnoff to a dealer than telling him you’ve sent out 20 copies to other dealers. The dealer may feel it is a waste of their time and not make any offer at all.
Once you have decided on a dealer, mail or fax photocopies of the items you are interested in selling. Don’t just send a list of the items. Saying that you have a Katharine Hepburn letter means nothing. The dealer needs to see the date, the letterhead, the content, the type of signature (i.e. Kate, Katharine, Katharine Hepburn).
A scan or digital image from a camera often can capture characteristics that faxes or copies cannot. Don’t forget to include your name and telephone number with the copies so the dealer can get in touch with you. We have had many fine items offered for our consideration that came without a contact person or number.
Dealers always prefer that you price your material. If you do not have the proper information to do this, or are uncomfortable suggesting a price, ask the dealer to make an offer. If the copy looks good and the dealer is interested, they may make a ballpark offer. The next step is to send the item to the dealer for review. Pack the items securely and insure for the full estimated value. Once the dealer receives the collection or piece, they will evaluate it for condition and authenticity. This will determine their final offer.
My I suggest that you use a UACC registered dealer or a dealer who is a regular member of the UACC. The standards of the UACC are stated on their website (www.uacc.org) and the UACC insists all their members follow their policies.
Five TLS letters signed by African-American educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune were recently submitted for appraisal. Each letter is on her stationary and written approximately 1 year before her death in 1955. There was moderate wear on each letter though the signatures were unaffected by aging or wear. Bethune’s signature is very desirable, especially on correspondence.
We placed a fair market value of $3,000 on the entire collection. We are positive that the value could easily be much higher if sold in an auction or privately to a collector. The appraisal can be viewed at http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com under the archive section.
Detail
We placed a fair market value of $750 total on both pieces. The appraisal can be viewed at
A Santa Fe Railroad menu signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946 was also presented for appraisal. The signature was obtained by the owner's grandfather who was an employee of Santa Fe Railroad and had asked Truman, who was a passenger, to autograph the menu. There were a few stains and toning that did not adversely affect the signature.
We placed a fair market value of $450 on this item. The appraisal can be viewed at http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com under the archive section.
Great Moments Authenticated has announced that 3-Time Super Bowl Champion Jay Novacek (TE, Dallas Cowboys) will be signing for the public at their retail location on Saturday, April 2, 2005 from 4-6 PM. If you have questions or wish to order, contact greatmoments@erols.com for information. Go to http://www.greatmomentsauthentic.com or call (410) 876-6906.
Upcoming signings:
*Superstar Autograph Show When: May 28-29th, 2005 Where: Valley Forge Convention Center 1160 First Avenue, Valley Forge, PA 19406 B.L. Productions (610-337-2000) http://www.b-lproductions.com/index.html
5. HOT Film / Music Autographs ... celebrity autographs currently at the top of our buyer's want lists:
Clint Eastwood – this actor “extraordinaire” is also one of the top directors in Hollywood. His latest venture “Million Dollar Baby” collected Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Actress and Supporting Actor. Eastwood’s signature has always been popular with collectors and it’s obvious his legacy will continue. He is willing to accommodate autograph seekers on most public occasions.
Kate Beckinsdale – she is one of the busiest women in film. Many people don’t realize that Beckinsdale studied at Oxford and developed her acting skills in several Shakespeare stage productions before her progression into the American cinema. Films to her credit include “Pearl Harbor”, “Underworld”, “Van Helsing” and “Aviator”. She is currently filming a sequel to “Underworld” as well as other projects. She is very personable in public and we have had some success obtaining her signature
Beyonce Knowles – her 3 musical performances at this year’s Academy Awards were outstanding. Her range of talent also includes some acting which is likely to expand. In 2001 she became the first African-American woman to ever win the ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award. She also won 5 Grammy Awards in 2004, including Best Contemporary R & B Album for "Dangerously In Love". She is usually responsive to fans requesting her signature in person as well as through the mail on occasion.
We carry several authentic Bruce Springsteen and other musicians (including Paul McCartney, Dave Matthews, Brandon Boyd, Beyonce, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, Jon Bon Jovi, etc.) autographed collectibles, including albums, microphones, 8x10’s, pick guards, etc.
http://pages.stricklersports.com/8987/PictPage/1921682472.html http://pages.stricklersports.com/8987/PictPage/1922396062.html http://pages.stricklersports.com/8987/PictPage/1922121253.html http://pages.stricklersports.com/8987/PictPage/1922262889.html http://pages.stricklersports.com/8987/PictPage/1922416430.html
Please click this link to view our recently listed items. We are adding items daily. http://pages.stricklersports.com/cgi-bin/inventoryBrowser.fcgi/stores/stricklersports/new-items/1.html?catId=new-items&pageNo=1
Visit our website Strickler Sports for a complete listing of our inventory.
7. Helpful Resources
SigningsHotline.com: The ONLY site that lists EVERY athlete autograph appearance in the US and Canada. Go to http://www.signingshotline.com/autogramtracker
Need a quick & fairly priced professional appraisal of your collectible? Try http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=users.Registration&act=form&eval_code=975259
Authentic signed sports memorabilia "Straight From The Source" http://www.greatmomentsauthentic.com
Ecki.Com CyberFetch Website Submitter...easiest and most cost effective website submitting program available! http://www.cyberfetch.net/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=107
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