Using signed items, displaying or carrying around autographs
JMS1223
Posts: 1,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was curious to the collectors here…do any of you wear your signed shirts, read your signed books or use your signed sports equipment? Or does it all stay safe and protected? Or perhaps you wear, read or use some signed items but the majority are preserved?
I have yet to wear a signed shirt, or read a signed book…but when I was a little kid I did have a signed baseball (of no one famous, I think it was a local baseball player) and would play with it by throwing it around (never played a baseball game with it though). It always reminded me of the movie the Sandlot where the kids ultimately chose to use a Babe Ruth signed baseball when they ran out of regular baseballs to use, and the ball ends up ruined after many attempts to rescue it from the dog behind the fence.
I wanted to add another part to this: Do you carry any of your autographs around? Such as in your wallet (a special autograph you keep folded up in your wallet), or have them in your bag, briefcase or suitcase that you regularly bring to places (such as work, travel, the gym etc), or just bring certain pieces to shows a lot to show them off?
Tell us your stories.
Comments
I don't own any signed shirts. I have a few cookbooks that are signed & I use them every so often. And sports...not a sports person.
A definite "no" from me!
I might read a signed book someday if it is more of a personal memento than a collectable.
I did send several used family books to people to be autographed. They were sort heirlooms made more personal by the signatures.
I am definitely that way now. Did not know as a very little kid about properly persevering autographs. Also I only own signed books. No signed shirts or sports equipment as I collect very selectively.
I will actually buy two copies of a book if I want to have a signed one and one to read.
I have lots of signed baseballs, a few signed hats, but that's it for equipment or clothing.
Also somewhat related, do you display your original autographs where they might be exposed to sunlight and thus fade over time, or display quality copies of them and keep the originals safe and away from sunlight? Or do an in between where you display some less important/valuable original autographs (or you have multiples of someone) and store/protect the best/most important?
As for me, I keep a vast majority safe and away from sunlight. However, I do have a couple that I have on display as I got similar ones from the same individual stored away safely.
I actually don't currently have anything displayed. I have a few i might hang on the wall eventually, but they will be out of the light.
I own over 50 signed books and I've read all of them
IMF
I wanted to add another part to this: Do you carry any of your autographs around? Such as in your wallet (a special autograph you keep folded up in your wallet), or have them in your bag, briefcase or suitcase that you regularly bring to places (such as work, travel, the gym etc), or just bring certain pieces to shows a lot to show them off?
Right now I do not. I used to carry a few signed cuts or album page signatures in my wallet of individuals I admired most but not anymore.
Not my story but I heard this story from someone who met a woman who met the Beatles back in the 1960s and got a photo signed by them in person. She kept it safe at home for years until one day she went to a concert (perhaps a Ringo or Paul McCartney concert) in the early 1990s and someone asked her about the Beatles and the signed photo came up in conversation. She told them she had something to show them after the concert so they went to her car and she got the signed photo from the back seat. It was a beautiful fully signed 8x10 photo of the Beatles she got signed in person 20-30 years earlier. It was impressive according to this person. Decades later the two bumped into each other again at another concert and this woman now carried the photo with her, in her bag, that she brought everywhere. The photo was now all creased and worn from being in her bag and handling. The person that saw this was horrified but didn’t say anything to the woman who owned it.
Nope, I don't carry any autographs around. I have some on my computer desk and scattered around the house on display. If a topic comes up, it's easier to whip the phone out then risking damage to the item.
How this question, does anyone have any autograph tattoos? I have no tattoos but I frequently see many people have sports autographs, Freddy Krueger actors name and of course musicians.
If you don't, if there anyone in particular that you would want?
I don’t have any BUT I met someone at Comic Con in 2012 or 2013 who did and it was quite an interesting story. They were a huge fan of Tim Burton. Met him three times. One of those times they had Tim Burton sign their arm and draw a picture of one of the Nightmare Before Christmas characters on it. Later they got the whole thing tattooed. It was quite amazing to see.
I am not sure I want ANY tattoos because I am so scared I will later regret it and cannot get it removed easily.