Autographs & Autograph Books | Collectibles & Collectors Items

Collecting autographs - signed letters, documents, manuscripts, books or photographs - has long been an exciting and deeply satisfying pastime. In today's world of fleeting electronic communication, these personal connections to the past offer the unique satisfaction of holding pieces of history, quite literally, in our hands. Autographs bring moments in time to life, often with incredible power. The window they open into the past helps us better understand a person or event of importance to us. Autographs let us feel an individual's presence, experience his or her joy or sadness, inspiration or frustration, exultation or despair. In short, at their best, autographs convey the essence of an individual's personality. We define our present by examining its roots in the past, and autograph collectors preserve an important part of our heritage. Whether you collect letters from political figures explaining their motivations, musical scores by great composers or pictures of famous actors with illuminating inscriptions, autographs offer valuable insights into the thoughts and aspirations of those who shaped history.

Research
The first important point about autograph collecting is research: you need to know some basic information about the person whose autograph you are requesting. Generally, you will already know a lot about the people to whom you want to write. However, someone, may have just come on the scene, destined to be a star, about whom you know next to nothing. Search for the person in question via search engines, and visit fan sites.

There is no point in doing meticulous research, as the information won't fit into a one page letter (which is unlikely to be read fully anyway). However, the name of one film in which an actor/actress has featured is not enough. Know a little bit about their careers. You need to be able to make some pertinent or original comment about the person, so that they feel you really want their autograph

Asking Imaginative Questions Expresses Real Interest
If an actor has featured in a classic film, or a series of films, refer to their predecessors, telling them how much better they are, but not to the detriment of others. Should you be writing to Daniel Craig, tell him how you thought Sean Connery couldn't be bettered, especially as the "original" Bond. You thought he was so convincing, especially with the knowledge that so many distinguished actors had played the role previously. You can adapt this sort of thing to the specific situation, if applicable. With a sportsman, you can use this comparison trick as well: tell Tiger Woods how you thought Jack Nicklaus (in his younger days) could hit a golf ball the furthest distance ever, and how you couldn't believe it when he started hitting it miles, just for fun. Enclosing a stamped addressed envelope is imperative; 10" by 8" should be suitable. Don't write "PHOTOS � DO NOT BEND" on the envelope, as this assumes you will get a reply, and appears overconfident. The correct postage on both envelopes is crucial.

Be Creative and Original
If you have, for instance, a first day cover relating to the person, then include that, and say how you'd love to have it personalised. After all, if the person is going to make the effort of replying, it's nice to see you've taken the time to send something of value to yourself. Most celebrities will get vast quantities of mail, and if they read something for the first time, as opposed to something they've already read fifty times that day, they're far more likely to respond positively.

Results
The art of bluffing can make a definite difference to the response you receive. Don't lie, or make false claims (for instance pretending that you have a terminal illness, to secure the "sympathy vote"). However, there is no harm in being somewhat creative with the truth, especially if it helps secure the autograph. People like to think you are interested in what they do. If you are writing to a golfer, but yourself have only ever played once (and badly) it doesn't really matter. You can say something like, "�those great shots (especially the lob wedge) and finesse of yours have inspired me to get back on the course again" and "It's certainly improved my short game!" The fact that your clubs are gathering dust in the back of the garage and may never see the light of day again is immaterial. The fundamental point is that it makes your correspondent feel that they have had an influence on you in some way. This is just the sort of thing you want them to believe. If they have helped you somehow, or, at least believe that they have, you may just find they are more than happy to respond to your requests!

"Philography", as collecting autographs is called, is arguably one of the cheapest hobbies of all. Send a politely worded letter and famous individuals know that to maintain their popularity, they need to respond to such requests from their fans. Stars can often be contacted by writing to their production company or agent; sporting personalities often belong to well known clubs and musicians can be contacted by writing to their record company. Just remember to enclose that stamped addressed envelope!