hello all, need opinion regarding autograph sports memorabilia

[aguy1222]

Hello all, im new to the forum and thinking of getting my first autograph sports memorabilia. As a kid i have always wanted an autograph game nfl football or helmet by jerry rice and joe montana. I have an opportunity to get one at convention center. My only concern is that one autograph goes for $150 to get any item sign. Now i dont have any intentions of selling this autograph item anytime soon but i would like for it to remain in value, and hopefully appreciate in value. What a different item being autograph be better? any help would be greatly appreciated as im interested in getting back into collecting sports memorabilia.

[87hokie]

Since I have been collecting - I have collected a few jerseys, mini-helmets, baseballs and an auto-panel football as well as several Game-used bats.

I like helmets (mine are minis) they are fairly easy to display on shelves with books etc in an office or den. Full-size replica and mini-helmets have specifically sized display cases available from tons of online retailers and often at a local card shop.

Helmets have the team logo and are pretty cool conversation starters.

Replica versus Game-used depends on your budget.

My bottom line recommendation is to collect what YOU like, getting a special piece of memorabilia signed increases it's uniqueness to you the collector.

Getting an autograph in person adds to the story and meaning of a given piece.

Typically the value is always more to the collector that acquired a specific piece that market value may be later.

Hall of famers will typically hold their value a bit better due to their "proven" status. Still many former players end up with essentially a second career doing autograph appearances.

Many times an item that is difficult to display may be harder to value due to the fact it may end up in a closet, an attic or storage because it takes up to much wall space. Framed Jerseys take a lot of space, bats are cool but again have their own display challenges. I have a number of signed baseballs and mini-football helmets in my collection. I have acquired some signatures through the mail on baseballs...

After all this rambling I guess you can see that it ultimately has to appeal to you...

[hayn]

Autographs

87hokie main message is true to the letter, I also am a strong believer of; "Collect what you like, it's your collection". There are no right or wrongs in your collective field and or genre.

In any hobby as an example, sports cards, memorabilia, stamps, and coins to name a few, trying to purchase an item per investment purposes is a difficult situation. To see any positive gains in a item, is normally and in general rare, unless you're willing to spend $500,00.00 on a Honus Wagner T-206 and hold on to it at which this particular item has seen nothing but growth. Who has $500,000.00?

In essence, it's also about whom you collect. As an example, in 2012, if you were a fan of RGIII, his cards soared in triple digit numbers. Buy low and sell high is essential to any collector. Currently, since his benching, his products are now soft as far as market value is, and there really is no market for his items. I have a two cards with RGIII's auto. Although the value has dropped, I don't care as I enjoyed what he did do in 2012. Hence, my collection, I collect what I want and pay for as well.

Ultimately, you will collect to collect, and not to sell. Purchase what you want as low as possible of which the integrety has not been compromised, try to have a COA, and understand the old saying; "What you paid for is what you get". In this instance, don't expect the item purchase to exceed in any stratospheric financial number.

Toshi

[aguy1222]

thank you 87hokie and hayn for your opinion and reply. I tried getting some help at the sportscardforum; 33 views but no help and replies,lol. I completely agree with what you 2 say, and i know when i get the autograph items in person i would be happy and would treasure it. Im not someone who usually has extra money to spend on luxury so i just want to get the most out of my extra money. When asking about which autograph item would at least retain their value i wanted to make sure my money was well spent. Im trying to find an item, as i will only be able to afford to buy 1 item and 1 autograph, that will more likely retain its value. My options are a wilson authentic game superbowl football, a wilson nfl duke game football, an authentic 49ers full size game helmet, or a jersey, any other inputs?

[87hokie]

Personally I would opt for a helmet for several reasons =
Ease of Displaying it - Would work as a centerpiece for a collection or as a bookend - also a helmet specific display case is fairly easy to acquire and can be customized with an engraved plate with the player name etc - figure a jersey to run an additional $150 to $350 for framing in order to display it.

Persistence of autograph - What's this? basically all autographs on porous materials (like ball leather or jersey fabric) tend to fade a bit over time - there are some that do less than others but unless you are talking a specialty pen there will be some fading as the pigments and liquids in the ink absorb into the material through the process of capillary action (wicking). The heavier pigments will stay put but the other colors and solvents that make up the ink color can result in a halo effect as the pigments are moved by the solution. A good way to visualize this is to take a paper towel and make a dot on it with a marker -

Most helmets are signed with sharpie or paint pen - since the helmet is non-porous the autograph stays sharp once the auto is dry. A display case will minimize/eliminate the possibility of rubbing off or chipping over time

Most folks like the high contrast of black ink on a lighter surface. It used to be recommended that BLUE ballpoint was better on leather (balls specifically) and that the surface should be rubbed down to make sure it's not "slick" finished as they are out of the box.

Just for what it's worth most of my autographed balls have some degree of haloing or fade just because - the mini helmets are still pretty crisp.
The couple of jerseys that I have vary a bit.
The two college polyester blend jerseys that I acquired and had signed in person at spring training Are still crisp - maybe due to the material but they were signed with regular sharpie on the body of the shirt.

The one pro type jersey that I have - I received as a gift - it has a COA and was signed on one of the numbers - which is fairly common for jersey autos.
It has a bit of fade and halo to it - still good and legible but definitely a bit less than pristine.

What's my point here?
I haven't paid much attention to the cloth blend in the jerseys BUT my guess is the slicker finish of the twill numbers may be the culprit - it may be the blend or it could be the tighter weave of the fibers that are allowing some of the wicking to have occurred... I don't know
but for sure the coarse weave of a baseball jersey has degraded an autograph much less than that of the football jersey.