Collecting autographs is a time-honored avocation that has exploded in popularity in recent years, creating a new industry with millions of autographed items for sale online. Coveted signatures include those of United States presidents, Civil War officers, World War II heroes, classical music composers and baseball stars. It has been estimated that 90 percent of historical autographs on the market today are forgeries. This book is a definitive guide to signature authentication for experts and beginners alike. Numerous illustrations of both genuine and forged signatures are included, from Ty Cobb to Abraham Lincoln to Isaac Newton to Neil Armstrong. Detailed descriptions of common forgeries are given, enabling collectors to make direct comparisons.
In the Presence of History is a fascinating view of historical personalities through the documents, manuscripts and autographs they left behind. Readers learn how to determine quality and value, what to seek out and buy, how to sell, what to avoid, and which types of autographs are the wisest investments. The book enables novices to begin authenticating autographs for themselves. It also contains the most comprehensive color study of the documents of U.S. Presidents ever published.
Richly illustrated with nearly 1,000 examples of both autographs and forgeries, this new and expanded edition includes signature studies of all Hall of Famers from the 19th century to the present. Collectors can compare signatures to the examples to determine the genuineness of autographs. Shoeless Joe and the rest of the Black Sox are explored in depth, along with Roger Maris, Gil Hodges and the top 50 non-Hall of Fame autographs. A new price guide examines values of various signed mediums. A market population grid lists rare and seldom seen signatures.
Nathan Raab, America’s preeminent rare documents dealer, delivers a “diverting account of treasure hunting in the fast lane” (The Wall Street Journal) that recounts his years as the Sherlock Holmes of historical artifacts, questing after precious finds and determining their authenticity. A box uncovered in a Maine attic with twenty letters written by Alexander Hamilton; a handheld address to Congress by President George Washington; a long-lost Gold Medal that belonged to an American President; a note that Winston Churchill wrote to his captor when he was a young POW in South Africa; paperwork signed and filled out by Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic; an American flag carried to the moon and back by Neil Armstrong; an unpublished letter written by Albert Einstein, discussing his theory of relativity. Each day, people from all over the world contact Nathan Raab for help understanding what they have, what it might be worth, and how to sell it. The Raab Collection’s president, Nathan is a modern-day treasure hunter and one of the world’s most prominent dealers of historical artifacts. Most weeks, he travels the country, scours auctions, or fields phone calls and emails from people who think they may have found something of note in a grandparent’s attic. In The Hunt for History, “Raab takes us on a wild hunt and deliciously opens up numerous hidden crevices of history” (Jay Winik, author of April 1865)—spotting a letter from British officials that secured the Rosetta Stone; discovering a piece of the first electric cable laid by Edison; restoring a fragmented letter from Andrew Jackson that led to the infamous Trail of Tears; and locating copies of missing audio that had been recorded on Air Force One as the plane brought JFK’s body back to Washington. Whether it’s the first report of Napoleon’s death or an unpublished letter penned by Albert Einstein to a curious soldier, every document and artifact Raab uncovers comes with a spellbinding story—and often offers new insights into a life we thought we knew.
You'll discover how to take your autograph collection to the next level with this authoritative book. There are many pitfalls you can avoid once you learn to spot the clues. There are many naive collectors purchasing blatantly phony items every day. This book goes beyond the obvious to give you the knowledge to make smart acquisitions & become an informed collector: detect forgeries through paper, typefaces, ink types & signature evaluation; spot autopen & ghost signatures; locate sources of historical autographs & learn how to preserve them; & find out about the most exciting collectible areas from sports icons & American authors to aviators & Hollywood stars. Contains more than 1,500 signatures.
Collecting autographs is a time-honored avocation that has exploded in popularity in recent years, creating a new industry with millions of autographed items for sale online. Coveted signatures include those of United States presidents, Civil War officers, World War II heroes, classical music composers and baseball stars. It has been estimated that 90 percent of historical autographs on the market today are forgeries. This book is a definitive guide to signature authentication for experts and beginners alike. Numerous illustrations of both genuine and forged signatures are included, from Ty Cobb to Abraham Lincoln to Isaac Newton to Neil Armstrong. Detailed descriptions of common forgeries are given, enabling collectors to make direct comparisons.
DIVHailed as a “tour de force” by the New York Times, this irresistible novel captures John Lahr’s madcap genius /divDIV Meet Benny Walsh: busboy at the Homestead restaurant in New York City by day, compulsive autograph hunter by night. Known for going to extraordinary lengths for a much-coveted signature, Benny is also tangled up with an actress and fellow autograph hound named Gloria, and drawn into an embittered battle with his archenemy, a headwaiter with a grudge. Lahr’s acclaimed debut novel captures one wild week in Benny’s life. It is an introduction to a brilliantly drawn and determined character who will stay with you long after the final page./div
I discovered the hidden secrets of getting autographs from the rich and famous ... And I share all of it with you in my book "Can I Have Your Autograph." Here are just a few of the many things you will learn in my book! How to create an autograph collection worth thousands of dollars ... at virtually no cost! Learn the step-by-step techniques to ... get started today with your autograph collection! How to track down the rich and famous ... like a private investigator! Find off the beaten track places to ... score great autographs! The secret to getting in-person autographs ... without spending a ton of money! How to buy autographs ... without getting ripped off! Learn how to spot fake autographs ... in a heart-beat! How to become a major autograph collector virtually over-night, with a niche collection! How to discover the innermost secrets of your famous autograph signers! See many examples of "real autographs" from the rich and famous! Discover the value of your autographs ... and what can affect that value! How to create a "fool-proof" tracking system for your collection! How to store your autograph collection ... so it doesn't lose its value!
