What Is My Autograph Worth?
Among the many questions an expert considers when evaluating your autograph is: Who wrote the autograph? Is there a reasonable certainty that the autograph is authentic? Does the autograph have any significant association with historical events, notable dates, or interesting personality? and, What is the condition of the autograph?Autographs that hold value and that appeal to a wide variety of serious collectors tend to be from people who have had a major impact on society.  Figures such as George Washington, Albert Einstein, and the Beatles are major influential figures who changed the course of history. Personalities such as theirs are likely to be admired and collected for many generations in the future. On the other hand, individuals who the subject of minor fads are unlikely to have autographs that withstand the test of time.
An autograph is likely to have enhanced value if its authenticity is readily accepted. Isolated autographs on slips of paper or cards may be real, but are notoriously difficult to authenticate. Handwritten letters or autographs on official documents are less likely to be forged than isolated signatures and are much easier to analyze for authenticity. Since autographs as part of a handwritten letter, typed letter, check, or other official document are more desirable to collectors, they tend to hold higher value.
The principle of supply and demand influences the autograph marketplace. Autographs of very famous individuals whose autographs are scarce in the autograph marketplace command very high prices. Famous historical personalities such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Vincent Van Gogh, Isaac Newton, and Edgar Allen Poe fit into this scarce and highly sought after category of autographs.
A general idea of the selling price of your autograph can be obtained by reviewing auction records, websites with price recommendations, and price guides. Keep in mind that the profit gained on the sale of your autograph may be considerably lower than the selling price of your autograph. Dealers and auction houses may charge anywhere from 20 to 30 percent commission on the sale of your autograph. Costs for shipping, insurance and other fees will reduce your profit even further. Many collectors have received reasonable prices when selling their autographs privately or through local trade shows.
The true value of an autograph is heavily dependent on the appreciation a genuine collector has with the signer of his autograph. A serious collector often looks beyond price and considers himself as a caretaker in a moment of history who is responsible for passing a written treasure to the next generation of collectors.