Wash your hands and Turn out the lights

When I have the opportunity to work with athletes,  one of the questions that commonly arises is how do you display and preserve your autographs?  What do you do to keep the colors and print of the autograph fresh, bold and in tact?  Is there a secret about preservation that we don't know about?

The answer to those questions revolves around a host of answers.  It all depends on the quality of the item being signed, the utensil being used to sign it, the handling of the item, and where and how is it being displayed.   There are just too many theories on preservation to attempt to cover in a blog posting.  You really need to be an expert on sharpie color, ball point pens, paint pens, acid free, matte or glossy paper, and any other material you might have autographed.

I personally, like to have my autographs signed in specific colors for aesthetic reasons, vs. what I think will last longer.  I like hockey pucks and bobblehead dolls signed with gold or silver paint pens, basketballs signed with silver paint pens, baseballs signed with blue ball point pens and photos signed in blue, black or silver sharpies.  While I know some experts would dispute some of that thought process, I say, these are my autographs and I know how I want them to look.  As I said when I started this blog, acquiring the autograph to me is about the experience about meeting the athlete, not selling the items on ebay.

There are items you can purchase to help preserve autographs such as UV protected ball cubes and museum glass for photos.  You can find acid free boxes, frames and other raw materials used to preserve color. However, there are 2 common denominators, in all conversations, that every expert, authenticator or collector will agree on.  1.  Natural light, and artificial light will most definitely have an adverse affect on autographs.  Both will quickly cause items to fade into an unidentifiable object.  Especially any type of light that directly hits an item.  2.  Dirty hands cause long term damage as well.  The oil from your fingers as well the constant handling of an item can cause damage to the signed object.  I've seen smudges, creases and stains form on an item, almost always just from 2 dirty fingers handling the item.  The items can absorb the stain or mark and have long term negative affects.

Derek Lowe no hitter inscribed baseball that sustained light damage.

So my advice, make sure you wash your hands prior to handling an autograph and turn off your lights and pull your shades in the display space.  The less light that interacts with your items, the better the long term preservation.



Curt Schilling signed ball that sustained finger damage.  There are 2 spots on the autograph and inscription that have faded due to the damaged ball.



Curt Schilling signed ball with no light damage on a well handled item.  Notice the good quality compared to the 2007 world series signed ball.

 

For more information on autograph preservation, you can complete an online search and, guaranteed, you will find a plethora of information on this topic.  I personally like ehow.com and their ideas on autograph preservation.

Now is the time!!!!!

One of the most commonly asked questions I hear about my collection is "When did you meet him?", or "How much have you paid for that autograph?".  As I think about each autograph and the specific story that each offers I know that over 50% of my collection was gathered before the person or athlete became a superstar or famous individual.  That's right, I pride myself on meeting the athlete and acquiring the autograph before they break a record, become a fan favorite, win a championship, or their agent negotiates a higher appearance fee.

So with that said, there are a few local athlete appearances scheduled at reasonable prices in the next 6 weeks.  I would recommend, that if possible you find the time and money to meet these fan favorites now.  If the Bruins or Celtics maintain their winning ways, their popularity and therefore price will only increase, usually by 100%.

Here is the list:

On Friday, March 25th, Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruin, will be appearing at P & T sports cards in Whitman Mass. at 7:00pm.  He rarely makes public appearances.  His prices are $29 and $39 depending on what is being signed.  His price will increase by $10 the day of the event, so pre-order your tickets.

On Wednesday March 30th, Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruin, will be appearing at JW Hill's Sports Bar and Grille in Manchester NH at 7:00pm.  He rarely makes public appearances.  His prices are $29 and $39 depending on what is being signed.  His price will increase by $10 the day of the event, so pre-order your tickets.

On April 14th, Red Sox Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, will be appearing at Sportsworld  in Saugus at 6:00pm.  His price is $35 for any item, by far one of the lowest autograph prices for current Red Sox players.  He has a beautiful signature, as he writes out every letter in his name (Officially the longest in the majors).  His price will increase as has every other current Red Sox player over time, so get this now. 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and myself in January.

The best autograph in baseball, Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Here are the links to the companies hosting these events.  Please click on them for more details.
http://www.sureshotpromotions.com/
http://www.newenglandpicture.com/
http://www.sportsworld-usa.com/

Upcoming Stars

The past few days have been interesting on the Boston sports scene.  The Celtics and Patriots are playing great.  The Red Sox made a splash by signing 2 free agent hitters and well the Bruins, are the Bruins.
Due to the recent success and news, and the fact I'm working more shifts selling memorabilia, I've noticed customers looking to purchase the hottest item on the market, at a reasonable price of course.

Hottest item as I've found out this year is not the traditional Tedy Bruschi photo, or best of new england sports collage and even stadium panoramics.  NO, hot this year are photos of Julian Edelman, Danny Woodhead, Tyler Seguin, Wes Welker, and Brandon Tate and Devin McCourty.  The other items that are amazing me as still popular are almost any photo from last year's NHL winter classic played at Fenway.

So what do you need to know about these hot items.  There are copious amounts of photos available of these new and popular players.  Prices range from $19 - $30 for an 8x10 photo including the matte and frame.  The problem is that there are only 1-3 options of photos of each player.  So even though there are plenty of available photos it might only be 500 of the same pose.

Autographs of these players are still hard to come by.  Tyler Seguin, the hot Bruin rookie autograph price starts at about $100 for an 8x10 photo and upwards of $250 for a framed 16 x 20 print, and his autograph is a hot seller.  Some of the new patriots autographs range in price from $39 - $59 if you can find them.

Another tip is that now is the time to pick up Deion Branch Autographs.  Many dealers had large inventories of his autographs from Superbowl 39 and they are looking to offload his merchandise before the #84 jersey merchandise arrives.  You should be able to find an authentic and older Branch autograph for less than $60.

If you want the best deal for the buck, Bruins autographs are still are fair prices.  Now is the time to purchase those.  You should be able to purchase 3 current bruins autographs for less than $100.

Lastly, you will not find any pictures of Carl Crawford or Adrian Gonzales in a Red Sox uniform yet.  If you do they are most likely unlicensed so stay away from them.  I would expect to see their photos released shortly after spring training starts.

Good luck with your shopping.

Time for gift giving

As black Friday approaches, everyone is looking for deals.  I know I am.  However in the collectible business you will not find Door Busters or items at 50% or more off on black Friday.  You will, however, find reasonable prices that are fair and meet all spenders budgets.  The nice aspect of the collectible business is that pricing will stay consistent throughout the holiday season.

I will start by saying that if you want a good quality item expect to spend a minimum of $20 with any credible company.  Items in the $20 range will include wool pennants, matted 8x10 photos, some autographs, clocks and other novelty items.

If you want to spend up to $70 you will find all sorts of items including autographs from local stars such as Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, & most of the Boston Bruins.  You can find framed and matted 11x14 photos, display pieces, as well as authentic jerseys and hats.

If you are willing to spend in the $100 - $250 range you can find some very high quality photos, autographs, panoramic prints, and other high quality items that will make any collector happy.  Most of the high quality Red Sox, Patriots and Yankees will fall into this range.

Here are some tips to know before shopping for collectibles.
1.  Some companies will offer great deals after you purchase the first item.  For instance New England picture company has a deal where if you buy 1 item at full price you can purchase a 2nd item at 50% off.
2.  If you are purchasing for someone else know exactly what team or player is the recipient's favorite.  That will help the sales person find the best item for you.
3.  Check online for deals.  Sure shot promotions and Steiner sports offer a plethora of deals everyday in December.  I saw a great deal last year on the Steiner website in which you could purchase 3 autographed baseballs for $99.  All the autographs were from living Cy Young winners.  Nobody could top that.
4.  If you are purchasing an autograph for someone ask questions about the authenticity.  Steiner sports, New England Picture company, sure shot promotions are all local legitimate companies.  Their prices will be a bit higher but the item will be authentic.  If the price is too good it's probably a fake.
5.  If you are buying a photo, autographed or not, get it framed if possible.  Most framing will only cost an additional $10-$20.
6.  The best deals will be for items with retired, unpopular or recently traded players. I've seen some phenomenal deals for Mike Lowell, Jim Rice, Randy Moss and Mike Vrabel items.  I'm sure Victor Martinez items will be marked down shortly.
7.  If you are looking for Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Lebron James, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan or Tom Brady items, expect the prices to start at $299 upwards of $2000.
8.  This December there are a number of player appearances occurring in the area.  Rajon Rondo, Zdeno Chara and many patriots will be appearing, which is rare for this time of year.  Please check the Boston Herald or the websites below for more information.  What better gift to give then to meet a local sports hero.

Please check out these websites for great collector deals.

Sureshotpromotions.com
NewEnglandpicture.com

GBSCC Show Update

Well after two days at the Greater Boston Sports Collector's Club card and memorabilia show, I have to say it's been pretty good.  There is still one day left (Sunday November 7th) and I encourage you all to attend.  The show opens up at 10:00am and will close at 4:00pm.  This is occurring at the Aleppo Shriner Auditorium in Wilmington Mass. off of the Concord Road exit off of interstate 93.
As for autograph guests, Dwight Evans and Fred Lynn are the headliners for the 75 Red Sox.  Hall of famer Johnny Bench from the Cincinnati Reds is scheduled to appear as are other members of the 75 Red Sox.  Also on the docket are 5 of the current Boston Bruins, including Tuukka Rask, Zdeno Chara, Mark Recchi, Marco Sturm and Jordan Caron.  The prices for all autograph guests are extremely reasonable and worth investing in now.
However, the primary reason for attending the show tomorrow is that many, many dealers have been offering great prices on items and I expect the same for Sunday.  Examples of great deals include an autographed 16x20 photo of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish for $175 (normally over $400).  Pieces of structure from Fenway park for as low as $20, autographed or relic sport cards for as low as $1 and pieces of the original parquet floor ranging in price from $15 - $100.  There are also some exciting rare high end items still available such as 2 seats from the Boston Garden for $999, items from the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals ranging from $500 - $999 and plenty of game used bats, helmets and balls ranging in price from $100 to $2500. 
So, if you're free come on up to Wilmington and check out the deals.  It is $7 for admittance.

Collector Trade Shows

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  Other than this being my birthday week, I look forward to attending the Greater Boston Sports Collector's Club Card and Memorabilia Show.  It has happened the first weekend in November for as long as I can remember.  This year's show is scheduled for Friday November 5th - Sunday November 7th.  I have not missed attending this show since I first attended in 2002.  I have found hundreds of deals on anything including memorabilia, photos, cards, supplies and autographs. There will be over 80 dealers in attendance, both from the region and nationally.

One of the reasons this show is my favorite is that everyone is very friendly and helpful.   There are items out there for the bargain hunter or the high end collector and of course all of us in between.  I've seen autographs for sale that include almost every hall of famer for every sport.  I've seen rare items like Cy Young, Babe Ruth and Alan Shepard(First U.S. astronaut in space) signed items.  Since I've been attending I've learnt much about collecting, how to preserve autographs and what's out there on the market.  I always feel that when I walk and speak with dealers, I learn something new every November.

So here are some tips on how to make the most of one day or the weekend at the show.
1.  Walk the entire floor at least once before purchasing anything.  My experience is that you will find the same item in multiple locations.  The dealers are very competitive and will almost always come down in price to get the sale.
2.  Prepare to spend at least 2 hours browsing.  Be patient and ready to negotiate.
3.  Bring something to drink with you.  It is very dry in most facilities.
4.  Wear comfortable footwear.  The entire floor is concrete.
5.  If you are purchasing an autograph or game used piece of memorabilia make sure it is has authentication.  Ask the dealer where it came from and who authenticated it.  If the price is too good to be true, then don't purchase it. 
6.  Most dealers will come down in price on the last day of a show.  They honestly don't want to haul it back to their homes or businesses. 
7.  Have cash on hand.  Most dealers cannot accept credit cards and if they do, they might charge a service fee to pay for the connection at their table.
8.  Sign up for raffles and door prizes.  Almost every show has them and there are usually great prizes.
9.  If you are attending to meet players, be ready to wait in line, and in small spaces.  Also, if you have no idea what you want autographed the promoter's merchandise table will have the best items at reasonable prices.

Below is the link to the Greater Boston Sports Collector's Club website. Check it out for more information.
http://www.gbscc.com/

If you attend I'll be at the sure shot promotions merchandise table outside the autograph area.  Stop by and say Hi.

Is it worth paying???

I would love to say that every autograph I own wasn't paid for.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  The reality in dealing with athletes and celebrities is that they are entertainers, and they are part of a huge business.  They would be fools not to charge for their time to sign autographs for their fans.  They are also charging because businesses are using their name to make a profit for their own endeavors.

With that said, I'd like to comment on the pros and cons of paying for the autograph.

Pros
1.  Most athletes are not accessible.  This is an opportunity to meet your personal favorite celebrity, athlete or hero.  I know I never would've met Hank Aaron, Willie Mays or Bill Russell if I didn't pay to see them.
2.  The quality of autograph is almost always better at a paid signing.  The promoter will have the correct writing utensil and the athlete/celebrity will sign a full autograph vs. the cut signature that some are known for.
3.  Promoters will offer deals for multiple players.  Most promoters offer player packages so that you can acquire more autographs for less money.
4.  Promoters will have the most updated merchandise or signature moment items for purchase.  I have worked merchandise tables for years and fans are always clamoring for the most updated photos that others don't have.
5.  You know the autograph is real and should be able to have it authenticated instantly (authentication tickets range from $3 - $6).

Cons
1.  The price.  Unfortunately, the price for current athletes, especially in the baseball world is too high.  The way the market works is that current players, some on steroids or caught cheating, can get more money than current hall of famers.  Pricing can also be confusing because the average collector doesn't understand the difference between regular, oversized or premium items.
2.  You might get 10 seconds with the athlete.  For a popular player such as Kevin McHale, who appeared in Burlington, he had over 400 people in attendance. We had to push people along quickly.  It took 8 of us at the front of the line to keep it moving.
3.  Photos with players will rarely happen.  Some players, especially on the older side, have poor eyesight and cannot handle the flashes.  Additionally, the line takes much longer to get through if everyone wants to take a picture.
4.  There will be a line, even for the C list person.  I have never been to a public appearance, in which an athlete didn't have at least 30-40 people looking to purchase an autograph for them.

This upcoming weekend, November 5th - 7th there is a great show featuring the 1975 Red Sox, Patriot Hall of Famer, John Hannah and some of the current Bruins.  All athletes featured are at great price points.  I highly recommend you check out the link below with the appearance and pricing information.  This show is very well organized and a great way to collect at a reasonable price.

http://www.sureshotpromotions.com/