As Presidents Day approaches, with it comes thoughts of how elected officials affect our world.
Regardless of whether their influence is positive or negative, most politicians become a footnote in history.
But a few become major chapters in the history books, and with their fame comes interest in their signatures as valuable collectibles.
Of all the high-profile political signatures in the world, how do you know which ones to collect? While not every signature is going to have the same value as George Washington’s, knowing which autographs have historic significance is key.
Signatures from political figures are not the only ones that can have value. Consider all of the famous military figures, business tycoons, religious leaders and scientists throughout history.
But without a doubt, the signatures that can make a collector the most money the fastest are those of past presidents. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Republican or Democrat, when it comes to making money from collecting signatures, be bipartisan!
Every presidential autograph will increase in value; some will escalate more quickly than others.
President Barack Obama, for instance, is the first black president, and that has huge historic importance, making his signature one that collectors covet. Likewise, when the first woman is elected president, her signature will be extremely collectible and have more value than some from other presidents.
Signatures are not the only presidential items that have value. Presidential clothing, pens used to sign important documents, desks and other furniture can have historic significance.
But, collectors, beware: Before you start thinking about all the money you are going to make, know that there are perils to collecting presidential autographs.
For one thing, where will you find these rare signatures? You might just skip eBay, which is a dangerous place to buy autographs. Of the thousands of items for sale on eBay, many are the real thing, but many more are fake.
Why? On eBay, it is very easy to move a large number of items quickly without much oversight. Almost no one is asking questions regarding authenticity. And that’s a big mistake when it comes to collecting signatures.
Estate and online auctions specializing in presidential wares are great places to go for authenticated items. There are many high-quality auction houses in the United States that hold these sales.
One of my favorites is EAC Gallery in New York (), an auction house that handles historic memorabilia. It has a money-back guarantee on every item sold. This guarantee protects collectors who may later learn that an item is not authentic.
I have had good results locating rare items in online auctions, using dealers I trust, and very occasionally on eBay.
Regarding authenticity, when you buy an autograph from a dealer, know that there are more fakes in the marketplace than real signatures.
“One of the hardest things I have to do is tell someone they spent good money on a forged autograph,” says James Spence of JSA Authentication (). “Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more common. For every real autograph for sale, there are five that are bogus.”
What is the best way to protect yourself when buying a high-end signature?
“Buy with a credit card for added protection,” Spence says, “and always get a certificate of authenticity from an authenticator who is nationally known and accepted by all auction houses.”
One last issue to be aware of regards framing. When buying any collectible that has been framed, first have it removed from the frame. This will allow you to see if your treasure has damage that was hidden by the frame, which is more common than people think. You can remove the frame yourself, or your local framer can complete the task for a minimal charge.
I have been collecting presidential signatures and memorabilia for many years, so I understand how hard these documents are to locate and buy. The realization you are holding a document that was actually touched by a U.S. President is very powerful. Of all my collections, my presidential collection was the most difficult to attain and the most enjoyable to own.
Aaron LaPedis is a guest columnist for The Denver Post. The Denver-area art and collectibles dealer is author of “The Garage Sale Millionaire.” Learn more about the book at thegaragesale . Do you have a question about an antique or collectible? E-mail it to living@denverpost.com.
