The Book of Autographs: An Introduction to the Joys and Techniques of Autograph Collecting by the World's Foremost Authority

by Charles Hamilton Jr.

Book Overview

Our standard shipping includes USPS delivery confirmation. No dust jacket. Pages 73-75 loose from binding. Pages clean, no markings. 100% of profit from this sale benefits D.C. Library in S. Oregon. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067124258X
• ISBN13: 9780671242589
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Why are people fascinated with autographs?

Everyone who sees an autograph of a known personality has to sit up and take notice. There are many sides to the whole business of autographs. Many collect them with the hopes of selling them and making a quick buck.The autograph of just about anyone and in a variety of forms,is available ;all one has to do is find a dealer and come up with the coin.The more recent explosion of signatures of sports and other celeberities is something new;but there has always been an interest in collecting a signature both for the plesasure gained as well as for prophet. Hamilton's book was published in 1978,and covers all aspects of autographs. Almost 30 years has slipped under the bridge since then,so the prices in it must be viewed with that in mind. Nonetheless,the relative comparison probably holds. After one puts the price aside,this book is fascinating. Hamilton ,who is the established authority,gives us the benifit of over 50 years of knowledge he has developed in finding,evaluating,collecting and selling autographs from many time periods and all walks of life. Alhough, not an autograph collector,I found it a real treat to look at the 1000 autographs included.Hamilton also covers interesting details about the autographs,how they were found,etc.Just to see what the autograph of some famous person looked like makes this book a real treat.Some are plainer than dirt,some are almost works of art,some are almost unintelligible,some are surprising,and on and on. Hamilton shows that there are many fake autographs floating around and it is very easy to be taken in, if one is not just as expert in assessing an autograph,as the person who is selling it. He explains what makes an autograph "valuable" ,and explains that the autograph of a person will vary tremensously ;depending on a whole lot of factors. I was very surprised that he did not mention anything about an author's signature in a book.So many "book signings " are taking place today;that one has to come to the conclusion,that this type of autograph has little other than personal pleasure value.I have stood in lineups to obtain my own "signed copy" ,not for how much I thought I could sell it for or how much it might be worth someday.After reading this book,I am well satisfied with the attitude I have taken. While it is fun to line up,meet,and have an author sign a book;you should let that be your enjoyment. I often attend large used book sales run at universities and other organizations and often see books selling cheaply that have been signed ; most likely at "book signings" Although I don't go out of my way searching for autographs;I stumbled across a book signed by President Truman ,while in office.It also had inside a note on White House stationery. It was a real treat for me to find it,particularly as I've always admired him.What it is worth is not of particular interest to me.

Autograph Collecting pre-1980

Front-paper: "The World's foremost authority writes about the joys of collecting autographs, presenting approsimately 1,000 reproductions (facsimiles) of famous (or notorious!) signatures--many of them accompanied by engaging text or embellished with artwork by the signers. The parade of names and the remarkable aspect of their personalities, as depicted in a host of anecdotes, are staggering. The book is divided into categories: world leaders, authors, artists, composers, frontiersmen and Indians, explorers, inventors, famous women, black leaders, jurists, financiers, entertainment personalities, sports figures, military and naval heroes, criminals and outlaws, royalty, scientists, religious leaders, Nazi and Fascist leaders, embracing some ten centuries." Also lists 5,000 prices for these people in DS, ADS, LS, TLS, SP.