Authentic or Unauthentic Autographs- A Subject of Debate

            

As the money has hiked up with prices reaching at its peak so does the market and its stock crashing down and rising again. Popular personalities and celebrities do earn a lot of money in selling their products and middle class persons are the bridges to connect to high class and lower class .People have a lot of hobbies collecting autograph is one among them. Celebrities and famous people do sign their autograph and give to people as the token of their gratitude. Athletic players do sign their balls and bats with their signatures to their fans and other people who made it a hobby of collecting autographs.

 

 

Authentic or not is another subject of debate which can be sort out later as debate usually takes more of a leisure time and space of its own kind. Memorabilia gift for all people can be one such example of dream coming true of a peasant or middle or lower class families as to sell them with more price and get more money for authentic autographs and little less money for unauthentic autographs. Sport people and star people both sign their autographs on their football, shirts and jerseys. Most of the time it is a doubt that some of the autographs are authentic and some are unauthentic. Authentic signed autographs on items are rare and those which are unauthentic are very easily available just like stamp collection. Collection of particular items is rare quality found in either rich people or well considered persons.

Mcfly Rock Glasgow

I was thrilled when my best friend told me that her mum had bought her two tickets to go and see McFly in Glasgow for her birthday. Not only was this an opportunity to watch one of Britain’s best pop bands but it was also an opportunity to collect music autographs. We set off early on the morning of the show in the hope of squeezing in an early dinner before getting ready for what promised to be an epic performance.

Never failing to disappoint the boys put on an amazing show, performing songs from their new album and also some McFly classics. Still buzzing from the excitement of the event, my friend and I headed back to the hotel to prepare for a night out in Glasgow City Centre. As we were getting ready we received a phone call from another of our friends informing us that they were waiting at the back of the venue for the boys to come out so that they could meet them and collect some famous autographs. We threw our coats on and headed back to the venue as quickly as possible to join our friends in the waiting process.

After what felt like a lifetime the McFly boys finally emerged from the back door and began to greet the dedicated fans awaiting them. I was lucky enough to meet two of the boys, Danny and Tom, who just happen to be my two favourites! Not only was I able to meet them, the boys also autographed photos, and autographed shirts which I am now able to add to my forever growing collection of signed concert t-shirts. Danny also persuaded all the boys in the group to sign my copy of McFly’s new album, adding to my collection of autographed albums. We could not believe our luck as we left the venue.

I think that music concerts and events are a great way to collect autographs, as I am able to enjoy the music I am enthusiastic about and also meet the artists, providing myself with more autographs for sale. Attending award shows are a wide scope of celebrities enabling me to gain access to a range of famous celebrity autographs. So this will be a good opportunity to collect music memorabilia, such as signed posters, autographed shirts and signed photos and collectables.

Over the years I have found it very useful in my hunt for celebrity autographs to visit memorabilia shows and conventions. There are many shows across the UK and it’s well worth a visit if you are selling autographs or buying autographs to take a weekend out and visit a show or autograph convention.

For more details visit here: www.memorabilia4u.com 

Collecting and Avoiding the Autograph Trap

I remember the first music autograph I collected it was a signed album from a band called Slade. I was always interested in getting albums signed in the 70’s and I collected numerous items of signed music memorabilia throughout that decade. Rock autographs filled up my collection and over the years I have collected thousands of autographs, signed guitars and music memorabilia including several Beatles autographs, however I never did manage to get a John Lennon autograph.

Most collectors of memorabilia whether it be signed sports memorabilia, celebrity memorabilia or the occasional autographed photo are not as fortunate as me and do not have the available time to dedicate to collecting collectible memorabilia. For those who do not have the time but love collecting, they have to buy autographs. I myself have been selling autographs in one form or another for nearly 40 years!!!

Buying autographs can be a tricky business as there are lots of unscrupulous dealers and people who deliberately forge signatures.

To avoid the autograph trap is what every buyer wants to do, so here are some simple steps to try and insure your money is well spent.

For example if you are looking to buy a signed Manchester united shirt or a signed Chelsea shirt it would be advisable to buy it from a British UACC registered dealer or an AFTAL approved dealer. You are probably wondering why? AFTAL and UACC are governing bodies who check regularly on there dealers and both organisations have strict policies as to the buying and selling of autographs. Also that is the country where those teams play! Over the years I have stood outside football stadia to get the occasional football autograph, signed football jersey, signed footballs or for those in the U.S. soccer memorabilia. In the UK that can be a cold and thankless task as the sport is played during the winter.

I have on occasion had the time to jet off to the U.S. and do some collecting there, when in the U.S. I concentrate on collecting actors autographs, Hollywood memorabilia, actresses autographs and if I have time I trail round the stores in L.A. for horror movie collectables.

In fact the last time I was in the States I attended several conventions and memorabilia shows where I picked up loads of collectible memorabilia namely, star trek memorabilia, star wars memorabilia and several celebrity addresses of which I will be writing to in the upcoming months.

On the subject of celebrity addresses please be careful as not every celebrity signs all there fan mail, some have autopens and others get there secretaries to sign on there behalf, I have seen many movie star autographs over the years like this and have had to disappoint several fans when I tell them.

So as the Sergeant in “Hill St Blues” said “BE CAREFUL OUT THERE”!!!

Movie Memorabilia

There are several associations that promote genuine autographed memorabilia the most famous being the U.A.C.C. ( Universal Autograph Collectors Club). They have two types of membership, Registered Dealers and members. The first is highly recommended as the selection procedure is very strict and to add substance to this statement there are less than 275 members worldwide who have achieved this lofty status. Memorabilia 4U, my company is RD 292. A person who is a U.A.C.C. member is just someone who has joined the club and has no accreditation other than being a member.  So always buy autographs and signed memorabilia from UACC and AFTAL approved dealers.

  

A U.A.C.C. registered dealer is different from a U.A.C.C. member in as much as a member pays an annual fee to be a member of the organisation, whereas a Registered Dealer has to have been a member of the U.A.C.C for at least 3 year and dealt in autographs for at least 3 years. After a very strict selection process in which you need two registered dealers to forward your name, your company and autographs are subjected to scrutiny by the board and should you be successful in passing this test you are awarded a registered dealer number. Passing the initial criteria is not all that is required, you are under constant scrutiny form fellow dealers and Board members to make sure you keep the high standards set by this orginisation. 

An A.F.T.A.L. approved dealer is an Autograph or memorabilia dealer resident in the U.K. and Europe who has passed a thorough examination into their background and the items they have for sale further to this they all have to sign a contract agreeing to the following code of ethics This condensed Ethics Code briefly sums up what every AFTAL approved dealer has signed and agreed to. Failure to conform to this code could result in expulsion from AFTAL.

An A.F.T.A.L. Certified Dealer is a dealer who has attended a course run by A.F.T.A.L on how to identify Forgeries, Scanned, Printed, Autopen and Stamped signatures and has passed all the criteria laid out in the course content.

My advice to anyone who wants to collect a genuine autograph is try and get the celebrity to sign the item for you. I would strongly advise that you do not try and get signed movie posters as these are easily damaged in a crowd looking for famous autographs (made that mistake already!).This is not always possible and the next best thing is to use a trusted U.A.C.C certified dealers and A.F.T.A.L approved autograph dealer especially if you collect vintage autographs and authentic autograph collectibles or even more so if you collect rare autographs.

Happy collecting………     

PETER ANDRE COMES TO ABERDEEN

Last week can be considered as a memorable week. One of my all-time favourite celebrities came to Aberdeen. I headed down to the shopping centre where he was signing in the hope of meeting the gossip magazine star and in hope of getting his autograph.It was no surprise when I arrived there was an absolutely massive queue of women and children awaiting his arrival, all in anticipation of meeting Peter Andre in the flesh.

After almost an hour of queuing I could hear people begin to scream and chant his name. It was at this point the excitement started to really sink in. Pete was escorted through the crowd and greeted all his fans on his way to the perfume store where he was to sign.

After almost three hours of queuing it was my turn to go into the shop and meet Peter Andre. I have met a lot of celebrities in my time of autograph collecting but I have only met a few that I truly admire. So when I met Peter I was truly star struck! It was obvious that Peter was pushed for time as there were so many fans that wanted to meet him; however, he seemed very relaxed and signed photographs and even signed albums whilst chatting away. It was very refreshing to discover that somebody I have a lot of admiration for was a genuinely kind person.

I like to take advantages of the times when celebrities visit my home town as it is an easy and more convenient way of collecting memorabilia than travelling long distances to award ceremonies and other events. Furthermore, it is a good opportunity to broaden my collection of autographs for sale.

Not only have I been given the opportunity to meet Peter Andre but I have been able to obtain signed memorabilia to add to my ever growing collection of famous autographs.

To see more autograph collections and autographs for sale please visit our website at : Memorabilia4u.com

MUSIC AWARDS 2011

This year I took the time out of my hectic schedule to sit down with a glass of wine and watch the Brit Awards. Unfortunately I was unable to make it to the ceremony myself, due to work commitments; however, my trusted autograph collectors were available to take my place in the exciting process of autograph collecting.

I was blown away by Adele’s emotive performance of “Someone like you.” I was not surprised to learn that her current album has reached the number one spot in the charts. I am desperately seeking an autographed album from Adele which I shall hopefully receive in the foreseeable future. Another highlight of the evening has to be the phenomenal performance delivered by Take That. After 15 years it is obvious that the boys still love what they do. With the return of Robbie Williams to Take That I am keen to collect memorabilia signed by the entire group. It is not surprising that the boys scooped the award for British Group. Not only was I able to get hold of music autographs but other famous autographs such as movie autographs were available to me through the exceptional A-list attendance on the night.

Another music awards ceremony which was hosted recently was the NME Awards. Dominated mostly by an indie rock genre of music the ceremony saw the likes of Biffy Clyro, Muse and My Chemical Romance all receiving awards. As always, my trusted collectors were on hand to catch the artists, enhancing my collection of rock autographs. Also attending were the cast of the television show “Skins” who won the award for the best TV show, allowing me the opportunity to get signed photographs and memorabilia, from not only musicians but also actors and actresses appearing on television at the moment.

We offer::

Autographed album
Collect memorabilia
Music autographs
Famous autographs
Movie autographs
Rock autographs
Signed photographs

MUSIC FESTIVALS

It is at this time of year that the line – ups for the music festivals that occur during the summer are announced. This introduces the prospect of being able to attend the festivals, not just for the enjoyment of the vast amount of musical talents but also for the ability to meet and collect autographs from the various musicians that attend.

 

The first event to kick off the summer festival spirit is Rockness. Situated in Inverness, not far from where Memorabilia 4 U is based, the event attracts music lovers from all over Scotland, and not forgetting some of the greatest names in music. So far the artists who have confirmed their appearance over the weekend include the likes of Kasabian, Paolo Nutini andThe Chemical Brothers as well as some fresh up and coming talents such as Two Door Cinema Club and Katy B. With my autograph collectors on guard I am hoping to catch the vast majority of celebrities who shall be attending the event and I shall hopefully be able to add to my collection of music autographs.

 

Next on my list of potential collecting grounds is the well-known Scottish festival T in the Park. The line – up for the festival this year is phenomenal. Announced to perform so far this year are; The Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Blink 182. This creates a fantastic opportunity for me to expand on my collection of rock autographs. Also set to perform are some of the biggest names in the chart at the moment such as TinieTempah, Jessie J and Ke$ha. To have the opportunity to have an item hand signed from artists as well-known as these would be readily welcomed.

Last, but definitely not least is Glastonbury. The biggest most highly anticipated festival of the year and this year it looks like it will be unforgettable. Currently, the only acts that have been announced are the headline acts. However, with U2, Coldplay and Beyonce as headliners who can complain? As always Glastonbury will be sure to deliver an incredible line up, as well as delivering the chance to collect as many famous autographs as possible!

I look forward to being able to offer these incredible artists autographs for sale.