| The hobby of collecting autographs scaled to new | | | | fans throughout his career, which is worth a lot of |
| heights of popularity during the 1980s. Earlier on it | | | | money. |
| was only children who asked celebrities for their | | | | The demands for celebrities' autographs have always |
| autographs. However, soon people from all age | | | | been steep. Dealers usually present several |
| groups began to get interested in philography. Seeing | | | | photographs for the celebrity to sign and then sell |
| the huge market potential of autographs as | | | | those pictures. Many dealers even go to the extent |
| memorabilia, the dealers and celebrities started | | | | of finding out a celebrity's residential address and |
| charging money for their signatures and a once | | | | then write to him/her asking for their autographs |
| innocent hobby became a commercial venture. | | | | many times! Many celebrities are in the habit of |
| The history of autographs is rather interesting. When | | | | maintaining records of how many autographs they |
| you flip through the pages of history you realize that | | | | provide and to which person. This helps them know if |
| being given an autograph by the aristocracy was | | | | the person who is requesting for their signature is a |
| considered a huge honor in East Asia. An item, which | | | | genuine fan or just a dealer who wants to make |
| had a high official's signature, was considered to be | | | | money by selling their autographs. |
| of high value. In China during dynastic rule, the | | | | The most sought after celebrities, for their |
| emperor's autograph was considered priceless and | | | | autographs, are those who are movie stars, |
| selling of such an item was considered a criminal | | | | musicians, singers, members of music groups, |
| offense! | | | | teenage idols, political leaders, social and religious |
| There are many famous personalities who always | | | | leaders, award winning scientists, popular and/or |
| oblige their fans by signing autographs free of cost. | | | | award wining authors and astronauts. |
| This makes them more popular and helps retain the | | | | Different hobbyists like to collect signatures of |
| innocence of the hobby. Some extremely popular | | | | celebrities in specialized or specific fields. These could |
| kids' idols like Hillary Duff are known to willingly sign | | | | be Nobel Prize winning authors, religious leaders, |
| autographs for their fans. In fact Hillary Duff publicly | | | | politicians, scientists, or mathematicians. The specifics |
| lashed out to those teen idols that avoid signing for | | | | of the collections are a matter of individual choice and |
| free. There are many high profile people who do not | | | | liking. |
| want to distribute their autographs for free. | | | | While autographs may be worth hundreds of dollars |
| Sportsmen like the late Joe DiMaggio and Barry | | | | for some, for a sincere hobbyist, his collection is a |
| Bonds are a couple of players who belong to this | | | | reflection of his admiration and loyalty for a celebrity |
| category. As a matter of fact Michael Jordan could | | | | and hence totally invaluable! |
| not give autographs to his innumerable and frenzied | | | | |