autographs of greatest value? on a trading card or other items such as a football or baseball.?

Question

we have acquired some antique trading cards and intend to get the card autographed and have been advised we should get another relevant item (football, baseball) autographed as a trading card is diminished in value if it is signed. we are confused.

Answer 1

There are two questions to ask when thinking about getting autographs: 1) Are you merely out to make money? 2) Is this something of intrinsic value and something you want as an "heirloom?"

With so much greed in the trading card and memorabilia industry, there is nothing wrong with getting a card signed no matter how old it is IF you are getting it because it means something to you and you plan to hold on to it.

If one subscribes to the notion of keeping a card pristine in a protector locked in a box so it doesn't get messed up, then you should not get the card signed and instead go after equipment.

The reason people say sign equipment instead of cards is because usually the equipment is "non-denominational" and mostly undated. Equipment predominantly does not feature logos of teams nor is it dated, whereas we all know cards feature a player in a specific year with a specific team. It's great to have a Jim Thome autograph, but is it better on an Indians card, a Phillies card or a White Sox card?

So if you want to get vintage cards signed, you can do whatever you want depending on your motivation:

1) Get them signed if you want them for the sake of having them signed because they mean something to you.

2) Don't get them signed if you plan on keeping the cards in pristine or untouched condition and get equipment signed.

Either way, the point of the autograph is to get closer to a celebrity or sports hero you enjoy to say you got to cross paths with that person even if for just a short period of time.

Answer 2

Rule of the thumb. When it comes to autographed sports memorabilia whether game balls or cards, it's best to have them certified. That way collectors or investors know they are buying a genuine autographed card or ball of an athlete. And normally this is done by manufacturers before the item is being released to collectors, like for example Upper Deck inserting autographed sports cards into their card packs at random. Without any certification or authentication, it'll be difficult for you to convince buyers, let alone selling your merchandise. Post-production autographed cards are considered by many hobbyists as altering the card, and thus diminishing their values.

Answer 3

Some baseball cards are specifically designed to be signed and are actually signed before they are sold. Cards of minimal value can be signed and their value may be increased slightly by having them signed. HOWEVER, most older cards (especially pre 1965) that have significant value because of who they are and their condition, are considered to be complete as they are and any autograph on it is considered a disfigurement and may actually devalue the card. You have been correctly advised.