Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with autograph

Send it in, big fella!

Flamingo — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:23:09 -0800

My fiancee loves Bill Raftery and I would love to get a signed photograph for him, but I can't figure out how to make contact. I've tried many googles, but all I can find up with are the following:

Contact for speaking engagements- Looks suspicious and not like a reasonable avenue for this search.

here

ebay posting for an autograph. Not what I want. Hoping for (1) photo and (2) customized/personalized message.

His twitter. This doesn't seem like an appropriate request for twitter and I don't use twitter. I am also 100% certain my fiancee follows him on twitter.

ESPN MediaZone's page doesn't have any real info, but I sent them an email a few months ago, with no luck.

Ideally, what I'd request is a signed photo with a witty/appropriate wedding-related saying involving his catchphrase "Onions!" (Just want to lay it all out here, just in case.)

I'm not really sure where to move forward with a request or other avenues to pursue. Any ideas? Anyone have an "in" with the big man himself? What am I not thinking of?

Authenticating Terry Pratchett

Perthuz — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:11:07 -0800

I think I bought Terry Pratchett's autograph at the Goodwill. That's really cool, only I have no idea what to do about it. I grabbed a copy of Good Omens on a whim from my local Goodwill. When I got home and opened it up, I saw this (apologies for crappy image). I've googled images of his autograph and it looks good to my untrained eye. I thought at first it might be printed, but that ink and only that ink has bled through to the opposite side of the page.

I'm not at all interested in its monetary value. For various reasons this feels like a gift and I'd like to take good care of it. I'd like to authenticate and possibly display it but I'm not sure how best to do that. So my question is twofold:

1. Can you recommend an authentication service? I'm VERY leery of shipping this thing off somewhere, so someone in northern Colorado or even southern Wyoming would be preferable.

2. How best to go about displaying this autograph? It's on the title page inside a paperback, which isn't in great condition as it is.

Where can I sell a Ouji board signed by the band Marilyn Manson from c.1999?

Jason and Laszlo — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:52:33 -0800

Where can I sell a Ouji board signed by the band Marilyn Manson from c.1999? Bonus: how much is it worth? The entire band signed it.

Is this really the autograph of Miles Davis?

crapples — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:18:16 -0800

Is this really signed by Miles Davis, as indicated by the certificate of authenticity on the back? Here's the signature side.

And here's the certificate.

I could make that certificate in about five minutes. The stamp is a raised, "real" feeling, stamp.

Is there anything in the wording, the certificate style, the signature itself or any other element of this item that would suggest that it is real or fake?

I got it as a gift. I don't know where it was purchased or how much it cost (but I think it was a lot).

Cashing out on Tiger?

norm — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:41:10 -0800

How does one sell an autograph? I have a somewhat unique autograph* that, due to current events, might be somewhat more valuable currently than later (although this is also debatable; ALL RIGHT FINE IT'S TIGER WOODS).

I have not decided to sell it, but might. But frankly, I have no idea how one would go about doing it. I've googled it some, but don't feel like I've learned much. Should one use a dealer? How would you find one? How does the industry authenticate such things? Are there recognized experts in this field? There would have to be, right? Is this even a valuable autograph? I really don't know the answers to any of these questions.

*Relevant details: it's a big fat autograph on the program for the 1996 US Amateur, which Mr. Woods won immediately prior to going pro. I know it is authentic because my wife (who was working at the tournament) got it at the time herself.

The Great Ecstasy of the Signer Herzog

Dr. Wu — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:50:02 -0800

How do I preserve Werner Herzog's signature on my t-shirt? I met Werner Herzog the other night at the IFC Center's screening of his excellent new movie, MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE. I'd been meaning to buy one of these "Cinemetal" Herzog/Danzig t-shirts for a while, and figured this was the right time to finally do it.

Herzog signed my shirt with a Sharpie, thus rendering a cool shirt even cooler. I'd like to wear the shirt and preserve the signature on it. Can you suggest a product with which I could treat the shirt so that the signature persists, even after laundering the shirt?

I hypothesized that something called "fabric fixative" might exist, and, lo and behold, it does! I found some here, on the site of a company recommended by various MeFites. Will this product do the job? Or might there be some alternative, or some additional product I can use for insurance?

I also looked at the "Sharpie blog," and found that they recommend heat-treating to preserve Sharpie marks on fabric, so I'll do that. But I really want to render this autograph as indelible as I can, so all further tips are welcome.

Danke!

Where can I find trustworthy autographed items?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:39:36 -0800

I'm looking for an autographed picture as a present, but $200 seems like much and I've seen people selling copies of autographed pictures for $10. What are good sources for autographed pictures, either high quality downloads or pictures with original signatures? In particular, I'm looking for a Gene Wilder signature. I realize I could use computer magic and get a high quality photo and overlay a signature digitally, or fake it, but that seems shady. I'm tempted to buy the less costly reproduction from someone online, but I imagine they could have done faked it just that.

Are there any reliable websites for signature purchasing? I could also go in person to the LA area, as I live a few hours away - are there any decent autograph or memorabilia shops for this sort of thing, or are they all tourist traps and money sinks for rabid fans?

I'm asking anonymously because it's an idea for a present, and the recipient checks MetaFilter from time to time.

How to protect Werner Herzog's signature on a pair of Chuck's?

barfmann — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:21:56 -0800

I got Werner Herzog to sign one of my Chuck's. He used a permanent Sharpie. I'd like to continue wearing the shoes (it's just a signature), but I'd like the sig to fade as slowly as possible (it's Werner Herzog's signature OMG!) What is the best way to protect Werner Herzog's signature (in Sharpie) on a pair of Chuck's?

Jackson Browne's autograph at concert--how?

Dukat — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:53:40 -0800

Help me get Jackson Browne's autograph at his concert. Title is self-explanatory. I'm pretty young (22) and so will probably stand out among his crowd--which tends to be in their 50s and 60s (around his age)--and I have pretty much the whole day of the concert free. I have a very decent seat. I have minimal concert experience, though.

Should I show up way before the concert? How much in advance? Or wait after? Where do I go? The stage door? Mingle in front of the stage? Would it help at all if I "looked good"? Any other advice would be much appreciated. The man's pretty much been my favorite singer since I was 14, and I've listened to a lot of other people since then, and getting to see him for 4 seconds and getting an autograph would mean a lot to me.

Sex Pistols signing?

MrMustard — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:28:20 -0800

Is this really Sex Pistols' drummer, Paul Cook's autograph? An acquaintance recently purchased a copy of the Big Issue from a seller in Finchley Road. Said seller then claimed to be Sex Pistols' drummer, Paul Cook, stating that he was selling the Big Issue for larks and giving the money to other sellers, before insisting on signing the mag. There are further pictures of the autograph here and here. Comparisons with stuff on the web (here and here) are, to my mind, inconclusive. The acquaintance also claims that the seller looked enough like Paul Cook to not rule it out. So can anyone confirm the truth or otherwise of this unlikely tale?

The bucks start here?

stenseng — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:06:34 -0800

Mefi political memorabilia junkies: Tell me what this political collectible is worth/ how I can find out/ how/where I can sell it! Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Special Train breakfast menu from 1948, autographed by Harry Truman I have a breakfast menu from the Rio Grande special Presidential train Harry Truman took on his 1948 whistlestop tour. It's in pretty much perfect condition, and signed by the man himself... My Dad gave it to me a few years back, along with a box of assorted political photos and memorabilia he had in his office before he retired, and I hadn't thought about it much until recently. I showed it to a coworker who has some interest in that sort of thing, and he was of the impression that it might be worth quite a bit...

The inset text reads:

Rio Grande

Special Train

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Denver, Colorado

to

Ogden, Utah

September 20-21, 1948

Via

Royal Gorge Route

THRU THE ROCKIES

I'll try to get some pics posted shortly...

Is David Lynch generous to fans?

cowbellemoo — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:41:15 -0800

[DavidLynchFilter] I'm going to be able to see David Lynch as part of a screening for his new movie this Sunday. Does he sign autographs? Will he pose with you for pictures? I don't want to look stupid, or get my hopes up, but I think it would be really fun to have a picture around of me with David Lynch. I'm willing to wait around until the crowd clears and I'm not looking to monopolize his attention or anything.

Is this dumb? Or is it likely if I stick around and wait my turn I'll get my coveted photo/autograph?

Getting an Autograph

mragreeable — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 08:19:02 -0800

AutographFilter : I'm going to a concert in a few weeks time, and was wondering about the ideal pen to use (if any) on glossy paper with a dark background. [More inside] Basically, I went on ebay and looked for promotional material for the artist in question (Bill Frisell). The best I could find was a 20x12 poster, which is fairly dark, overall. To be especially clear, here's a picture of the poster in question. It's fairly glossy, like magazine paper, but heavier.

The question, then, is this : what sort of pen/marker or whatever might be capable of writing on this? I remember back in junior high a lot of girls used some sort of two-color marker-like pens... I don't know what they're called, but they had a metal ball in them like spraypaint cans do and they had to be shaken before use. Would those work?

I guess I want a website which it to pens what thistothat is to glue.

I'll probably frame it and give it to a friend, so it won't be messed with or rolled and unrolled or anything like that, but would obviously not want the signature to fade.