[Julie in the rv mirror]

Originally Posted by CarylB

Some may do .. but MOST? You have no basis for that statement Warrio. You don't have to be "diehard" (whatever the f that means) to want to keep a signed item as a souvenir. If "most" people sold "the suckers" eBay would be awash with signed items .. thousands upon thousands.

There are thousands of signed items on-eBay, although certainly you are correct in that it's not "most" people who are putting them there.

There are "professional" autograph dealers, but I think most people who have a signed item would want to keep it. I have a few autographed items, including a signed copy of "To Hell and Back", but strangely my favorite autograph is Ozzy Osbourne's- on a plain white piece of paper.

Signed items that you can buy are cool, but I think it's much more meaningful if the signature is a personal one.

The time I met Bruce Springsteen, it never even occurred to me to ask for an autograph or a picture, and I really don't feel like I need either. My memory is enough.

Originally Posted by CarylB

I often wonder how genuine some of those being sold by specialists are.

Often times, not very. Or, they're just hastily scribbled without much thought. The only way to be 100% sure is if you actually see the person sign.

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

I think of an autograph given free of charge as a gift. Something personal from that person to you.
Selling it to a fan for cold hard cash seems a little, off

I agree. I think some celebrities have learned to differentiate the fans from the professionals, and act accordingly, e.g. refusing to sign certain items or for certain people.

I was once in Las Vegas with a friend, and she got very excited when someone told us that Pete Rose was signing autographs. She wanted to get one for her son, who is a huge baseball fan. That was until we were also told that he was charging $100 a pop. I just thought that was disgusting. Needless to say, she didn't bother.