Perhaps the most famous mathematical equation of modern time is Albert Einstein’s “E=mc2. Although most of us have seen it, many folks have no idea of what it actually means. Well relax, we won’t discuss quantum physics here. I will however share information about the many letters sent by the “Energy Committee of Atomic Scientists” […]
Collecting contemporary entertainers is an incredibly popular hobby. Movie stars, TV personalities, comedians, stage actors and actresses are just some of the categories collectors love. Although I do not collect contemporary personalities, we see thousands of signed photos each year. I am concerned with the illusion that most of these items are authentic. It is […]
Last week I was going through my files and came across my ‘education folder’. The ‘education folder’ is a file full of most of my major buying mistakes form my early days as an autograph dealer in the 1980. It is so named, because every time I made a mistake, I learned – – the […]
There has been a great deal of ‘chatter’ lately about unqualified appraisals of autograph material. Improper and unprofessional appraisals are being provided to many unsuspecting collectors and donors. The potential financial damage to you and your collection can be devastating. Proper appraisal procedures are not being followed. Important valuation techniques are being overlooked. Untrained, incompetent […]
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the 7th President of the United States is known for many “firsts.” He was the first non-aristocratic President. Jackson was the first U.S. Representative for the newly formed state of Tennessee. He may have been the first and only President to have married a woman who was already married (but that’s another […]
So — What’s It worth? Perhaps the most commonly asked question I hear is; “So, what’s it worth?” The question may pertain to a four language ship’s paper signed by James Madison and James Monroe, a signed photograph of movie star and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, or a hand-written letter by Union General (posthumously promoted) […]
Many letters from Presidents, statesmen, and popular celebrities are not really signed at all. They may have been signed with a rubber stamp, or written on pre-printed stationery. Your ability to spot these letters can save you time, aggravation, and money. Rubber stamp signatures are used extensively today and were even used in the mid […]