Autographs - In Person, Mail Order, TTM
 

My autograph collection consists of close to 800 signatures (what I have managed to capture) on an array of items.

Break down of how the autographs were obtained:

In person: 85%
Friend/Relative: 6%
Mail Order: 6%
TTM: 3%

I was wondering about the percentages of other collectors out there.

Part of the signatures were obtained on the Perez-Steele standard postcards. I have 48 postcards signed and will keep the door open for Brett and Koufax. I wish that I had started in with Perez-Steele from the onset, but initially the postcards did not appeal to me. I have been kicking around the idea of adding additional postcards of deceased players but the authenticity issue gets to me every time. Although, I would be reluctant to purchase signed postcards of Williams, DiMaggio or Mantle or of those players who had a small signing window (ex. Ashburn). I could see purchasing cards of Gomez, Slaughter, Herman, Lemon, Gehringer, Spahn, Lyons, Terry, Dickey, Mathews, Roush, Sewell and Wynn to name a few. I question whether forgers saw big money in any of those names. Also, most of the names can be had for under a $100 so the outlay would be nominal.

In an ideal world an in-person only collector of the postcards (that I knew well) would emerge who was looking to sell but alas, that is not the case. So please tell me how you purchasers of signed material get over the authenticity issue. Is the blessing of PSA or Spence enough? Do you just trust your gut? Is there anyone out there who only collects in person signatures?