I collect autographs because they are a personal connection to the person who signed it. Plus, each one is unique to itself, they display beautifully with a photo, and often are artistic on their own.
There's always a risk that I'm buying something that isn't authentic, but if I buy from trusted dealers within the hobby, and if I maintain a basic knowledge of what something is supposed to look like, that's enough for me.
I collected gum cards when I was a kid, and I still enjoy them, but the value of specific cards is usually only appreciated by other collectors. I can show off an autograph to a friend or someone in my family and they get a kick out of seeing something signed by Cobb vs. seeing something made by a card company.
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