White whale Henry Aaron signature

[Augy44]

What kind of premium would you guys place on rookie era signatures in comparison to a mint later in life autograph? I know a lot of that has to do with how much someone is willing to pay, but is there some sort of premium that is usually realized just because it's a signature from the players rookie year?

[packs]

To me it doesn't matter when exactly a playing days signature was signed. I guess maybe if the date factored in, like say a GPC dated the same date as the player's first hit or something. Otherwise I'd pay the same price whether it was the player's first year or last year as a player.

[daves_resale_shop]

It's tough to put an exact figure on it, but I relate the premium to the scarcity of the variant... My guess is that there are 3-500 regular mantle signatures for ever circa 1951 exemplar (very different), so I don't think that paying 3-5 times is unreasonable... I had been looking for a Williams rookie signature for ages. An ap came to market that could be attributed to spring training of 1938... I had absolutely no problem paying $450 for it...

Originally Posted by Augy44

What kind of premium would you guys place on rookie era signatures in comparison to a mint later in life autograph? I know a lot of that has to do with how much someone is willing to pay, but is there some sort of premium that is usually realized just because it's a signature from the players rookie year?

[JoeyFarino]

The story behind the autographs is pretty cool. The person who got them had a scrapbook full of them and would obtain them all in person. Do you think PSA would re-label some of these as rookie signatures if requested and found to be true?

[bender07]

Originally Posted by JoeyFarino

The story behind the autographs is pretty cool. The person who got them had a scrapbook full of them and would obtain them all in person. Do you think PSA would re-label some of these as rookie signatures if requested and found to be true?

Based on what?

[JoeyFarino]

Originally Posted by bender07

Based on what?

Based on their examples

[bender07]

Originally Posted by JoeyFarino

Based on their examples

I'm doubtful they would do that. I actually hope they wouldn't.

[bender07]

Originally Posted by Augy44

What kind of premium would you guys place on rookie era signatures in comparison to a mint later in life autograph? I know a lot of that has to do with how much someone is willing to pay, but is there some sort of premium that is usually realized just because it's a signature from the players rookie year?

I absolutely see a premium for rookie era signatures. It's a niche market but the supply is very low.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by bender07

I absolutely see a premium for rookie era signatures. It's a niche market but the supply is very low.

but stupidity is so high it evens out...

[JoeyFarino]

A 1954 signed GPC that was just signed hank aaron sold for 1k over a year ago. If this is in fact a rookie signature i think its worth it. You rarely see any "Henry Aaron" signatures and the fact that it was most likely signed when he was a rookie makes it even more scarce and desirable

[Lordstan]

I think it's a personal choice. I think an item signed around the time it was made certainly has more desirability thank the same item signed later. I don't think there is a set mark up per se.
My personal experience with 1934 goudeys is that I prefer period signed cards, but wouldn't pay more for say a Gehrig signed in 1934 vs 1936 vs 1939. I would pay more for a card signed in the 30s-50s in fountain pen vs one signed in the 1980s in sharpie. How much more? Depending on the card, maybe 30% more, but not much more.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Augy44

What kind of premium would you guys place on rookie era signatures in comparison to a mint later in life autograph? I know a lot of that has to do with how much someone is willing to pay, but is there some sort of premium that is usually realized just because it's a signature from the players rookie year?

I'm sure it would depend on the player, but in my experience there definitely is a premium for rookie and/or early signatures. I think the pricing would also depend on the item the autograph is on, i.e. ball, picture, postcard, index card, etc. as well as the condition.

I mainly collect Brooks Robinson and his very early signatures are pretty tough to come by. Anyone ever see a Brooks Robinson early signature on the SS of a ball?

[chaddurbin]

for me a signature is a signature. most of the time i prefer the more matured "classic" of the athlete than the archaic looking early sigs...like williams, aaron, mantle etc. i am sure that kind of thinking is the opposite of the norm, but hey i want that and it's cheaper so win/win for me.

collecting modern graphs if i can make out a couple letters from their names instead of the usual squiggly lines i'm happy.