Introduction to Autograph Collecting

Autograph collecting is a way of touching history. Handwriting is the physical proof of thoughts and experiences of important people of the past and present. Autograph collectors have temporary custody of handwritten artifacts. In exchange for preserving them, the collector is rewarded with the satisfaction of owning a tangible piece of geniune history.

The practice of autograph collecting is not new. Although it has been practiced since ancient times, autograph collecting became very popular in the mid-1800’s . It was even possible to write to the likes of Abraham Lincoln and get a reply!

Notable autograph collectors throughout history include Cicero (who was proud of his letter from Julius Caesar), Queen Victoria, J.P. Morgan, Jerome Kern, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy (who was insipired to collect by his mother Rose), Ray Bradbury, Johnathan Winters, and Glenn Ford.

The purpose of this web site is to help beginning collectors learn the basics of autograph collecting, and to serve as a resource to more experienced collectors.