“What is written with a pen cannot be cut out with an axe” - this proverb is more relevant than ever in relation to autographs famous people, which over time acquire increasing value, equivalent to a certain amount. We bring to your attention the most expensive autographs in the entire history of ink:
Autographs of William Shakespeare
from 3,000,000 pounds sterling (from 4.66 million US dollars)
The mystery of William Shakespeare's personality is still being tried unsuccessfully by many literary scholars, historians and simply fans of creativity. There are several different theories about who could be hiding under this pseudonym: researchers mention the poet Christopher Marlowe, the 17th Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere, the philosopher Francis Bacon, and even the Scottish queen Mary Stuart. Considering all this, it’s a stretch to talk about the authenticity of William Shakespeare’s autographs. However, each of his 6 signatures known today, which appear on official papers (real estate mortgages, etc.), is estimated by experts to be a huge amount. But William Shakespeare’s autographs are unlikely to appear at auctions either, since they are the subject of enormous scientific interest.
John Lennon autograph
US$850,000 
John Lennon and Yoko Ono's joint studio album "Double Fantasy" was recorded in 1980 three weeks before the murder of the legendary musician. A copy of the album, signed by John Lennon at the request of Mark Chapman (the killer) and found in a flower pot near the ex-Beatle's house by worker Philip Michael, was used by investigators as evidence against the killer. However, the record was later withdrawn as evidence and returned to F. Michael. Almost 20 years after the murder of John Lennon, Michael sold an album with the legend's autograph for $165,000. The record was resold for an amount significantly higher than the previous one. And in 2010, it was bought at auction for $850,000 by a collector who wished to remain anonymous. Currently in the possession of Moments In Time, a company that sells memorabilia and autographs, the record is up for auction.
Autographs of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe
US$191,200 
The relationship in this couple has always aroused the keen interest of the media and their fans. Some time after the high-profile divorce that shocked all of America, the couple decided to reunite again, which was met with wild jubilation. The baseball, signed by the legendary baseball player and the famous actress, turned into a symbol of their reunion. In 2006, a ball autographed by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe was sold at Heritage Auction Galleries for $191,200. There is another ball autographed by the ex-spouses, but the actress wrote her real name on it - Norma Jean Baker, so this artifact costs much less - about 50,000 US dollars.
Albert Einstein's autograph
74.324 US dollars 
One of the most famous photographs great genius was taken by Arthur Sass (a photographer who worked in news agency United Press International) in 1951, on Einstein's 72nd birthday, which he celebrated at Princeton University. In response to a request to smile at the camera, the famous scientist stuck out his tongue. Albert Einstein gave the printed photograph to his friend, television and radio journalist Howard Smith, accompanied by a humorous inscription: “You will like this gesture, because it is addressed to all of humanity.” In 2009, this autographed photograph of Albert Einstein was auctioned for $74,324 to David Waxman, a New York-based collector of autographs of famous scientists.
Jimi Hendrix autograph
41,000 pounds sterling (almost 63.8 thousand US dollars) 
Items that have anything to do with the legendary virtuoso guitarist are not uncommon among collectors: in online stores and at auctions you can buy tickets for his concerts, yellowed with time, posters, playbills and concert programs. Their price, as a rule, does not exceed one and a half thousand dollars. His autographs are valued at much higher prices, but they are also a hot commodity, especially during recent years, when electronics are becoming increasingly popular, leaving derivatives of rock in the distant past. And despite the fact that the authority of Jimi Hendrix is still unquestioned, the owners of his autographs are not slow to part with them in fear that the coming generation of musical performers is capable of overthrowing the ideals of the past.
Jesse James autograph
US$51,240 
Photographs of the famous 19th-century American criminal could once be seen on almost every corner in American cities. In literature, he was often mistakenly compared with Robin Hood, who robbed the rich and gave the loot to the poor. In fact, Jesse James and his gang were engaged in robbery and robbery of banks and trains, dividing all the profits exclusively among themselves. A photograph with the signature of a criminal who made headlines throughout the country was bought for almost 51 thousand and a quarter dollars in 2011, although immediately after the death of Jesse James, in 1882, his photographs were sold for 2-3 dollars apiece.
John Kennedy's autograph
US$38,837 
A few hours before his death, on November 22, 1963, John Kennedy, who arrived in Dallas as part of his election campaign, signed his photograph in the hallway of the Texas Hotel, where he was staying with his wife, at the request of maid Jen White. published in the latest issue of the local newspaper "The Dallas Morning News". So, an ordinary maid found herself in the hands of a rarity, which half a century later was bought by the famous collector Joseph Maddalena for an impressive sum.
James Dean autograph
12,500 pounds sterling (almost 19.4 thousand US dollars) 
The early tragic death and myths that shrouded the life of the famous American actor in the first half of the last century created a cult status for his personality, which continues to this day and brings his descendants an annual income of $5 million. The autographs generously distributed by the actor during his lifetime are in great demand, not so much among film connoisseurs, but among numerous female fans. Items that once belonged to James Dean are periodically put up at auctions: for example, in 2006, one of the lots were jeans that the actor wore in the film “Giant.” They were sold for almost 36 thousand dollars.
Princess Diana's autograph
8,000 pounds sterling (almost 12.4 thousand US dollars) 
Princess Diana is one of those representatives of power who won the national sincere love and respect both during life and after death. She is in 3rd place on the list of the 100 greatest Britons, ahead of only Winston Churchill and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. After numerous official meetings and events with Lady Di's participation, an autograph session was always held, during which she tried to pay attention to everyone, even if she was incredibly tired. Every year, on Valentine's Day, Princess Diana signed "Valentines" which were intended for single members of the service staff. royal family. The card, which was signed for George's footman, was sold at auction for a tidy sum.
Neil Armstrong's autograph
US$11,900 
The world-famous astronaut passed away last year. It is quite natural that things that belonged to the first man to set foot on the moon, and objects associated with this person, began to acquire incredible prices. This primarily concerns autographs: the American test pilot has not given them since 1994, when he learned that they were actively traded. Moreover, then the more enterprising and unscrupulous even began to forge the signature of the legendary astronaut. However, now, thanks to the book “In the Squeaks of Neil Armstrong's Autograph,” written by Anthony Pizzitola, anyone can distinguish a fake from a real Neil Armstrong signature, even without being an experienced collector.
(based on materials from forbes.ru and wikipedia.org)
Each of us at least once tried to squeeze through a crowd of fans to some star. Whether it’s a pop star, a movie star or a famous politician, it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to receive the coveted “squiggle” from the hand of your idol. How can you buy autographs of stars today? And are any of them the safest?
“Autograph mania 100%, or how to get an autograph for free?”
If you have never asked for an autograph, then you should read Sergei Lunenko’s educational book entitled “100% Autograph Mania, or how to get an autograph for free?” In this publication you can find a lot useful tips, many of which involve some risk. For example, in the first case, it is proposed to wait for the star near the “back door”, where most often the celebrity goes after a tiring concert, premiere or any other
However, this method, as the author of the original manual for fans warns, does not provide any guarantees at all. That is, you can stand in the area of the “emergency exit” for a long time and not get the star's autograph. After all, people in creative professions are practically unpredictable. They can come out from a completely different direction or contact fans through the manager and announce their unwillingness to communicate, for example, due to fatigue.
In addition, besides you, there will also be many other “mural hunters” near the “back door”. And if your idol appears, the crowd may move sharply in his direction. Consequently, there is always a danger that you will simply be run over or injured.
Getting an autograph right on the street or at the airport
Autographs of stars (photos of some celebrities can be found in our article) can be obtained by literally “catching a star by surprise.” For example, you can meet her at the airport, cafe, store, and so on. However, for this it is necessary to know with accuracy at least the approximate route of the celebrity.
The method is, in principle, not bad. But it will not be effective if you do not have reliable acquaintances who could leak information about the star for a fee.
Autograph session as a way to obtain a star's signature
The second option is less dangerous and more legal. It provides for timely attendance at autograph sessions, where you can easily get autographs from stars. At such events, as a rule, journalists and fans who are most knowledgeable about the celebrity’s activities are present.
You can find out about such a session with a star from the following sources:
- from the artist’s official fan forums;
- from the press service or from the celebrity manager;
- on the official resources of the star (this includes websites, fan pages on social networks, etc.);
- from the press or advertisements.
The advantage of this option is minimal risks and the absence of traumatic factors. The downside is that your chances of getting there are low if you don’t know journalists or other people in contact with the stars.
Is it possible to get a star's autograph by mail?
If running, hustle and hassle is not for you, then there is an easier option for getting the squiggle you need. In particular, today it is possible to order autographs of stars by mail. This can also be done in two ways. The hardest part is finding addresses Email on one's own. To do this, you need to spend a lot of time scouring websites, forums and other sources. For example, Chuck Norris's email is in the public domain.
To find a postal address, you can look at celebritiesfans.com, where there is not only information about celebrities, but also links to their official websites and pages on social networks.
For example, the actress lives at:
And the second option is to contact a specialized online autograph store and buy a ready-made one.
How to write a letter to a star asking for an autograph?
If you need, for example, autographs of rock stars, and you have chosen more difficult option receiving them, you should comply certain rules when writing a letter. Firstly, if you are making a request to a Hollywood celebrity, then the text of the letter must be in English. If you do not speak this language, then it is enough to write a preliminary text of the letter and translate it using an online translator. This letter may not be entirely correct from a grammatical point of view, but the star will definitely grasp its meaning.
Secondly, write your name in Latin, this will make it much easier for the star to sign a photo or postcard for you. Thirdly, in order to get autographs from Hollywood stars, do not write anything unnecessary in the body of the letter. It’s enough to say hello, say a few words that you’ve been a fan of the celebrity’s work for quite some time, and ask to send you a photo and signature. And then - wait for an answer. Of course, nothing can be said for sure here. Obtaining an autograph in this case directly depends on pure luck.
How to order an autograph online?
If you decide to order an autograph in the “Autographomania” online store, then you just need to enter the site and select the available autographs from the catalog. For convenience, all celebrities are divided into the following categories:
- all Stars;
- musicians;
- TV presenters;
- actors;
- Star Factory.
For example, here you can find the intricate signatures of Anfisa Chekhova, Potap and Nastya, and even the KVN team “Children of Lieutenant Schmidt”. The officially announced price of an autograph is from. However, the cost will vary depending on the size of the photo or poster on which the star once signed. Thus, a signed poster of the singer Chile in A3 format will cost her fans 800 rubles, and a postcard in A5 format will cost 500 rubles.
The main advantage is that the autographs here are truly authentic. On the site you can see video confirmation with the star himself.
One of the disadvantages is that the signature will not be personalized, that is, the celebrity does not address it specifically to you, but simply puts his standard autograph. Also, in addition to the price, the star's signature includes payment for shipping your order. Its cost in Moscow, for example, will cost 350 rubles. And, of course, you won’t find Hollywood stars here - only celebrities from domestic show business.
Where else can you buy a star's autograph?
In addition to the above options, you can purchase an autograph of a celebrity on fan forums, social networks, private message boards, and Internet auctions. For example, the most famous auction is “molotok.ru”. Here you can find not only autographs of football stars, but even astronauts. For example, the starting price of a photograph signed by Marilyn Monroe is 390 thousand rubles.
In a word, if you have already decided to purchase an autograph of your favorite star, do not stop and do everything possible to realize your plans!
A signature is not only a personal autograph of each person, but also an expression of his personality and character. Particularly interesting are the signatures of celebrities, both modern and long gone.
Some reveal a person’s profession, some impress with their beauty, others delight with their neatness. There are even some that confuse and bewilder.
We have compiled for you a list of 25 autographs that you cannot miss. Don't believe me? See for yourself!
1. Vincent Price
2. John Hancock
The very first person to serve as governor of Massachusetts. A very interesting approach to self-expression through an autograph!
3. Walt Disney
Walt Disney needs no introduction. Even an autograph says a lot about this outstanding person.
4. Elizabeth I
Elizabeth ruled Britain and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. This is exactly the signature she put under each of her decree. And there is definitely something in this!
5. Pablo Picasso
The paintings of the artist and sculptor Picasso are impressive. However, the autograph of the great abstractionist looks like a laconic masterpiece.
6. Kurt Vonnegut
The American short story writer and satirist treated himself with humor. This is clearly visible in his signature.
7. Mahatma Gandhi
The political and social leader of India loved philosophy in everything. Look closely at the autograph – do you feel the depth?
8. Martin Luther King
Founder of Baptists public figure and civil rights activist. A strong character is noticeable even on paper.
9. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn's autograph, like herself, is graceful and elegant.
10. Keiji Inafune
Keiji Inafune is a famous Japanese video game manufacturer and author, illustrator, and businessman. He chose an intriguing autograph, don’t you agree?
11. Albrecht Durer
The painter and engraver, the first theorist of the German Renaissance and master of woodcuts, has always been distinguished by unconventional thinking.
12. John Lennon
“A talented person is talented in everything.” And write poems, and sing songs, and play the guitar, and draw autographs - all this is about the famous Lennon.
13. Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is a controversial actor whom you can hardly recognize on the street, let alone with an autograph.
14. Michael Jackson
Even though Michael Jackson is no longer with us, his songs and films, as well as his autograph, will remain with us forever.
15. Hugh Jackman
Idol of millions, famous actor, the singer and producer is distinguished not only by his attractive appearance and talent, but also interesting signature. Just right!
16. George Washington
America's first president had a unique character and style.
17. Leonardo da Vinci
The artist, inventor, engineer, sculptor and architect simply could not have any other kind of handwriting.
18. Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee's fighting character was reflected in his autograph. A fighter, he is a fighter in everything!
19. Angelina Jolie
Famous actress There is absolutely no time to analyze your autograph. Although it is quite possible that it contains some kind of code.
20. Victoria Beckham
Autograph of the actress and singer Victoria Beckham as beautiful, even and neat as new line fashionable clothes.
21. Barack Obama
This is exactly the autograph of the 44th President of the United States of America. Laconic and simple at the same time.
22. Amy Winehouse
The singer who died prematurely had a unique voice and acting skills. Even her signature looks unusual.
23. Mark Zuckerberg
The same laconic and excellent autograph as the one he created social network Facebook. This is what Mark is all about.
24. Samuel L. Jackson
The American actor and producer has received many awards for his talent and work in cinema. Take a look at his autograph? This is what the signature of a winner looks like, a winner in everything!
25. Tom Hanks
