See subject... obviously it's impossible to say in every case but as a rule are Star Trek convention autograph dealers legitimate? I know it's impossible for the convention staff to totally vet every single thing on the floor but as a rule can I assume the stuff sold at e.g. ST Las Vegas is legitimate?
Are covnention autograph dealers reliable?
- Thread starter Captain_Koloth
- Start date
Most of the ones I've encountered got their autographs themselves over the years. As for respective prices, they've usually been pretty much the same across the board, probably to keep it a friendly vender competition. I assume if anyone seems overly pricey it would be best to avoid them. A lot of these venders know each other, good or bad. I think if anyone was gouging or illegitimate, they would be ostracized by the vendor/Trek community.
(I wonder if there is an autograph value resource out there. Not to be morbid, but I am curious to know what Nimoy's autograph was valued at pre-convention retirement, post-retirement and now after his passing.)
(I wonder if there is an autograph value resource out there. Not to be morbid, but I am curious to know what Nimoy's autograph was valued at pre-convention retirement, post-retirement and now after his passing.)
I guess I mean mostly if they are real - I assume comparative shopping as you say would allow one to determine the "market price" at least at the convention itself.
I was at Disney Star Wars weekend in Orlando and there were autograph dealers selling Peter Mayhew and Billy Dee Williams autographs for HUNDREDS of dollars.
A few weeks later, I was at Florida Supercon in Miami and got BOTH their autographs IN PERSON for about $80 combined.
A few weeks later, I was at Florida Supercon in Miami and got BOTH their autographs IN PERSON for about $80 combined.
Wow, I'm surprised Billy Dee was doing autographs at all, not only doing them that cheap and comparatively the same price as Mayhew.
but that's how this autograph/convention thing works. Buying autographs from dealers is kinda cheating. Half the thrill of a convention is getting the star to sign (whatever it is you want) in person, exchanging a few words and maybe having someone take a picture of both of you together during the signing. Makes the end result much more personally valuable and sentimental which can mean more than any monetary value.
Of course, there are those who are no longer with us (Nimoy, Doohan, Kelly, Montalban, Barrett-Roddenberry, Leonard, Whitney, etc) and i'm sure as time goes on the price only goes up. And there are individuals who do very few conventions or autograph sessions (Lien, Ryan, Blalock, Bakula). I would think these are the ones you would want to collect and try to find the best value for. You probably wouldn't want to pay too much for individuals like Takei, Wang, Dorn, Shimmerman, Phillips, etc who do conventions often or, frankly, aren't in high demand.
but that's how this autograph/convention thing works. Buying autographs from dealers is kinda cheating. Half the thrill of a convention is getting the star to sign (whatever it is you want) in person, exchanging a few words and maybe having someone take a picture of both of you together during the signing. Makes the end result much more personally valuable and sentimental which can mean more than any monetary value.
Of course, there are those who are no longer with us (Nimoy, Doohan, Kelly, Montalban, Barrett-Roddenberry, Leonard, Whitney, etc) and i'm sure as time goes on the price only goes up. And there are individuals who do very few conventions or autograph sessions (Lien, Ryan, Blalock, Bakula). I would think these are the ones you would want to collect and try to find the best value for. You probably wouldn't want to pay too much for individuals like Takei, Wang, Dorn, Shimmerman, Phillips, etc who do conventions often or, frankly, aren't in high demand.
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