Personally, if a celeb gives me a sig, I consider it a gift and they
trusted me to be responsible with it. Seeing as a lot get upset with
selling, I try not to. By that I mean if I BOUGHT an autograph, I
have no problem reselling it. Especially from cons. At that point
it's a commodity and not a gift. However, I have recinded that a few
scarce times admittingly when I've seen a collector very eager to have
something because they love it. But I don't like doing so. I will
trade though, but the same thing goes... I prefer to give or trade it
to people I know love it and won't do anything netharious with it.

You know, if it's given freely by the person, the holder can do as he
or she wills with it However, that can upset the other person. So in
order to maintain the balance for others, so they can get a ttm or in
person, I try not to. Unfortuneately, MOST people do not feel the
same and because of Ebay and the like, everyone is now charging for
sigs or not signing. I've seen the worse of it in 2004 and 2005. I've
never even seen this much greed and contempt.

As a matter of fact, 25 Star Wars "extras" have recently come to light
that are asking for money. ttm 25 year signers like Michael Culver
and 3-4 year signer David Bowers this week started asking for cash.
Other reports are Jack Klaff and two new found extra, who signed one
or two are doing "private signings" for sites and my friend got an
email from a Hoth trooper who has no more than 1 second of screen time
and was told "if you want a signature, go to that webstie and buy
one". This from a guy who a month ago was excited that someone knew
he was in a movie and was more than happy to sign free. Then, alongs
comes someone trying to profit and ruin the hobby, and now the guy
won't sign without money in hand. And Lynne Hazeldine, let's not
forget her, one who wants 30.00 for her sig and she's unidentifiable
in the film. She says she's sitting down behind Billy Dee in one
scene but you can only see HALF her face...lol. This happened because
a collector turnd profiteer did a private signing with her.

THIS IS WHAT IS RUINING THE HOBBY. I am frustrated, even a few crew
members are charging now! Not only that, but if I must continue
bitching, let me say how I truly feel.... if you want to make money,
get a JOB. If you want to collect autographs because you like it,
LEAVE IT A HOBBY and leave the money making out of it. It's costly
enough for envelopes, stamps and photos as is and the buying and
selling has sucked the absolute thrill of a celeb taking time for
you.... right out of the whole damned thing!

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 14:08:39 +1000, "Mr Black"
wrote:


All this stuff with barefoot got me thinking...
I know alot of people here sell autographs, and it got me wondering if
people have a true defining line between autographs they collect to keep and
autographs they collect to sell?
Can the term "collecting" really be associated with autographs obtained for
sale.
what are your thoughts on this?

MrB