Most Expensive Pieces of Movie Memorabilia Ever Sold

Movies Memorabilia

Props from movies are highly collectible, and if you have the right piece, highly profitable. People will pay an obscene amount of money to get their hands on their favorite movie pieces.

Aston Martin from Goldfinger

Used in both Goldfinger and Thunderball, the Aston Martin DB5 sold for $4.1 million in 2010. It still had Bond’s gadgets intact, so in case you need front and rear rams or an ejector seat button, you’re covered.

Elvis’ Car

The 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton used by Elvis in his movie Spinout, was sold for 1.2 million in 2011. This goes to show that people love their cars, especially if Elvis was behind the wheel.

Audrey Hepburn’s Little Black Dress

Audrey Hepburn’s black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the reason why many women want a little black dress. The designer, Hubert de Givenchy, sold the dress off for charity in 2006 for $923,187.

Ruby slippers

Shoes made from rubies have to be worth some money, $660,000 to be exact. Only one of four surviving pair can be found at The Smithsonian.
If you’re looking to purchase some movie memorabilia then Millionaire Memorabilia is the place for you. They offer signed items and collectibles from movies to sports. For more information, contact them at (888)446-5768.

3 New Ways to Decorate Your Walls

1. Smart Board: Walls need not simply be decorative. Hang a smart board on one of your walls, and make playing interactive games with friends and family easier than ever.
2. Mural: Instead of hanging paintings on your wall, turn your wall into a painting by covering it in a beautiful mural. Paint the mural yourself, or commission an artist for the job.
3. Memorabilia: Are you a movie buff? Decorate your walls with Hollywood memorabilia to make your room a unique reflection of you.

Are you looking for some memorabilia to adorn your walls? Millionaire Memorabilia offers authentic Hollywood memorabilia, perfect decoration for any home. 

3 Best Movie Posters of 2013

1. Gravity: This poster uses the film’s premise directly, as marketing technique. Straightforward, the viewer gets an aesthetically pleasing and concise pitch for the film.
2. American Hustle: A perfect character poster example, the American Hustle poster gives viewers a taste of the style, genre, and feel they will get from seeing this movie.
3. Nebraska: This headshot poster takes a minimalist approach, which perfectly highlights how Bruce Dern’s character eventually becomes a hollow vessel that we, as viewer, fill with our own assumptions.

Are you a movie poster collector? Millionaire Memorabilia offers great framing options and prices to keep your collection priceless. 

Big Money, 3 of the Most Expensive Movies Made

1.  1.        Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – Disney went all out for the third POC movie, dropping $332 million dollars on the film. One can only wonder how much went towards Johnny Depp’s eyeliner.
2.        Titanic – Somehow James Cameron was able to convince the producers to give him $286 million dollars to make Titanic, and with the way the movie cleaned up at the Oscars, he can probably ask for more.
3.        Spiderman 3 – Hoping to create the same magic as Titanic ten years later, Spiderman 3 also cost $286 million to make. Unfortunately, the movie did not have the same amount of success.
4.     you the biggest fan of movies? If so, add to movie your collection by visiting  http://www.millionairememorabilia.com/

Finding Amazing Memorabilia:

Fans of big Hollywood pictures and sporting events are also avid hunters of memorabilia from these same events. Tracking down these pieces of history can take a lot of time and energy so it’s important to know the tricks to finding it.

Many times you can find awesome memorabilia on sites like Ebay. Many sellers of these items will try to mark up their prices in an effort to earn more money.

You can also find these items at live auctions that sell these to collectors.

Or you can just go to http://www.millionairememorabilia.com/ for a one stop memorabilia resource.

Getting Signed Originals:

For movie fans and collectors out there getting a signed and original collectible is an amazing honor to add to your collection.

These signed collectibles and memorabilia stand out to the guests who visit your home. They are able to impress your friends and even better than this they will help to make your collection complete.

In the past getting your hand on these collectibles took a long time because you would have to spend hours and hours of digging through auctions and classic memorabilia stores.

Now you can simply visit http://www.millionairememorabilia.com/ and get movie memorabilia today. 

Most Collected Items

Stamps – People have been collecting stamps for a long time. The collection can last and take a lifetime and people may try to reach milestones, such as collecting a stamp from every country.

Stuffed Animals – Whether it’s taxidermy enthusiasts or people who just like to keep stuff animals for memories sake, or to keep up with the current trends (Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo, Furbys…), collecting stuffed animals has become a huge trend.

Memorabilia – Franchise memorabilia from popular culture – TV shows, movies, sports teams, etc. – is a great way to start a collection based off something you already enjoy, and it’s a hobby many people are already taking part in!

For the finest, authentic TV show memorabilia, sports memorabilia and all the popular memorabilia you could want, check out Millionaire Memorabilia today.

Glam Up Your Décor with Vintage Movie Memorabilia for a Golden Age of Hollywood Theme

When it comes to home theater décor, movie memorabilia is a no-brainer. Movie posters, Hollywood memorabilia and the stray TV show poster here and there – they’re a natural fit with a room designed for audio and visual entertainment. There’s so much available out there, though, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to pick and choose. From action movies to big screen Westerns, there’s absolutely something for everyone available on the movie collectibles market. Why not let Hollywood’s Golden Era guide your decorating aesthetic and turn your home theater into an homage to the glam and glitz of classic Hollywood films?
Classic Hollywood Memorabilia
Pick a handful of signed classic movie posters, framed to show them off to their best effect. You can stick with one genre or spread your taste around. Theater cards and lobby cards are fairly widely available, and many of them bear the signatures of the stars. Celebrate the era of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Seven Year Itch with iconic movie posters and celebrity autographs on publicity stills and photos of such major glam stars as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy.
Celebrate the Glamour
Not sure which classic movies should find a place on your walls? Here’s a list of some of the most glamorous movies of all time to help you make your choice.
Gone With the Wind
Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh brought Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara to the Silver Screen with all of their character foibles and excesses intact. As one of the most famous and loved movies of all time, you’ll find quite a lot of GWTW movie memorabilia available, from framed movie posters and theater cards to photos and classic movie scenes. Play it big with a framed and matted collection of Gone with the Wind laser engraved celebrity autographs along with publicity photos of all the stars.
The African Queen
Glamorous Katherine Hepburn stayed classy even when facing the rigors of an African voyage with riverboat captain, Humphrey Bogart. The publicity movie poster is still a stunning piece of movie memorabilia that shows the two stars in all their Technicolor glory. They deserve a place of honor on any wall of Hollywood legends.
Casablanca
Bogey and Bergman lit up the screen in Casablanca, cementing both stars as legends. Here’s looking at you, kid, for having the good taste to hang the framed and matted movie poster on the wall of your home theater.
Classic movie collectibles are the ideal movie memorabilia to bring a touch of real movie glamor to your new home theater. Go on – glitz up your home theater décor with some of the classiest leading ladies and men of the Golden Era.

Spark Your Office, Boardroom or Restaurant Décor with Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Revamping your sports bar or looking for a way to spark up the décor in your restaurant? Sports memorabilia isn’t just for sports bars anymore. Over the years, as more and more sports celebrities have entered the hospitality business, the face of the “typical” sports bar has undergone a dramatic change. Nowhere is that change reflected more clearly than in the décor, where autographed sports memorabilia is often displayed in fine frames and lighted display cases. And the change has made its way out of the sports lounges and into formal dining rooms, high-end conference rooms and boardrooms around the country. If you’re looking for a way to bring some upscale feel to your public space – whether it be corporate or hospitality – consider these ideas for adding sports memorabilia to your decorating scheme.
Highlight Your Collection with the Right Display
Don’t just hang an autographed jersey on the wall and call it done. Instead, make it the centerpiece of an entire display. Even better, create a series of displays centering around an autographed jersey surrounded by celebrity autographs, action photos and other autographed sports memorabilia. In a restaurant, center sports memorabilia collections on opposite walls, or greet guests with a lighted display of autographed balls and photos. In a boardroom, flank the head of the conference table with a pair of displays hung behind it on the wall. Whatever type of memorabilia you choose, be sure to highlight it with a complementary display.
Go Off the Grid
Step outside the big ticket draw of professional team sports and highlight individual sports in the corporate office or boardrooms. Golf photographs can buff up the traditional air in any professional setting, whether they’re photographs of golf champions like Palmer and Mickelson or views of famous golf venues like Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews. You’ll find celebrity autographs and signed sports memorabilia related to tennis, NASCAR, boxing, cycling and even Olympic sports, giving you all sorts of options for decorating your waiting room or boardroom with out of the ordinary sports images and memorabilia.
Don’t Confine Your Sports Memorabilia Collection
While it can be very impressive to display an entire collection in one room or area, don’t underestimate the effect of distributing the best pieces of your autographed sports memorabilia collection throughout the entire office. It’s a great way to carry the theme of champions and strength from room to room throughout the building.

Collecting Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Does the sound of a bat slamming a ball out of the park make your heart go pitter pat? Do you thrill to the sight of a football arcing cleanly through the goalposts? Do you love everything about a sport or a particular player? Collecting autographed sports memorabilia may be just the hobby for you. If you’re just starting out in your collection of autographed sports memorabilia, these tips can help you amass a collection that’s interesting and potentially valuable.

 

Specialize

Many collectors make the mistake of being too general in their acquisitions. The most interesting and valuable collections are those that have a focus. You can choose to focus broadly and collect football memorabilia or hockey memorabilia, or you can focus your collection more finely. Instead of collecting baseball memorabilia, collect autographed baseballs, for example.

There’s another advantage to specializing in a particular sports memorabilia niche – knowledge. When you focus your attention on collecting one particular type of sport memorabilia, you’ll amass a great deal of knowledge about that particular niche. That allows you to spot items that other people might miss, and more importantly, to avoid getting taken in by fakes and frauds.

Choose High Quality Items

Better quality items will always be worth more money than the same item in poor condition. Given a choice, always choose high quality collectibles, sports memorabilia and sports autographs in good condition. An autographed sports poster in pristine condition will fetch far more than the same celebrity autographs on a creased poster.

Cultivate Reputable Dealers

There are dozens of dealers selling autographed sports memorabilia, both online and off. The single most important thing you can do for your collecting career is to cultivate a relationship with a reputable dealer of celebrity autographs and autographed sports memorabilia. Not only will you be able to trust the items you buy from that dealer, but he’ll keep you in mind. If you collect basketball memorabilia, for example, and he comes across an autographed game shirt worn by your favorite b-baller, he’ll drop you a line to give you first shot at it.

Miami Heat Champion Dwyane Wade with two 8x10" action photographs Authentically hand signed by Champions Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James

Trust But Verify

Celebrity autographs are among the most faked types of sports memorabilia on the market. Unless you’re an expert yourself, always have any autographed sports memorabilia authenticated by a reputable third-party appraiser.

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia can be a fun hobby that leads to a valuable collection. The more you know about the sport you’re collecting, the better are your chances of acquiring authentic, valuable pieces of sports memorabilia.

Top Ten Most Forged Signatures on Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Autographed sports memorabilia has become one of the hottest segments of the memorabilia market. The popularity – and value – of signed baseball memorabilia, football memorabilia, basketball memorabilia and hockey memorabilia has also made sports autographs among the most forged signatures in the world of memorabilia. Celebrity autographs are very collectible, but items with these signatures have a high likelihood of being faked, according to a major memorabilia authenticator.



Baseball Memorabilia


 Featuring three vintage Major League official baseballs Authentically hand signed by Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams. Quality Framed as shown with a classic 20x26" photograph of the three standing together, official team patches and descriptive plaques.

Babe Ruth, whose signature can be found on anything from baseball cards to baseballs and other types of baseball memorabilia, is one of the most forged celebrity autographs of all, with a fake rate of about 60 percent.

Lou Gehrig, whose signature on a single-signed baseball can bring as much as $60,000, is often forged.

Mickey Mantle had one of the most-wanted signatures in the hobby of collecting sports memorabilia. The value of Mantle celebrity autographs is lower than that of many other players in large part because he was a prolific signer who did many autograph events. Even so, authenticators suggest that there are more fakes available than genuine Mantle autographs.

Ted Williams, the long-time pride of the Boston Red Sox, is also high on the list of forged celebrity autographs despite the fact that demand for his signature has decreased slightly over the years.

Albert Pujols, LA Angels first baseman, may not have acquired the widespread name recognition with the general public enjoyed by the others on the most-forged autographed sports memorabilia list, but the scarcity of authentic celebrity autographs from Pujols has made his a popular signature for fakes.

Basketball Memorabilia

Michael Jordan signed tens of thousands of items of sports memorabilia while he was under contract with Upper Deck Authenticated, but that hasn’t stopped forgers from trying to profit off this reputation.

LeBron James is wildly popular, especially after his 2011 MVP award, but his autograph is one of the most in-person signatures to get. With the value of a single-signed LeBron basketball coming close to $500, his signature is a popular target for forgers.

Kobe Bryant has five basketball championships to his credit, and a lot of authentic celebrity autographs available on the market. The demand for Kobe Bryant signatures has made the basketball superstar a popular target for forged basketball memorabilia.

Miscellaneous Sports Memorabilia

Muhammad Ali, perhaps the best-known boxer of all time, put in a lot of time signing collectibles, sports memorabilia and other items. Even so, his signature is in high demand and there are many forgeries of his signature floating around.

Tiger Woods may have lost some of his luster recently, his autographs are still in high demand, placing Tiger Woods autographed sports memorabilia high on the list of most-forged signatures.

The best way to protect yourself from forgeries and ensure that you’re buying genuine autographed sports memorabilia is to always buy through a reputable memorabilia dealer that uses a third party authentication service to verify the signatures on the items they sell.

Unusual Finds in Autographed Sports Memorabilia and Movie Memorabilia

Collectors love autographed sports memorabilia and signed movie memorabilia. From autographed game jerseys to signed guitars and signed movie posters, celebrity autographs carry a special cachet with collectors that ordinary movie memorabilia and sports collectibles don’t have. Even so, there are some pieces of movie and sports memorabilia that are more collectible than others. Every once in a while, an especially rare or popular piece of Hollywood memorabilia or autographed sports memorabilia crops up that is met with a great deal of interest and high demand. These are a few collectibles that have lit up the market in the past few years.

Star Wars Poster

Star Wars posters are always in big demand. As one of the longest lasting and most popular movie franchises of all times, Star Wars has spawned an entire industry of Star Wars collectibles, toys and posters. Easily the most popular of all Star Wars movie posters is the Star Wars The Duel poster, featuring Luke Skywalker facing off against Darth Vader. Celebrity autographs make this particular poster even more valuable and push it up onto the most wanted list.

James Bond

In the world of movie franchises, James Bond is in a class by itself. While most of the “series” movie franchises have been the creative vision of one particular producer or director, James Bond has captured the creative vision of numerous directors, producers and stars. It is also unique in that the title character has been played by a variety of stars, and each of them has placed an indelible stamp on the character. Roger Moore, Sean Connery and others have each breathed life into the debonair 007, and each has his proponents regarding the claim to be the best Bond of all time. While all James Bond movie posters are collectible, some of the most valued pieces of Bond memorabilia are those that combine several versions of James Bond in one frame.

Autographed Sports Memorabilia

As game rooms and man caves become more and more popular, sales of autographed sports memorabilia are hitting record highs. There are a few items that always seem to make it onto every list of “ideas for a man cave” – and they nearly all have to do with sports collectibles, sports memorabilia and autographed sports memorabilia. Game jerseys are high on the list of most wanted items, with game-worn items always in the highest demand. The most popular of all game jerseys and other sports and team memorabilia are those worn by superstars in major games. Their rarity and significance gives them an added cachet.

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia and movie memorabilia is more than a fun hobby. It can add a distinctive touch to your home décor and, if you choose carefully, make you a little extra cash if and when you decide to sell your collection.

Buying Autographed Sports Memorabilia for Collectors

Sports fans are inveterate collectors of sports memorabilia. They hang onto the ticket stubs from the games they attend. They buy team-tagged swag at games and at their favorite stores. They hang team posters on their walls save collectible team photos from their local newspapers. They collect stats and “official” team game jerseys and licensed sports merchandise. Few of them take the next step into serious sports collecting, though – collecting genuine, authenticated autographed sports memorabilia.

Why Collect Genuine Autographed Sports Memorabilia?

While authenticated sports autographs and memorabilia related to the various professional sports can be valuable, money and profit is seldom the reason that the typical sports autograph buff collects autographed sports memorabilia. Celebrity autographs and signed collectible sports memorabilia carry their own cachet that makes them attractive to the collector. It may be hero worship, love of the game, admiration for a particular sports player or a sense of belonging. Whatever the reason they collect, though, sports lovers and those who gather autographed sports collectibles are at a different level than those who lay out $25 to buy the program at the basketball game.

The Value Factor

Value may be in the eye of the beholder, but there’s no doubt that genuine basketball memorabilia is more valuable than the $25 program – unless, of course, you manage to get a few highly-sought-after autographs – and evidence that those sports autographs are genuine.

Authenticity is a major factor in the value of a piece of baseball memorabilia, football memorabilia or basketball memorabilia. Experienced collectors won’t even consider paying for an autographed sports photo, game ball, autographed game jersey or other type of sport memorabilia without some proof that the signature is genuine. Reputable dealers would never dream of selling, for example, a baseball autographed by Cal Ripken without including a certificate of authenticity attesting to it being a genuine signature.

Of course, the mere presence of a certificate of authenticity is no guarantee. It is, after all, even easier to fake a certificate than it is to fake the autograph of a famous gridiron hero or baseball superstar. If you’re thinking of buying an autographed sports photo or game jersey for a sports fan in your life, and you’re not an expert in the field of collecting sports memorabilia, skip that awesome bargain-priced “game-worn” basketball jersey that you found for sale on eBay. Instead, do your research to find a reputable dealer of autographed sports memorabilia and do your shopping safely. You’ll avoid being disappointed and ensure that the sports mementoes you buy are the real thing.

Popular Types of Sports Memorabilia

Collecting sports memorabilia has become a popular hobby, and an even more popular way of decorating the typical man cave. If you’re looking for ideas for a man cave, consider one of these popular types of sports memorabilia.

Sports Jerseys

Framed and signed sports jerseys are among the most popular types of sports memorabilia. Whether you collect football memorabilia, basketball memorabilia, hockey memorabilia or baseball memorabilia, you’ll find major league sports jerseys, signed by your favorite sports superstars, available for sale on sites that sell sports and movie memorabilia.

There are two basic classifications of sports jerseys available. The more valued are game-worn jerseys, that is, jerseys that were actually worn during a major league game. A game-worn jersey should be accompanied by a certificate authenticating its provenance, and will usually show signs of having been worn. The certificate may even include the date of the game in which it was worn, and may be accompanied by a photograph of the player wearing the jersey. That kind of detail is rare, however.

The other classification of sports jerseys as sports memorabilia is a signed jersey that has not been worn in a game. These are obviously far less valuable, but still make a nice framed display for your den or game room wall.

Celebrity Autographs

Autographed photos have always been and will always be popular sports memorabilia. The most valuable celebrity autographs are those that are rarest. Look for photos that were hand-signed and action shots with authenticated signatures of the players in the shot.

Sports Tickets

Less common and less popular than sports jerseys, sports tickets can become sports collectibles for any number of reasons. Tickets to Super Bowl games, for example, can become highly collectible if they’re part of a framed display that includes tickets to every Bowl game, or if they are part of a sports memorabilia display for a particular sports franchise or player. In that case, an autographed Super Bowl ticket included in a frame with photos of players in the game, a game-worn jersey or other memorabilia from the player’s career can be of considerably more value than the ticket on its own.

Autographed sports memorabilia and movie memorabilia are among the most popular home décor items for dens, man caves and home theater décor. When you choose a piece of artwork that has a place in sports or entertainment history, you’re getting more than a picture for your wall. You’re buying a piece of history.

Most Popular Types of Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Autographed sports memorabilia has always been among the most popular of all types of entertainment collectibles, but some types of sports memorabilia are more popular than others. If you’re just starting to collect memorabilia – or are just wondering if your favorite sports collectibles are on the most popular list – here’s a rundown of some of the most sought-after types of sports autographs.

Trading Cards

Signed or unsigned, sports trading cards have always been popular sports collectibles – but of course, autographed cards bring much higher value than unsigned cards. Since 1990, manufacturers have often inserted player-signed cards into collectible packs, so there are quite a few of them floating around. The condition of the card, its relative rarity and the popularity of the player will all play a part in determining the value of any particular trading card.

Autographed Balls

Game-used balls are also high on the list of the most popular autographed sports memorabilia. Surprisingly, balls signed by a single player are more valuable than those signed by several players, with a few notable exceptions, such as a championship game ball signed by every member of the winning team. Many athletes also sign balls – or, in the case of hockey memorabilia, hockey pucks – that haven’t ever seen game play. Those non-game balls will be worth less, but are easier to get. Always look for authentication of both the sports autograph and the game-use status of any piece of sports memorabilia.

Game Jerseys

Game jerseys have exploded in popularity as collectibles sports memorabilia in the past decade. Game-worn jerseys are popular football memorabilia, basketball memorabilia and hockey memorabilia. Again, there’s a difference in value between game-worn jerseys and autographed jerseys that were not worn on the court or on the field. Look for sweat stains, wear and tear or other signs of proof that the shirt was actually worn in a game before plunking down a bonus for a game-worn piece of autographed sports memorabilia.

Game-Used Equipment

Balls aren’t the only popular items in the world of sports and entertainment collectibles. Virtually any piece of equipment used in a game or in a practice can have some value to a sports collector. That includes such things as signed tee flags from golf tournaments or referee flags used in a football game.

If you’re considering the purchase of autographed sports memorabilia, make sure that you’re buying from a trusted buyer or ask for a certificate of authenticity from a certified third party authenticator. Collecting sports memorabilia is fun – but getting cheated is no fun for anyone.

Top Movie Memorabilia Buys

Looking for movie memorabilia to decorate your home theater room? Movie memorabilia is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in home theater décor. From vintage movie posters from the 1940s and 1950s to the latest movie franchises of the past few years, Hollywood memorabilia is finding a home on the walls of homes around the country. If you’re looking for the best-selling, hottest items of movie memorabilia, these are the movie posters you want to keep your eyes peeled for.

Star Wars Posters

The Star Wars franchise has launched a lot of successful movie posters, but none are quite as popular as the Star Wars The Duel poster featuring Luke Skywalker facing off against Darth Vader. Other Star Wars movie posters that make the most popular list include a 30^th anniversary collage featuring photographs, movie posters and autographs of actors from several different installments of the Star Wars franchise.

Pirates of the Caribbean

With the release of Pirates of the Caribbean Man’s Dead Chest, the sales of Pirates movie posters really took off. Any memorabilia from the Pirates franchise does well at auction, but one top of the line collectible is a shadow box backed by a Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest movie poster and various bits of memorabilia from the set. To sweeten the deal, the shadow box includes celebrity autographs from cast members Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, making it even more valuable.

James Bond

The name is Bond. James Bond, and he’s easily the most famous spy to ever grace a movie screen. It’s almost impossible to choose just one James Bond poster, especially considering the fine performances by all of the actors who have played the suave 007. In fact, many movie memorabilia collectors specialize in collecting James Bond memorabilia exclusively. Why choose when you can find a selection of displays that include autographed photos of two, three, four or all six James Bonds, all framed together? It’s the ideal home theater décor for a Bond enthusiast.

Lord of the Rings

LOTR was bound to be a big hit with memorabilia lovers and collectors. Movie posters for the eagerly awaited installments of the trilogy moved into collectible status as soon as they were released. LOTR movie posters signed by Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler and other actors from the franchise are especially valuable.

Movie posters and Hollywood memorabilia are great choices to decorate the walls of your family room, home theater or themed bar. Whether you love vintage westerns or contemporary thrillers, you’ll find something to love when you shop auctions and dealer sites for the best movie memorabilia.

How to Choose Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia is nothing new – kids have always hung around outside baseball and football stadiums hoping to grab an autograph from one of their sports heroes. What is new is the burgeoning marketplace for sports memorabilia of all types and the industry that has grown up to churn out autographed sports jerseys, autographed game balls and other types of collectible sports memorabilia. Because the value for autographed memorabilia from all sports is so high, there are also a growing number of fakes and scams out there. How do you know that the sports memorabilia you buy is genuine? These tips on buying authentic autographed sports memorabilia can help you make sure you spend your money wisely.

Collecting for Love or for Money?

Before you start collecting, decide whether you’re collecting for love or for money. You can, of course, collect for both, but your primary reason for collecting memorabilia will help you establish a strategy for choosing and buying your items. In either case, establish a spending threshold for specific items to avoid going too far over budget.

Theme Your Buying

When you choose a theme for your collection of autographed sports memorabilia, you’re serving a few different purposes. First, you automatically make your entire collection more valuable. A focused collection of basketball memorabilia, for example, will be far easier to sell – and for more money – than a scattered collection that covers many different sports. In addition, you’re making it easier to spot fakes because you’ll be gaining specialized knowledge in the particular area of sports memorabilia you choose to collect. If you focus on Super Bowl football memorabilia, it will be much harder for someone to slip a fake autographed game ball past you because you know the kinds of authenticating details to look for. Finally, you’ll be establishing ongoing relationships with reputable dealers and collectors. That network can bring unique items to your attention or make it easier for you to sell items if and when you decide to thin your collection of autographed sports memorabilia.

Create a Wish List

Some collectors of memorabilia simply buy items when something strikes their fancy. That kind of impulse or panic buying can be dangerous to your collection. When you create a wish list of autographed sports memorabilia items, you can research each item, keep your eye out for it and know whether or not it’s a good deal at the price. And to make it even sweeter, there’s nothing quite so satisfying as finally filling out your collection with that last item.

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia can be a fun and very lucrative hobby. Just remember that the more you know about the sports and autographs you collect, the better your collection will be.

Advice for Collectors of Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Back in the day, your typical collector of autographed sports memorabilia was a bright-eyed kid hanging around the stadium and praying for a chance to get his hero’s signature on that foul ball he caught. It didn’t take long for entrepreneurs of various stripes to figure out that there was profit to be made in sports autographs, though. Today, autographed sports memorabilia is a multi-million dollar business, and finding genuine sports memorabilia can be tricky. If you’re just getting started in sports collectibles, sports memorabilia or autographed sports memorabilia, these tips can help you enjoy your hobby and find quality pieces for your collection.

Follow Your Heart

Are you buying sports memorabilia as an investment or because you love sports? If your answer is the latter – or both – the best advice you’ll get is to specialize in buying what you love. The best defense against fake sports memorabilia is knowing your niche. It’s a lot harder for someone to pass off a fake autograph or piece of game-used sports memorabilia when you know your stuff. More importantly, when you collect pieces that you love, you’ll get more enjoyment from your hobby. In addition to the fun of tracking down items you want and the triumph of finding that special autograph, you get to enjoy your collection over and over again whenever you look at it or display it.

Buy from Trusted Sources

Unfortunately, the increased value of autographed sports memorabilia has brought the scammers out of the woodwork. Over the past few years, there have been several scandals in the sport memorabilia industry. They underscore the importance of being able to rely on the purchaser to provide authentication for any sports collectible or sports memorabilia you buy from them. After all, unless you’re knowledgeable enough to be able to authenticate an autograph yourself, you need to trust the buyer.

Finding a Reputable Dealer

The most important thing you can do to make sure you’re getting genuine sports collectibles is to research the qualifications and reputation of the seller. The sports collectibles community is small enough that most dealers are well-known, so you can learn a lot just by asking around on Internet forums devoted to sports collecting. In addition, you should check into the background of the dealer, including any professional credentials they may have and whether they self-authenticate or use third-party authentication services.

Finally, always be suspicious of prices for autographed sports memorabilia that are too good to be true. If someone is offering a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth or a basketball with Magic Johnson’s signature for $50 when other sources are pricing the same items at $1,000, the chances are pretty good that it’s not a genuine piece of sports memorabilia.

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia is a rewarding hobby in many ways. Take the time to know your dealer and you’ll always be happy with your purchases.

How to Buy Autographed Sports Memorabilia

Collecting autographed sports memorabilia is fast becoming an in hobby, which is both a blessing and a boon to the serious collector. On the one hand, the growing demand for sports collectibles has greatly increased the supply of legitimate pieces on the market. On the other, it has also increased the number of fraudulent sports memorabilia, scams and traps for the collector. If you’re just beginning to collect sports autographs, these tips can help you avoid the traps and enjoy your collection and collecting.

Focus on a Niche Market

The best and most satisfying collections of sports collectibles are those that have a specific focus. If your focus is basketball memorabilia or baseball memorabilia, for example, you might narrow your collection to sports collectibles from one particular team, or only from championship teams, or to autographed game jerseys from one team. In addition to giving you a more focused – and thus, more valuable – collection, it will allow you to build your knowledge as you build your collection. That way, when you’re ready to move on to buying more expensive pieces, you’ll know the market well enough to spot improbable “deals” and have the contacts to help you track down specific pieces that you want.

Meet People in the Sports Memorabilia World

The more you know about the people who collect and deal in autographed sports memorabilia, the more equipped you’ll be to find and evaluate sport memorabilia. If you can, attend some local memorabilia auctions where you can meet people in the industry as well as other collectors. Those contacts – even if they specialize in movie memorabilia – can be valuable down the line as you start looking for pieces to fill out your collection. Don’t overlook the Internet as a source of knowledge, either. A sports memorabilia discussion group is a great place to meet experienced collectors who can help you out with information and advice, point you to reputable dealers and steer you away from those whose reputation is shady.

Protect Yourself from Frauds

According to one study, only about 20 percent of Lou Gehrig memorabilia was genuine. That’s a scary, staggering number for a beginning collector. But it’s not hard to make sure that you only purchase genuine autographed sports memorabilia. It just takes some knowledge and a good eye.

For example, stay on top of the signing habits of particular athletes that whose sports autographs you want to collect. Most of the top athletes have contract agreements with companies that sell memorabilia and only distribute through specific houses. Knowing about those contracts can save you from making expensive mistakes. Likewise, if you know how much various players charge for their signature, you’ll be able to eliminate a lot of the “great deals” you might find online at places like eBay.

Buy from Reputable Dealers

When you first start out, make it a practice to only buy autographed sports memorabilia from legitimate, reputable dealers with a good reputation in the industry. Dealers with a name have no reason to try to pass off fake autographs, and they’re very careful about the pieces they sell. They have a lot invested in maintaining their reputations for dealing honestly in authentic sports collectibles & memorabilia.

Welcome to the world of collecting autographed sports memorabilia. Get to know your merchandise and your favorite players, teams and items and you’ll quickly build a worthy collection of your own.

Movie Memorabilia and Autographed Sports Memorabilia Make Special Father’s Day Gifts

Are you looking for a very special gift for a very special dad? Play to his favorite activities with a gift of movie memorabilia or autographed sports memorabilia that he’ll appreciate for years. From movie posters of his favorite actors to celebrity autographs of his favorite sports stars, there’s bound to be a gift that your dad will love. Not sure what he’d like best? Here are a few suggestions to help you make your decision.

Star Wars Poster

You just know your dad would line up weeks in advance for a chance to pilot an X-wing fighter and he’s got a collection of Star Wars action figures hidden on a high shelf. If your mom teases your dad about his crush on Princess Leia and his friends refer to him as C3PO, you just know that he’ll flip over a Star Wars The Duel poster, featuring the moment when Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader face off with light sabers.

James Bond Movie Poster

If your dad has been known to intone, “Shaken, not stirred” and jokingly introduce himself as “Bond. James Bond,” you’re almost guaranteed to hit the right spot with a James Bond poster – or a collection of them. Many of the best entertainment memorabilia dealers put together unusual collections of memorabilia into one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia displays. How about a framed set of photographs of each of the James Bonds along with an autographed MasterPrint – with the signatures of each actor who has played the infamous Spy Who Loved Me.

Secretariat Photo

There’s not a horse lover alive that wouldn’t love a beautifully framed photo of Triple Crown winner, Secretariat. Add the signature of Ron Turcotte, the jockey who rode Secretariat to victory, and you’ve got a sure-fire hit gift. If Dad’s already got a Secretariat photo, why not add another horse to his collection – say, I’ll Have Another sprinting to victory in the Kentucky Derby. With his win at Belmont, I’ll Have Another is 2/3rds of the way to becoming the next Triple Crown Winner.

When choosing celebrity memorabilia gifts for dad, consider these guidelines to ensure you get him a gift he’ll love.

Choose sports memorabilia related to his favorite team.

Choose autographed sports memorabilia related to his favorite players.

Choose signed movie posters and theater cards from his favorite movies.

Choose celebrity autographs of his favorite actors in the roles for which they are most famous.

Why not give Dad a gift he’ll never forget for Father’s Day this year? Give him a gift of movie memorabilia or autographed sports memorabilia he can display and enjoy with pride.