Thursday, August 23, 2012

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 30th 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.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

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.

Friday, July 27, 2012

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.

Friday, July 6, 2012

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.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

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.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Movie Memorabilia – Hot Movie Posters for Home Theater Décor

Nothing goes better in your media room than a homage to media, which is why the best home theater décor you can buy is movie memorabilia. Add movie theater ambiance to your home movie theater with authentic movie memorabilia – theater cards, movie posters and authenticated movie memorabilia from some of the hottest movies of recent years.
Star Wars
Star Wars may be the most iconic movie franchise in history. What better way to decorate your home theater room than with a movie poster or piece of entertainment memorabilia featuring characters and famous scenes from a galaxy far, far away. In addition to Star Wars poster memorabilia, you’ll find framed Star Wars displays featuring such famous moments as Star Wars The Duel, an official publicity photograph showing Luke Skywalker facing off against Darth Vader. If the photograph is signed by Mark Hamil and Dave Prowse, you’ll have an even more valuable treasure to highlight in a place of honor.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Johnny Depp has enchanted the world with his portrayal of the swaggering Jack Sparrow, the dastardly pirate with a romantic streak and a sense of humor that’s sharper than his cutlass. Signed movie posters, publicity photos and memorabilia from Pirates of the Caribbean 4 or a shadow box of Hollywood memorabilia from the making of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest are the ideal finishing touch for a home theater. Whether you’re a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or a Johnny Depp fan – or adore Keira Knightly in her pirate wench regalia – you’ll find one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia treasures to finish off your home theater décor.
LOTR
Lord of the Rings was an epic Hollywood extravaganza, and like the epics of old, it spawned a generation of fans. If you’re a fan of high fantasy movies, what better way to outfit your home theater’s walls than with posters and framed movie memorabilia from the making of the LOTR series of movies? Don’t settle for a LOTR poster print. Make your home theater the envy of all your friends with a stunning LOTR Return of the King display featuring an official autographed movie poster surrounded by stills from the most famous moments in the final installment of the LOTR trilogy.
Of course, you don’t have to stick with recent movies and current stars when decorating your home theater room. You’ll find movie posters with celebrity autographs, signed photographs and authenticated movie memorabilia from nearly any television show or movie you love, from a James Bond poster to movie memorabilia from this summer’s smash hit Hunger Games. So go for it – surround yourself with your favorite actors and characters in the form of authentic movie memorabilia.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Collectibles and Memorabilia:


The best cherished gifts for fans and specific passionate people.

There are millions of movie buffs and sports enthusiasts who make it their business to collect entertainment mementos and souvenirs like sports memorabilia, posters and autographed movie star items like books, CD covers and even autobiographies, to remember these events all their lives. These items are nothing but mere mementos, which hold in them little fragments of time frozen it these little figments of entertainment.
Entertainment Collectibles or memorabilia include wide array of the most overwhelming, imaginative items, like artistically created posters, and CD covers for movies, albums and games, signed posters by the movie stars and sports legends themselves. These memorabilia are designed to attract not only fans alone but collectors of such items as well. These collectibles may be for movie publicity, Collectibles Sports Memorabilia, music bands and musicians or for historicity purposes and have a wide appeal for all ages and communities, who identify with the people involved with the entertainment business.
These entertainment memorabilia include souvenirs like t-shirts, posters for bed-stands, calendars, coffee mugs, cups and other collectibles for any star or movie of your choice, be it the great sport star David Bekham or the audience favourites like Star Wars posters or Pirates Of The Caribbean Dead. Nevertheless, these collectibles are not merely restrained to the exceedingly famous in the entertainment business and hence fans will find posters and collectibles of even the most offbeat and obscure pieces of entertainment and movies. So no matter what your preference or inclination, if your object of devotion has ever been on the TV screen, be sure to find posters and collectible on them with most of the online collectible sites on Internet.

Pirates Of The Caribbean Dead Man's Chest Shadow Box
These sports or entertainment collectibles are not only a great asset for fans and collectors in general, but may also double as valuable gifts for your near and dear ones. So surprise your best friend with the personally signed, custom-made t-shirt with the emblem of her favourite band or n a collector’s edition, rare poster of their movie.  Collectors may also be worried about the authenticity of these online posters and services, but there is absolutely no need to be paranoid, since most of these sites have been in operation for quite some time and have been distributing these items for decades and have gained immense popularity doing so. Collector’s items and entertainment memorabilia are ageless pieces of art and entertainment that will last you a lifetime. So browse through your favorite stars and movie collectibles and purchase them pronto!