The joy of autograph collecting reflects its extension as a human connection.  One of the most personal of human attachments is a name, and a person's autograph is an extension of this attribute.  An autograph is as personal a gift to another person as it gets.  Giving an autograph is opening yourself to another person.

Autograph collectors are not as appreciated as they should be.  Many documents that we appreciate and treasure for their historic value would otherwise not exist were it not for autograph collectors who have passed it down from one generation to another.

Autograph collecting with modern technology has greatly exposed the plethora of autographed material to the general public.  Before the advent of the Internet, choice autographed material would only be made available through major auction houses or national conventions.  Now, almost every type of autographed memorabilia can be found through the Internet.  Major auction houses now compete with Internet sources as the market for autographed material grows more each and every year.

The effects of wide availability and distribution of autographs has led to their commercialization.  Many collectors have turned into dealers to capitalize on the wide interest in autographs.  As the economics of supply and demand apply also to autographs, with heightened popularity, the prices of the most desirable autographed material has skyrocketed.  Although not quite as dramatic as the Holland Tulip mania in 1637, autographs of historical figures can easily surpass five-digit figures.

Many celebrities have capitalized on the value of their autographs.  William Shatner of television's "Star Trek" fame offers to sign items sent through the mail for a fee.  Similarly, many of the original Munchkins from the MGM classic movie "The Wizard of Oz", sell their signed photos at conventions and through the mail.  Under these circumstances, autograph collecting becomes a symbiotic relationship: collectors are able to secure autographs that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain, and the celebrity develops a stream of revenue for personal gain.

However, many notable personalities refuse to offer their autographs as commodities to be bought and sold.  That puts a damper on the joy of autograph collecting.  Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, stopped signing autographs for collectors many years ago.  Up until then, Armstrong would readily accommodate autograph collectors and sign almost anything that was sent to him.  Armstrong said that the reselling and commercialization of his autograph on the internet was a key reason why he stopped signing for collectors.  Despite Armstrong's decision to stop signing autographs for collectors, his signature is the most desirable of any living person.    It is no wonder that portraits and checks signed by Neil Armstrong now sell for many thousands of dollars.  Mr. Armstrong, are you reading this?

But no matter how you collect autographs or how much you pay to acquire a prized signature, you also become a guardian of history.  Each collectible autograph is a moment in a person's life and a mark for others to see and wonder.  That personal touch is the essence of the joy of autograph collecting.

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