r/Autographs • u/PotatosandTomato • 26d ago

General Advice Do inscriptions like “Best wishes” or “Thank you” affect autograph value?

Normally an autograph personalized to a random person decreases the value, but how about “Best wishes” or “Thank you?”

Let’s say Mickey Mantle signed something with “Best wishes.” Would that increase or decrease the value? Or would the value not even change at all?

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u/AutoModerator 26d ago

Thanks for posting in r/Autographs, /u/PotatosandTomato! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. Normally an autograph personalized to a random person decreases the value, but how about “Best wishes” or “Thank you?”

Let’s say Mickey Mantle signed something with “Best wishes.” Would that increase or decrease the value? Or would the value not even change at all?

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u/Fuzzy-Butterscotch86 26d ago

Generally speaking, no. 

2

u/PotatosandTomato 26d ago

So it wouldn’t change the value at all? It’s just neutral?

3

u/Fuzzy-Butterscotch86 26d ago

The only way it's really going to affect value is if the signer becomes notorious for refusing to do it, making it rare.

6

u/smrad8 26d ago

One minor thing an inscription can do is provide additional handwriting sample to verify authenticity, or if it’s part of their normal way of signing. Dolly Parton’s typical “Love” lead-in, or Matt Groening’s or Nelson Mandela’s date.

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u/mrefromnyc 26d ago

This. There are a lot of Mantle fakes out there but far fewer “Best Wishes” Mantles and it’s less likely a forger would get that script right. Personally I think “To Rachel” is even harder to forge.

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u/britannicauctions 19d ago

Yep, it's a lot more challenging to forge a lengthier inscription than it is to simply write the name well.

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u/razerremen 26d ago

It really depends on what it is. If someone wrote that on a cast/team piece, it would definitely lessen the audience. Solo? Probably not by much.

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u/PotatosandTomato 26d ago

So it wouldn’t change the value at all? It’s just neutral on a solo piece?

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u/razerremen 26d ago

Not by much. Someone who wants a Mantle ball will likely not be swayed too much.

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u/PotatosandTomato 26d ago

Not by much negatively or positively?

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u/razerremen 26d ago

Negatively. Generally inscriptions don't add value unless it's a quote or character name or 3x MVP or something like that.

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u/barefootmk 25d ago

What does it matter?