Prefontaine's autograph

Paparazzi wrote:

I have Steve Prefontaine's autograph.

Do you think it's worth much? Anyone know if he signed a lot?

I think it's worth a lot. Can you say more about the autograph? Is it a signed photo, letter or piece of paper?

Why are autographs considered valuable?

baconheart wrote:

Why are autographs considered valuable?

Don't get it either.

It's on paper, in a meet program, next to his picture, running. And in pencil. (All I had at the time as a kid).

It was packed in plastic for 40 years and in a trunk.

Steve signed a lot for kids, as long as they wanted to wait.

He did not have that kind of patience with adults, however.

baconheart wrote:

Why are autographs considered valuable?

Objectively, it's just dried ink, you are right.

But objects are given additional meaning by their circumstances. You and I might own identical pairs of size-11 spikes but mine are new in the box while you wore yours to win an NCAA championship and still have mud from the course caked around the spikes. Mine are in better condition but you probably wouldn't trade me since yours have more meaning.

Autographs are similar. Prefontaine was well known at the time of his death but he's not the celebrity that he's become. For that reason his autograph has probably changed in value quite a bit. An autograph before the 72 Olympics is more valuable than one after, or an autograph on a meet program is worth more than on a blank piece of paper.

Any Which Way But Loose wrote:

Steve signed a lot for kids, as long as they wanted to wait.

He did not have that kind of patience with obnoxious adults, like me, however.

/Fixed.

Here's an outdated site with some examples of Pre's autograph bringing in a few hundred dollars:

http://www.runningpast.com/preprices.htm

More recently, if you search Heritage Auctions, you'll find listings, although you have to register to see what the winning bids were.

Billy Crudup, as Pre, went for considerably less:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BILLY-CRUDUP-WITHOUT-LIMITS-STEVE-PREFONTAINE-AUTOGRAPHED-3X5-INDEX-CARD-/252499016549?hash=item3aca1d3b65:g:aukAAOSwMtxXrzbc

For the record.

Don't count on getting it authenticated by PSA or any of the various autograph collecting organizations. Or even major auction houses,

the majority of them. If you know the signature is genuine, keep it and

enjoy it. However, if you go the route of authenticating it, you put your

signature (exemplar) at the will of the autograph cartel. Yes, the hobby

is run by a cartel. That's why I got out of the hobby.

For instance,

"New York (July 17, 2015, 6:56 PM ET) -- A pair of lawsuits filed in California federal court this week accuse a group of autograph authenticators, dealers and auction houses of operating as a cartel in order to push out competition.

The suits, both filed on Tuesday, which name Collectors Universe Inc., PSA/DNA, James Spence Authentication LLC, R&R Auction Co. LLC, Roger Epperson Authentication Ltd. and Steve Cyrkin, claim the group has conspired to control the autograph authentication industry by disparaging other dealers and stifling competition."

The link below is the cartels web forum. And an article.

http://live.autographmagazine.com/forum/topics/same-old-michael-jackson-forgery

WARNING: If you ever have them authenticate a signature of ? or your Prefontaine they conclusively have the power to "FAIL" your signature

and put it on a kill list. Hence, is why the are constantly being sued.

The article below explains the cartel and who they are.

http://haulsofshame.com/blog/?p=26228

Article in describing how volatile the autograph hobby is.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/autograph-fakery-two-firms-monopolize-a-lucrative-business-6395264

The best thing you can do is to frame the Prefontaine autograph

behind UV protective glass and privately sell it. If you give the

cartel an image of your signature chances are they will fail it

while they concoct their original - counterfeited with their stamp

of approval. Caveat emptor.

Good luck.

Big Bucks

http://www.memofx.com/other-sports-22/steve-prefontaine-63682/

The most expensive item with a signature of Steve Prefontaine (STEVE PREFONTAINE SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED 1970 MAGAZINE PHOTO PSA/DNA) so far was sold in January 2013 for $4499.00 while the cheapest item (BERNARD LAGAT SIGNED STEVE PREFONTAINE CLASSIC OLYMPICS) found a new owner for $9.99 in August 2009. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in December 2013 with $3499.00 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $300.00 was September 2011. In average, an autographed item from Steve Prefontaine is worth $524.69