Top Ten Most Valuable Autographs

Top Ten Most Valuable Autographs

Recently I came across this ezine article of the ten most valuable autographs. Not sure it is very accurate, particularly for the last few (McCartney & Tiger Woods??).   I can think of several others that should be on this list including Albert Einstein ( $74,324 for a signed photo), Thomas Jefferson, Joe Jackson, John Wayne (Signature sold at auction for $6,572 Dec 2011), along with several other Presidential & Historical signatures. 

10. Paul McCartney ($2,400)

Former Beatles member and Guinness Book of World Records holder for being the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", Sir Paul McCartney makes it into the Top 10 list with his autographs starting at $2,400 and up.

9. Tiger Woods ($2,625)

Coming in right after Sir Paul at #9 is American professional golfer Tiger Woods. Known as the world's first billionaire sports athlete, Tiger is known for his inhibition when it comes to signing autographs for the public.

8. Neil Armstrong ($7,500)

Ranking #8 is former American astronaut and the first person to ever set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong.  He stopped signing autographs around 1990 and today refuses any requests.  He even refused Nancy Pelosi's request for an autograph during a 40th anniversary of Apollo 11. .  I was fortunate enough to get a signed "Apollo 11" photo from him just months before he stopped signing in early 1990.  It is still part of my personal collection today.

7. Jimi Hendrix ($61,000)

Even though he died well before his prime at the tender age of 27, a signed piece of paper from the legendary American guitarist and singer-song writer Jimi Hendrix puts him at #6 on the list.

6. Jimmy Page ($73,000)

Founder of the English rock bank Led Zeppelin and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, the value of a Jimmy Page signed guitar has him at the 6th spot.

5. Babe Ruth ($150,000)

One of the finest sports heroes in American culture, Babe Ruth, also known as "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", had one of his autographed baseballs reach $150,000 at an auction in 2005.

4. Joe Dimaggio & Marilyn Monroe ($191,200)

A baseball signed by another legendary baseball star, Joe Dimaggio, along with one of the most famous American females in history, Marilyn Monroe, claimed an asking price over $190,000 at an auction in 2006.

3. John Lennon ($525,000)

The last Double Fantasy album copy autographed by former Beatles member and English musician/singer-song writer John Lennon before his death fetched $525,000 at an auction in 2003 making it the most valuable record ever.

2. Abraham Lincoln ($748,000)

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, can claim his spot at #2 on this list with his signed letter defending the Emancipation Proclamation on January 8, 1863 going for almost $750,000 in 1991.

1. William Shakespeare ($3,000,000)

With only six existing signatures in the world belonging to famed English poet and playwright, William Shakespeare, it is estimated that if any of the signed documents, which are currently held by institutions, were ever put on auction, they would be sold for more than $3,000,000.