Old Autograph Book

Q:         I recently found my grandfather’s old autograph book. He was good friends with the comedians Lou Costello and Bud Abbott. The book includes their autographs as well as those of several sports figures, including Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Braddock, Joe DiMaggio and several others. I think some of them go back to the early 1920s. What do you think these are worth?

A:         The value of an autograph depends on how famous the person is and how rare the autograph is. If the celebrity or sports star rarely signed autographs, they will be harder to find today and worth more. Autographs can sell for only a few dollars or for hundreds of dollars or more. A Babe Ruth autograph sold at auction recently for over $1,000. Autographs of famous sports stars appeal to collectors of sports memorabilia as well as to autograph collectors. If you are thinking of selling your grandfather’s autograph book, you should contact auction houses that specialize in autographs or sports memorabilia to learn more about pricing.