For example I have been offered 2 thousand for my John Lennon autograph but I will never part with it.

Wow! A John Lennon autograph. Did you obtain it in person? I don't blame you for never wanting to part with it for any sum of money.

I have a lot of autographs from the deceased. Of course, I have bee collecting autographs for so long that is only to be expected.

Often when a celebrity dies I have people ask if I have their autograph and sometimes I am asked how much they are worth.

I respond that to me they are priceless and not for sale. For example I have been offered 2 thousand for my John Lennon autograph but I will never part with it.

Maybe when I die my son (also a Lennon fan, I raised him right) might sell it (but I doubt it) or my granddaughter, whom I have already named as my beneficiary, will. But, in the mean time that one and many other "special" autographs are family heirlooms.

I had three requests sent to celebrities that passed away before I could have them returned. They are:

Ricardo Montalban - Sent the request: 9/18/08, He passed: 1/14/09
Bea Arthur - Sent: 1/29/09, Passed: 4/25/09
David Carradine - Sent: 2/03/09, Passed: 6/03/09

I was lucky enough to receive autographs from the following before they passed:

IN PERSON

Alex Nelson (Lizzy Borden guitarist) - Received: 3/27/01, Passed: 5/17/04
Johnny Weaver - Received: 1/04, Passed - 2/15/08
Penny Banner - Received: 1/04, Passed - 5/12/08
Sherri Martel - Received: 1/04, Passed - 6/15/07
Wahoo McDaniel - Received twice around 1993, Passed - 4/18/02

TTM

Don LaFontaine - Received: 8/25/08, Passed: 9/01/08
Dom Deluise - Received: 9/26/08, Passed: 5/04/09
Karl Malden - Received: 11/20/08, Passed: 7/01/09
Eartha Kitt - Received: 10/18/08, Passed: 12/25/08

I have a few autographs from celebrities who have later passed away.

John Inman- British actor
Charles Lindberg- Iwo Jima Flag Raiser
Avery Dulles- Cardinal
Jack Kemp- Football player and politician
Charlton Heston- Actor
Anita Page- Actress
Luciano Pavarotti- Opera Singer
Porter Waggoner- Country Singer
Buck O'Neil- Baseball player and coach
Arthur C. Clarke- Science Fiction Author
Dr. Michael DeBakey- Pioneering Heart Surgeon

One of the most memorable ones was the economist Milton Friedman. I sent out a letter one day, then about a week later I saw on TV that he had died. 4 days after seeing the news story I got an envelope in the mail with his office address on it. I assumed that I was getting ym items returned but when I opened it I found a signed index card and a copy of one of his papers also signed by him. It was all postmarked 2 days before his death so I think mine was the last autograph he signed.

I haven't had this happen yet, but everyone I write to will die eventually, right?

-Kelsey


_________________

Thanks so much to matze16 for the signature!

My Website!

Favorite Success: Katy Perry
Recent Success: Erin Cardillo
Recently Sent: Ruby Bridges

I have a few wrestlers, but the only authentic autograph that I received that was made for ME that stands out:

George Carlin

I have alot more dead people, but they died long before I could have received one from them...

Boris Karloff
Vincent Price x5
Rod Serling x3
Peter Lorre
Basil Rathbone
Jack Dempsey

I have more dead people, but these are the most valuable.

Selise wrote: The weirdest autograph I received was one from Luciano Pavarotti TTM (I have 3 of his) I received that in the mail on the day of his funeral.

Whoa. That's kinda scary. Don't have any, but do have two from celebs that have passed away (freddy fender and another lady, but too lazy to look up).

I have quite a few it would take me a long time to list them all- but then again, I've been collecting since the mid 80's.

My mom has collected since the 60's - and she gave me her collection.

The weirdest autograph I received was one from Luciano Pavarotti TTM (I have 3 of his) I received that in the mail on the day of his funeral.

i only have 2 autographs that the person died. i have Bea Arthur and Don la fonataine(Voice over Actor)

Yes several and I'm so glad that I got these autographs before the celebs passed away. Some are my favourites and I'm glad I didn't have to purchase them as that's so impersonal!

Bea Arthur - Golden Girls is my favourite tv show ever so I'm glad I got her ttm.

Kathy Staff - signed and personalised. I'm so glad I got this. She was a wonderful actress!

Wendy Richard - Another veteren uk actress.