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I have forever loved this site, and now that I'm old enough to get an account, I'd love to start autograph collecting. However, all these acronyms on here are killing me. Could somebody please give me the gist of the most-frequently-used acronyms?

Also, I hear a lot about you sending Q&A's (?), self-addressed envelopes, and pictures to have signed. I know this will sound ridiculous, but what kind of photos do you usually send off? What size, do you print it on regular printing paper? I know, I sound REALLY stupid right now... Usually, how many stamps do you put on a SASE? (Aha, that's the one term I figured out...)

Please be patient with me, I really need some help with this. This is a hobby that I feel I could really enjoy and I'd love to get into it.

If somebody could explain this whole process to me, I'd be SO grateful. Or somebody told me what you usually do when you send off for an autograph. Thanks.

I don't know how much help this will be but, I usually send an index card or sports cards and a SASE. When I send a photo I send 8x10's either B/W or color which I buy. I do n;t print photo's on printer paper which would save money but do not (in my opinion) have the quality that I want. I then mail the photos in 91/2 by 11 envelopes. When I attempt to get musicians to sign I send a CD booklet (after I have printed a temporary color copy of the booklet for my CD) in a 6x9 envelope. Regarding how much postage to put on an envelope I usually just put a forever stamp (43 cents) on my small (sports card or index) envelope. One containing a CD booklet takes about 50 or 60 cents. and large envelopes (for 8X10 photos) usually takes about $1.25 to $1.50 (generally 4 forever stamps) I may overpay a little but better safe than sorry.

I know this doesn't answer all your questions (and may not answer any to your satisfaction) but hopefully it is some help.

DanaRenoMBA wrote:I don't know how much help this will be but, I usually send an index card or sports cards and a SASE. When I send a photo I send 8x10's either B/W or color which I buy. I do n;t print photo's on printer paper which would save money but do not (in my opinion) have the quality that I want. I then mail the photos in 91/2 by 11 envelopes. When I attempt to get musicians to sign I send a CD booklet (after I have printed a temporary color copy of the booklet for my CD) in a 6x9 envelope. Regarding how much postage to put on an envelope I usually just put a forever stamp (43 cents) on my small (sports card or index) envelope. One containing a CD booklet takes about 50 or 60 cents. and large envelopes (for 8X10 photos) usually takes about $1.25 to $1.50 (generally 4 forever stamps) I may overpay a little but better safe than sorry.

I know this doesn't answer all your questions (and may not answer any to your satisfaction) but hopefully it is some help.

Those answered a few of my questions and were very helpful! Thank you soooooo much for the help.

Now, I need to get the rest of my questions answered. Will somebody else care to contribute.

Here are some common acronyms:
SASE: Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
LOR: Letter Of Request
Q&A: Questions and Answers: some members make them for the celebrity to fill out: some people fill them out, others don't
IRC: International Reply Coupon. Can be bought in one country and exchanged for another countries stamps
PP: Pre Print
AP: Auto Printed (the last two are reproductions of the person's autograph, not authentic)
IP: Meeting a celebrity in person

As for Stamps on the SASE it depends where the sase will be going:
For a US address to another US address a large envelope will be at least .88 or 1.05

International is more expensive and you need that countries stamps for the SASE (or include IRCs)

The whole process is simply,
1. finding the person you want to write
2. find a working address (if he/she is not in the database, post in the Request forum)
3. Write you letter: introduce yourself, why you like them, what movies/songs/etc they have done that are your favorite/you love then request an autographed photo
4. Enclose a SASE (most people use 9X12 (inches) for their SASE)
5. BE PATIENT--this hobby can take a while.

Hope this helps. {thumb2} Let me know if you have any more questions and good luck.

BossC

Rats! and I always thought SASE stood for Self (it's funnier as "Un") Addressed Stamped Elephant.

indiix wrote: I sound REALLY stupid right now...

Dont be silly, you dont sound stupid. It takes a while to get to know all the acronyms. I know it took me a while.
BossC and DanaRenoMBA have answered all your questions really well. If you have anymore, dont feel silly just post them on & somebody will help you Enjoy the forum & good luck with collecting autos

Jelly_tot wrote:

indiix wrote: I sound REALLY stupid right now...

Dont be silly, you dont sound stupid. It takes a while to get to know all the acronyms. I know it took me a while.
BossC and DanaRenoMBA have answered all your questions really well. If you have anymore, dont feel silly just post them on & somebody will help you Enjoy the forum & good luck with collecting autos

As Jelly_tot has said, you don't sound stupid at all. We all were new to the hobby once and asked many questions ourselves! Your questions have been answered here really well, but feel free to post any more you may have!
Have a look at some of the stickied threads at the top of the Collecting Help forum too, there are some really useful ones. :razz:

Best of luck with your collection! {thumb2}

Phoebe

I have one more question that I thought of after I read something else on here.

Do you ALWAYS have to send a SASE or does that deeply decrease your chances of getting an autograph? And do you always have to send a photo to be signed?

As I'm very young compared to most people here, I don't have a job (aha, yet.....) but must pay for my own supplies. Envelopes such as that and glossy photos are extremely expensive to buy on the money I make from doing chores, and other jobs for neighbors.

Somebody please help me one more little time!

You don't always have to send an SASE, but it increases your chances a lot if you do, because then the celebrity doesn't have to pay for their own and some celebrities will not reply if you don't send an SASE. If you get 4x6, they are cheaper to print and also they fit in a regular envelope so it's cheaper on shipping too. And no you don't have to always send a photo, a lot of celebrities have their own photos that they send, your best bet is searching with who you want to send too and see if they provide a picture or you have to send your own.

Don't worry. I was the same when I started. I highly suggest putting a SASE with your request. (I sent out a bunch of requests when I first started without SASE's and only got 1 one success, out of the 40 that I sent) Always always always include a SASE. The chances are so much better that you will get a reply. Likewise, photos increase your chances of a reply too. However, most celebrities have photos on hand unless you are sending Via Venue. I personally always include photos. I have many other helpful tips about writing letters, assembling requests, etc. on my website at http://www.freewebs.com/myautographcollection. Feel free to check it out. Hope I helped and good luck on all of your future autograph collecting adventures!!

-Jamie