What is the Most Expensive Autographs - Top 10 Signatures

The Top 10 Most Expensive Autographs or Signatures

So you found that autographed sports memorabilia stashed in your closet from years ago. Your favorite baseball or football player when you were a kid. First thought that crosses your mind is the obvious, “I wonder what this autograph is worth”? Well, I bet it doesn’t even come close to this list of the top 10 most expensive autographs in the world today!

Number 10:
Number 10 just might send a chill down your spine. An autograph from John F. Kennedy on a morning newspaper just 2 hours before he was assassinated is the 10th Most Expensive Autograph in the World. The Dallas Morning News has the date of his death located above his signature. This is the last autograph John F. Kennedy ever gave. It is valued at $40,000.

Number 9: Jesse James

$52,000 is the going rate for the signature of this legendary outlaw. During life, Jesse, was a celebrity. Many saw him as Robin Hood, stealing from the rich, and giving to the poor. In death he’s an icon of the Wild West, and has been the subject of dozens of movies and books.

Number 8: Jimmy Page

Jimmy’s 1963 Gibson guitar bearing his signature under the words ‘Rock On!’ sold for $73,000. Jimmy is listed as Gibson’s #2 Top Guitarist of All Time and has rocked his way to being the 8th Most Expensive Autograph in the World. In 1968, he formed the rock group Led Zeppelin, which is the 2nd best selling band in the U.S.

Number 7: Albert Einstein

Einstein sticking out his tongue. It has been said that Einstein enjoyed this funny picture of himself so much he ordered a few copies and signed them. They do surface from time to time with the last going for $75,000. This autograph is also one of the most forged.

Number 6: Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe

Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married less than a year, but they were both superstars, and their autographs were highly sought after. Both of their signatures together, especially on a baseball, gold. It sold for $191,200 in 2006!

Number 5: Jimi Hendrix

One of the most celebrated electric guitar players of the 20th century had a contract with his autograph go for $200,000. Sadly, the contract he signed is ludicrous---giving Jimi Hendrix only 1% of the profit from sales of his music!

Number 4: Babe Ruth

$388,375 was the final result of a jaw-dropping bidding war over a 1927 Babe Ruth signed baseball. Babe Ruth is considered one of the greatest baseball players that ever lived and one of the greatest sports heroes in the U.S.

Number 3: John Lennon

Not just any Lennon autograph is worth $525,000 but the autograph he gave to his killer only hours before he was shot is worth exactly that. There’s also a photograph that exists, known to be the last picture of Lennon, that shows John signing the album cover for, Mark Chapman.

Number 2: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham signed 48 copies of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863 and the whereabouts of only 25 are known. It was issued during the Civil War, giving freedom to slaves. The last one that surfaced sold, in 2010, for $3.7 million dollars.

Number 1: George Washington

Washington’s personal copy of The Acts of Congress, with his signature on the 1st page, was purchased at auction for $9.8 million dollars. It presently resides at its original home, Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon’s library. Being the 1st President of the United States of America, George Washington’s autograph is an extraordinarily rare find and commands a pretty penny whenever it comes up at auction, however, a signed personal copy of The Acts of Congress has not only been the most expensive Washington autograph but the #1 Most Expensive Autograph in the World.

Time for the question of the day.

These top 10 are some of the rarest signatures in the world from some of the most influential people in history. I know it’s tough to compare, but what’s the best signature you’ve ever had? Who was it, what was signed, and what did you do with it?

Go ahead and let us know in the comments section below.

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Voice Over by Christopher Hudspeth

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Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[ronazbill]

rick at pawn stars will tell u he'll give a dollar 2.95 for it

[georgearthur]

I met Mickey Mantle in person signing at a show in N.Y.C. Mr. Mantle signed a 16 x 20 picture for me, where I asked Mr. Mantle to please inscribe, "536 home runs". Mr. Mantle looked at me and instead of inscribing his career total in home runs, he inscribed, "Yankees 1951-1968". I thanked Mr. Mantle over and over for his glorious inscription. I have never that inscription on any other Mickey Mantle autograph. Yes, I still have that autograph and that glorious inscription.

[dreamimpala]

I have George Harrison's signature. Not sure what to do with it lol just have it in my guitar case for good luck

[paulfasse]

Met Muhammad Ali in 1995. Received a gorgeous blue sharpie signature on a Ali litho and took 2 photos with him

[josht]

William Shakespeares autograph is very expensive

[gerrypoet]

I had a postcard signed twice by Hermann Goring (the second signature as Goring signing for his wife). I had to sell it along with my entire collection of signatures from famous men in history when the cost of insuring the collection was more than what i had paid for the collection in it's entirety.

[hazzawazza]

Really good video!! Glad you gave dates the sigs were sold. And all that Info

[howey]

Shakespeare's is the most expensive autograph there's only 6 known and 3 are on his will

[jkadoodle]

The values aren’t only for the signature but also what they signed

[taylanaplar]

William Shakespeare has the most expensive signature. There’s plenty of George Washington signatures out there. But only 6 Shakespeare signatures exist valued at 5 million dollars each. It doesn’t matter what it’s signed on

[starshiptrooper]

I have 2 books. Close to the Edge, The story of Yes signed by Steve Howe and My Cross to Bear signed by Gregg Allman. Two bands I grew up on. If I had a George Harrison I'd really be thrilled.

[ryanthompsonthompson]

I have Rickey Hendersons autograph. He signed it on a 1990 Fleer baseball card. Good times.

[yourdad]

My Derek Jeter autograph is probably one of my most prized possessions. It’s signed on one of his Topps baseball cards. It was graded an 8/10 by PSA

[wakcy]

“I’ll give you 2 bucks for it... I’m taking a big risk here!”

[racialprofileanthropology]

My brother has James Dean's mail from his Sherman Oaks. Cabin that he lived in from August and September 1955. Envelopes and letters. He got the bundle from his Dad, Winton Dean in the late 1980's in Florida.

[yolostar]

Julius Caesar? Napolen? Stalin? Adolf Hitler?

[garymorris]

The Jimmy Page autograph really is not a fair comparison because the guitar is likely much of the value.

[robertgarcia]

From Steve. I have an autographed photo of JAMES STEWART, LUCILLE BALL, BROOKE SHIELDS, PHILLIS DILLER, CINDY CRAWFORD, JANE FONDA and more. I will keep these autographs forever.

[easytherepilgrim]

My autograph is worth about $200, 000. I wrote it on my house.

[jonnyscash]

Seattle Mariners Robinson Cano signed baseball is one of my favorite autographs. I also have a Tim Tebow signed baseball from AZ fall league