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Autographs

    Autographs Editor's Picks

    • How to Preserve Autographs On a Baseball Bat

      Nothing is quite as valuable for a sports enthusiast as an autographed piece of memorabilia. This is especially so when it comes to a sport like baseball where the deeds of past and present sporting legends leave such a lasting and palpable impression on their passionate fan base. Well preserved autographed bats are priceless to their... more »

    • How to Select Adult Party Games

      Planning party games for your next event can help break the ice among new acquaintances, create new and funny memories among old friends and might even start a romance or two. Think about the general tone of the party and how many guests will be participating as you select your party games for your next shindig. more »

    • How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Los Angeles

      Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks--for family, success and health. It is a time when families come together, celebrate and feast. The Thanksgiving meal is at the cornerstone of most Thanksgiving celebrations. Families spend hours, sometimes days preparing the day's feast of turkey, candied yams, stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni... more »

    • About Sports Cards

      Sports cards have long been popular collectibles for sports fans of all ages. They contain photos and information about athletes and are randomly inserted and sold in packs, which usually contain anywhere from 1 to 12 cards. Sports cards are also by a variety of manufacturers and are sold by sport--including baseball, football,... more »

    • How to Prepare for a Sci-Fi Convention

      Many a sci-fi fan has wandered along a convention center hallway hoping to have the chance to meet and greet with their favorite sci-fi stars. If you are one of these fans, you may know of a convention coming to your area. more »

    Autographs Quick Guides

    • Sports Collectibles

      That great last second play, an unbelievable performance by a favorite athlete. Sports fans have...

    Autographs Articles

    • How to Score Autographs

      You never know where your next brush with fame may be. Here are a few tips for adding to your collection of John Hancocks without relying on... more »

    • How to Get WWE Autographs

      If you are looking for ways to get autographs from your favorite WWE superstars, look no further. With a little patience and some creative... more »

    • How to Keep Autographs From Fading

      From the scribblings of a beloved baseball hero to a hot celebrity, autographs are a tangible connection between superstardom and the common... more »

    • How to Get Celebrity Autographs

      In a day where the paparazzi hound celebrities, a simple letter is all it takes to collect an autograph from a favorite celebrity. If you thrive... more »

    • How to Collect Historical Autographs

      Autographs are a popular collectible and acquiring autographs is both fun and challenging. Historical autographs are not only of great interest to... more »

    Wikipedia

    Autograph


    An autograph (from the , autós, "self" and γράφω, gráphō, "write") is a document written entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one transcribed by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.

    Autograph also refers to a persons signature. This term is used in particular for the practice of collecting autographs of celebrities. The hobby of collecting autographs is known as philography.

    Styles

    An individuals writing styles change throughout the lifespan of a person; a signature of President George Washington (c. 1795) will be different from one when he was an 18-year-old land surveyor. After British Admiral Nelson lost his right arm at the Tenerife sea-battle in 1797, he switched to using his left hand. However, the degree of change may vary greatly. The signatures of Washington and Lincoln changed only slightly during their adult lives, while John F. Kennedys signature was different virtually every time he signed.

    Other factors affect an individuals signature, including their level of education, health, and so on. Blues singer John Lee Hooker had a limited education, and such is reflected in his handwriting. Composer Charles Ives and boxer Muhammad Ali both suffered from Parkinsons disease, and their handwriting show the effects of that condition as well. Native American Chief Geronimo had no concept of an alphabet; he "drew" his signature, much like a pictograph.

    Many individuals have much more fanciful signatures than their normal cursive writing, including elaborate ascenders, descenders and exotic flourishes, much as one would find in calligraphic writing

    For one of the most foremost collections of autographs look up Tommy Scullion; a calligraphic artist in his own right.

    As an example, the final "k" in John Hancocks famous signature on the United States Declaration of Independence loops back to underline his name. This kind of flour read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autograph

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