For years, people have been collecting autographs in many ways and for many different reasons. Learn more about the fascinating world of autographs in the article.
In the early days, there were those who could not write. The few who could read and write were highly respected.
If you were not a part of the elite class in those days, your chance of getting an education was not to be. You had to work on the land for the most part to make a living. Your working hours were the ‘sun up to sun down” shift. It was during the early years, when autograph collecting became very popular.
Every other person wanted you to autograph something for them as a keepsake. It is amazing but this love for autograph collecting is just as popular today and it may be even more so. Why? An improvement in transportation and communication makes this possible. People are more accessible to each other. Even more so, more people can read and write today than yesteryear. Autograph collecting is not always done on paper.
Some collectors had their shoes autographed by close friends and family members. Many of these shoes serve as part of a personal autograph collection. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, it was a popular pastime for high school students to have the saddle oxfords signed by classmates. Only the white part was autographed. These popular shoes of the day were either black and white or brown and white. In yard sales and antique sales, you just may find these treasures representing a time in our history. Autograph collecting today involves the signing of clothing items such as caps, t-shirts, jeans, jackets and other pieces of clothing. High school students and especially seniors still do a lot autograph collecting. Some high schools have what is called ‘signing day.
During this day yearbooks are distributed to the student body. Students use this day to collect autographs to remember these special days in their lives. Some of this autograph collecting is done with special colors of pens. Students try to individualize their yearbook by using different formats within the signing portions of the yearbook. This autograph collecting continues off and on during the remainder of the school year. Even with this designed day, it is very difficult to get all the signatures you may wish to get. Seniors usually try to get all of their classmates and favorite teachers, administrator, and teachers. This may be the very last time they get a chance to get some of these autographs. Some classmates never see each other again. Autograph collecting on caps is very popular at race tracks. This is especially true at some of the big races, such as the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis race. This is one time when it pays to try to get the real thing.
Even if you can not get an autograph from your favorite, it pays to get what you can. Why you must ask? On down the road you may be able to exchange a separate signature for one that you want to add to your collection. There are thousands of people at these races so seize the moment and take advantage of this chance to do real autograph collecting.