This is the take I would have expected my 6 year old cousin to have. Well done.
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I think everyone has different reasons for collecting what they collect, and that includes artist signatures. So there’s no one blanket statement or reason to address this. If someone doesn’t want to collect the autos, that’s their choice and it’s not a wrong choice, which it seems is where you land, so that’s fine lol. But if you’re interested in hearing why some people might collect, here’s my reason and maybe others might feel the same way.
It’s been a full year since Toronto Regionals in 2022 and I met Arita. Before, I originally thought I wouldn’t want any artist autos for myself, but with this event being local I figured, I was attending anyway so might as well try to meet Arita. I gifted two of the sigs I got from that weekend because I thought I didn’t want any sketches lol (iykyk). But in the moment when I met the artist and they worked in front of me, something just clicked into place and I realized this was actually a really cool moment and item to own - the two cards Arita signed are not “cool” or “the best cards” compared to other people’s collections, but they mean something to me. They match my garden collection, which also isn’t “cool” that anyone else would want to collect haha.
So I went to a few more regionals, and was fortunate to get a few more cards signed. In the end, I was happy to collect artist autos cos I liked their work and it was cool to see the artist in person. The signed cards I own are representative of meeting the artist, and I was able to choose cards with art I liked. Some have sketches to match which just enhance the memento I have of an awesome opportunity. The cards have my name on them, and are a cool tidbit of my admittedly small and strange collection. I know I don’t speak for anyone else when I saw I have no interest in owning a signed cards that isn’t personalized to me. But I can understand why they would want one, even though it doesn’t interest me.
Similarly, I have some books that are autographed by the author, and the ones that are personalized to me are way better.
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something like that is perfect for unpopular opinions. Not always this adjustment so that it just arrives correctly, but simply what you think. sharp, direct, different
I dont collect signatures, I do collect specific artists.
Autographs are not nice to look at for me. They obstruct the view of the art. I dont get autograph collecting, but if someone wants to collect them, more power to them. If you get them signed yourself that would be more understandable since you have a nice thing to remember that moment by. The best autographs are not by artists, but by community members. I always but those autographs in my binder, they are nice to remember secret santa and trades for example.
Artist autographs are overrated to me, but anyone is of course free to collect them.
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Not part of the siggie FOMO 
This
Yeah the best autographs are by friends who make an impact and left great memories (time spent together) in your life, like your classmates, your colleagues, etc. Not strangers. 
To each their own. It’s a niche within a niche. However without the artwork, you wouldn’t have Pokémon. And don’t tell me you never opened a pack up as a kid and got those tingling feelings when seeing a special card - for me, og Caterpie, squirtle and Cubone artwork give me those feelings (and I dont particularly care for those pokemon).
For me I prefer when an autograph has a unique sketch alongside the autograph. That is super unique and often rare.
Here is my prize possession. The pop is 8, however less than 8 have the red flame head sketch.
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- It’s actually a niche within a niche within another sub-niche.
- Yeah without artist = no artwork. But without siggie of artist = artwork is still glorious.
Who scribbled on the card? Looks horrible to me. I would avoid buying cards with scribble.
I don’t really understand the purpose of your sh!t post. Just let people collect what they want to collect 
Fairly certain 99% of people think us adult males collecting cards are all basement dwellers anyway (well, certainly Mew collectors at least).
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I was saying I don’t collect such cards.
Chill
Each to their own and why they collect. My collection is mostly motivated by history, so I wouldn’t hesitate to get a signed piece of history if the chance arose.
A different example is with books. Would I get a Tolkien signed copy of the Hobbit over an unsigned one. Absolutely. It just adds to the history of the piece.
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Books is different. Eg; I would want autographed Harry Potter books.
From a staffing perspective; I’ve had the incredible opportunity to staff for Midori Harada and Kagemaru Himeno for their artist events, and without a doubt those hours crammed into such a short weekend were some of the best moments of my life.
You know when you’re at the door, and you’re literal moments away getting to meet one of your favorite artists, and you are having a plethora of conversations on
“Should I use this color”
“What do you think about this sketch on this card”
“This is why I love this pokemon”
For a moment you genuinely feel that nothing is wrong in life. Most people travel hundreds of miles away hoping for just the opportunity to be able to just get a glance of the artist. That’s how these events work. You don’t come with any expectations and you hope you’re one of the lucky ones.
But let’s be honest; getting together and breaking bread with folks you speak with online everyday is the real trophy.
To each their own on whether or not they want a doodle, signature, sketch, whatever. Anyone else’s opinion at the end of the day is really irrelevant.
Center your focus and happiness on why this “drawing” made you happy in the first place.
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I also echo the sentiments shared by a few above. An artist signature on a card is a memento. A memento for the journey leading to the event, the folks you meet, the places you have seen etc. At the end of the day it is a hobby and hobbies are nice because it is something that you really like doing and having a signed card by an artist at an event just bundles all of these key memories in one single card. I will never buy a card that it already signed because it does not have any meaning to me personally.
I think we underestimate the impact some of these signing events or just Pokemon events in general have on some people and the camaraderie shared. Of course we have the tendency to always focus on what always goes wrong at these events, but I would be lying if I said that the signed card was the best thing that came out of attending the event.
I think almost anyone can make an argument about collecting anything if it does not align with ones collection principles / interests. I personally feel that the most important thing for me is to be mindful that I am not hoarding things for the sake of owning it. As long as It is not affecting my life and the lives of the people around me negatively, I am perfectly fine, especially if it somehow helps to make me a better or more educated and enlightened person.
I hope to reach a point where I can easily answer the question - How will you react if you wake up tomorrow and your collection is destroyed? Therein lies the answer, which I don’t think I know yet. All I know is that I am still figuring out if I will be happy if I am never going to be able to buy any Pokemon cards again. I believe the answer lies in the connections, friendships and memories!
Cheers!
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Man, this is such a good post. It’s all about the core memory. If a signature is your memento, so be it.
I personally am not a fan of signatures (with the exception of my ALL TIME favorites), but I’ve several times had friends scribble on a card or poster to remember a special event.
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I don’t even know what the first post says, but on the topic title itself, collect what you like not what others tell you to collect.
If Arita, kawayoo, AKIRA EGAWA, Teeziro, kodama etc were signing near me, I would love to get cards signed but I would never buy an already signed card nor would I really get excited for artists I don’t like.
And since they would be solely for my own collection, the cards wouldn’t be ones that cost much/have resale value though it still would have to be ones that managed to evoke feelings in me.
That event in particular still remains in the top 3 moments of my life in collecting and one of my general life highlights as well. I was literally having the time of my life even despite some of the more stressful moments.
Having a card signed by her was literally a momento of not just meeting her but sharing highlights with friends and making new connections. It was downright emotional. I can only imagine how incredible it was from a volunteer perspective!
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Literally in the top five moments of my life.
No joke.
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They add another layer to the pokemon cards story in a unique and memorable way! Definitely recommend getting a card personally signed atleast once, see how you like it, I love mine. 