I’m not sure if they’re a fad. There is definitely a fan base for them. Not for me but others do like them
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I love autographs and will always collect them. 2022-3 really evolved how I collect however. When I started collecting signed Pokemon cards in 2019 I chased something from every artist, now I moreso dont have that spark for anything I personally didnt get signed myself. Regional artist events have taught me I value time spent meeting the artists more than the items themselves.
With all that said no I do not believe its a fad at all, we were spoiled last season by access to artists stateside and that really electrified what was up until that point still kind of a niche side of the hobby, for better or worse.
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There will be two peaks. One when the artist stops doing autos and the second when they pass away.
There may be a third if Pokemon gives in to the AI fad and people try to grab some of their favourites. But I can’t see Pokemon doing that for a long time, possibly ever. At least I hope not.
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Its possible the money-mayhem train may eventually do what they do and move from autos to smth else, but I think collectors seem very interested in autos. Speaking personally, my autographed cards are some of the most invaluable, coveted items in my collection. Getting to attend a Pokemon event, meeting other collectors, seeing the artist in person; signings are incredibly special to me as a collector. The whole experience is great. I know many others feel similarly so i dont think autos are going anywhere!
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Personally I dont think artist autos are a fad in Pokemon.
Slightly off topic here, but I also want to express that I am grateful in how collecting autos had helped to shift my preference away from prioritising conditional rarity. Take the 1996 charizard base japanese for example; I own a psa 10 for years that ive self graded and always felt that it was much superior than a 9. However after obtaining a psa 9 arita sketch zard from the paris event last year, I found the appeal to holding onto the 10 to be much lesser now, as I own a copy that prolly have 1 or 2 more specks of whitening, but much more flair and a story to it.
As the attachment to psa 10s had slowly crept away, I am likely going to sell my psa 10 and purchase something like a psa 9 goldstar japanese rayquaza, something in which a psa 10 would have been out of my budget.
Happy collecting guys!
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