Stepping into this debate late but I’m surprised that there is anyone who wants a case signed instead of a card. Maybe I’m overly sentimental, but I feel like if you’re getting something Autographed, it’s because you value the Autograph more than the thing being signed.
Signing cases just makes me feel like people are in it only for the business side and for the “look” of the signature. It feels like you just cheapened the signature and are making a negative statement on the person signing. Adding a signature on something “valuable” makes it inherently personal. I have a favorite band that I see every time they perform live in my area, for example. I wait backstage for hours just to catch them and chat with them. I have them sign on their new album on the item itself, unwrapped. It’s treasured.
This sounds harsh, but I think it’s pretty shitty if you’re asking for someone’s signature on a case. Having the follow-up statement of “I don’t want to damage the card.” makes it apparent that you don’t value the person signing the item.
If it’s the case you really treasure the inherent rarity of an item above all else. Don’t get it signed. Period. Choose a different card.
The exception being that, obviously, if it’s the case that you have a case already and just don’t want to crack it but want the signature because you personally value it, then yeah, get that baby signed.
If I have paid what is a lot of money to me for a card in the best possible condition I can afford, it’s because of nostalgic value to me, and because I want to be able to appreciate the artwork in its natural state without having a sharpie scribbled over it.
Also many comic collectors don’t like CGC Signature series because they feel a signature detracts from the art.
If the said card is in played condition, or the artist signed the back of the card then I would be okay with that.
I’m in the minority but I think it’s a shame to have a vintage piece scribbled with sharpie over it
I think art should be appreciated for arts sake, and autographs collected on separate medium.
I can’t imagine having a beauty like Hulk #1 from 1962 signed with sharpie that will eventually bleed through the paper, the sacrilege!
And if the card is never going to be removed from the holder anyway, I don’t see the big deal with having a case signed. Just my thoughts
It’s not just a “sharpie scribbled over it”, it’s the impression of the artist, it’s the name of the artist, it’s the person you went to see to get a card signed for what I hope are personal reasons.
If a signature detracts from the art, then don’t get that piece of art signed. It obviously means you value the art over the signature. Why on earth would you get a signature on it otherwise?
I’m okay with the idea of a middle ground where they sign the back of the card. It shows an equal appreciation for the art and the person in that sense.
I see what you’re saying, and I like the middle ground idea of having an equal appreciation for both the art and creator/artist. I think I belong to that camp, but if I like the art then by default I appreciate the artist.
At the same time, I feel the very nature of the hobby, (and nostalgic based collectible ephemera overall) means the majority of people appreciate the art first and foremost, otherwise they would be autograph collectors.
I’ve always looked at obtaining an artists signature as the closest thing to owning a piece of original art, without actually owning OA. It’s definitely a personal thing.
Would I pay a premium for a card I wanted with the artists signature on it? Most definitely.
But the placement of the signature would be important to me
No one is signing anything close the the value of a hulk #1. I know a few rarer cards signed, maybe worth 1k or so, but thats entirely because those individuals love the artist & signatures.
On the general topic, people can do whatever they want but I will never understand the idea of getting a case signed. The artist designed the card, not the generic factory made piece of plastic.
Currently, signed cards and graded cards are pretty separate. There isn’t a market premium for a PSA 10 card with the slab signed. Imo if someone wants a gem mint copy, you want to look at the full card. An auto restricts that, hence why there isn’t much overlap between the two camps (graded and autos).
Considering most signed cards don’t break the bank, and/or the cost to sign is sub $100, I would porque no los dos, and get a graded example and a signed card, because that is what collecting is all about!
Okay okay, you make some good points, I concede.
You’re right about signing a generic plastic case, it is not the same.
And owning a signed copy + graded copy is def a good solution if funds will permit.
Once again, if you love the artist give him a kiss. Don’t let him deface a rare card of value. You can’t remove it if he ends up being a mass murderer unlike a sig on a case which can easily be removed.
Cheap cards signed are fine. If that floats your boat, then knock yourself out.
There’s so many fakes out there anyway it’s probably best to just steer clear of them altogether.
@azulryu Its funny how many of the reasons you state that lead you to preferring signing cards are the same reasons I would use to choose signing a case. Neither is wrong obviously and people can do whatever they want but I found this post funny. If signers thought signing something other than a card was “shitty” they could choose to not sign it then too.
Well then they would be terrible businessmen considering you can’t grade/authenticate a signed case. I don’t get how the memory and the experience getting a signed case is any less personal or remotely negative. Flippers need to get the card signed so they can get that sweet sweet auto 10 to flip on eBay. What percent of every signing line is people putting the cards straight to eBay once they get it back from PSA?
Or you value both? I mean people get anything signed they have on their person in the event they meet a celebrity unexpectedly. Is it offensive to have a napkin signed or just a cheap piece of paper too?
As an analog isn’t it a bit shitty you have them sign the cheap cardboard or plastic cover of their album? I mean put it right on the shiny part of the CD or right on the vinyl. Put it right on the raw art they produced.
I agree that people can do whatever they want. My argument is towards those who prefer to sign a case versus a card as they have said, they feel the “signature devalues the card”. I think this is a pretty negative statement and holds the card over the person signing. I admitted previously that if someone has a case and wants to sign the case because it’s already encapsulated, then yeah, that’s fine too. But to say “I want the case signed because I don’t want to damage the card” places the card value over the signature, thus making it less personal. They don’t care about the signature or the person signing in that case. They just want the extra “wow” factor.
I’ll be honest. I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here. Would you be able to restate it? And I mentioned the business side as some have argued that they feel a signature damages a card and won’t sell as well with high valued cards that don’t have a signature. Or out of some strange fear that something will happen to make the signature less valuable and they’ll want to save the card by being able to wipe away the signature.
I’ll point out again that I said if someone already has a case and just want to get that signed, that’s fine. This isn’t a discussion about what’s to be signed in the moment. I’m talking about people who have declared that they would want a case signed INSTEAD of a card. If it’s the case that they have a case for a signing and they don’t want to crack the case to have the card signed, I get that. Sign that baby as I said.
Nope, I don’t think it’s shitty. I paid for their album, I supported their band. I don’t display the CD or the Record, I display the entire thing so that’s where I put their signature, where it will be obviously seen. This is just a practicality thing.
I think it might be safe to say that there’s far too many variables for this to simply be a black or white issue.
I’m just glad I shared my thoughts and broke my first post virginity at the same time, Lol
First of all, I don’t think I have the balls to ask someone to sign a card that is incredibly valuable on its own.
But if I were to be in the market for buying a signed card, then yeah, I would want the signature on the card, not the case. A signature on the case is just… kind of weird IMO.
I would probably be extremely picky about buying an autographed card. For example, the Charizard card that is signed on the OP, I am bothered by the fact that Arita’s signature goes over the yellow border of the card. Something about it just triggers my inner OCD.
Being on the border doesn’t bother me so much. My hand cramps up writing notes during work meetings, I can’t even imagine how hard a signing event would be. Maybe that’s a little too much empathy, but that’s always what goes through my head when I see a signed card.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t place any blame on the person signing it! I have no criticism for Arita writing over the yellow border. I’m just saying that I personally find it takes away from the appeal of the card. Like I said, it triggered my OCD lol.
This is to say that I doubt I would ever ask for one of my extremely valuable cards to be signed. And if I were to buy a card that someone else signed, I would be extremely picky. But that’s just me.
This is why people who get cards signed often use their junk or nm copies to have them “elevated”. I bet there are very few psa10 grade+ psa10-auto cards for pricier cards. Matter of fact, can someone show me an example of one in here?
Bingo. 9 out of 10 are being disingenuous. Show me one 1st Ed Base Charizard that someone voting above got a signature directly on the card. Or any valuable card? Yes, I know someone who bought a card that was already signed but that doesn’t count. Would YOU get a trophy Pikachu signed on the card? That’s the question.
@garyis2000, I thought about getting a trophy pikachu signed, but quickly realized signings are still in their infancy.
Ultimately these are different markets. A lot of the people responding cynically don’t participate in the market. It reminds me of people who say, “pokemon is for kids hurr dur”. Its so dismissive and misses the entire point of why people collect. Collecting signatures is entirely because of the sentimentality and history. Sure there are elements of market value and opportunity, like in any collectible, but that isn’t the core. Most people simply love a card signed by the artist because it adds an emotional layer/value for them.
