Autographed cels?

[weyrlady]

If cels are anything like comics, having it autographed will decrease the value of the cel.

However, getting a cel autographed is "proof" of an hopefully pleasant encounter with someone you admire. It is a personal moment.

But cels aren't anything like comics, that's the thing. Comics are a mass-produced collectible, there are hundreds and thousands made of each issue. By comparison, each cel is unique. I look at it this way - getting a comic signed is like getting, say, the bottom of a DVD signed. You can't enjoy it any more, and it has little intrinsic value. But getting a cel signed is like getting an original sketch from the comic's creator signed- he's only endorsing it as his own work.

[JWR]

If cels are anything like comics, having it autographed will decrease the value of the cel.

However, getting a cel autographed is "proof" of an hopefully pleasant encounter with someone you admire. It is a personal moment.

But cels aren't anything like comics, that's the thing. Comics are a mass-produced collectible, there are hundreds and thousands made of each issue. By comparison, each cel is unique. I look at it this way - getting a comic signed is like getting, say, the bottom of a DVD signed. You can't enjoy it any more, and it has little intrinsic value. But getting a cel signed is like getting an original sketch from the comic's creator signed- he's only endorsing it as his own work.

Having been collecting original comic book artwork for a long time in which all most all are signed. The difference is that those autographs are on the margins outside of the actual artwork.

As I posted before having a cel or anything else autographed is a personal thing. If it adds a connection and a memory for you that is a good thing.

The whole reason for this thread was not what you do for your personal collecting but when someone chooses to sell off those autographed items.
On a lot of my Comic art the autographs are personallized to me and I would never sell them and if I did the fact they were autographed to "Joe" would most likely detract from them unless the buyer had the same name.

Steven King, on the rare occasions he ever autographs items insists on only personalizing items to discourage the instant turn a round to E-bay. I am lucky to have a couple of Bernie Wrightson pieces that Steven signed just his signature.

[tex-chan]

On the personal aspect of things ... although I realize this wasn't what you originally intended the discussion to be, JWR. (Sometimes threads seem to take on a life of their own, don't they? ) I have never really thought about getting any of my cels signed. But, then again ... I've never thought about having anything I owned signed --- maybe my cat ... but I'm not sure she would sit still long enough. (Yes, I am just kidding!) Anyhow, on the question of me, personally, getting anything signed, I think it would just depend. There are a couple of Japanese VA, a couple of manga artists, and a couple of character designers that I think I would beg to sign even my absolute nicest cels.

As for the "meat" of this thread, which was whether or not you'd buy a signed cel ... again, to me, that depends. Normally, I probably wouldn't. Not because I think the autograph detracts from the cel, but because I feel obtaining an autograph is a very personal experience. To me, the autographed cel would not hold as much meaning as it would to the person who stood in line and got to meet this person they so admired. But, even at that, for those few people I would beg to sign my own cels ... I might buy a cel they had signed. I admire their work so much that the cel would have a lot of meaning to me, even if I had not met them personally.

I hope this makes sense ... Although, I'm not sure it does ... hmmm ...

[graymouser]

Its been fun reading this thread.

Since the original question was supposed to be would I buy anything signed, I guess the answer would be yes. I wouldn't pay as much for a singed cel, but how much less would depend on whether it was personalized and where it was done. The signed cel I bought has Watase Yuu signature, but is not personalized, is in a blank area of the cel and is on the mouth layer (the mouth is about 3 drops of paint in size).

I guess having your cel signed would be a more personal experience. Frankly, I don't think its likely I would have it done. Not because of concerns about detracting from the cel's value, but because I detest waiting in long lines. I cant' see myself having the patience to sit in an additional line at a con (there are enough of them there already) to get a signature from anyone.

[Katrina]

It seems this conversation is dying down, but I did want to make a comment to clear up misconceptions about some of the signed cels I have put up for sale soon after getting them. ...

A) I really try to avoid collecting multiple cels of the same character. That's just my own policy. When I got my two Nuriko cels signed, I debated for a really long time which one I liked better. After I finally decided, the other cel went up for sale. I'd rather have two and decide later which one I would rather part with.

B) At the time I found out I was going to the con at the last second, so I was making offers left and right hoping one of them would be successful in time for me to receive the cel before I left. I do not feel it is right to back out of an offer, so when I had offers accepted on two different cels, I paid for them both and took them with me.

I do ask for a higher price on any signed cels I part ways with, because they're still special to me. I'll be totally honest- if anyone was going to a con with Ogata Megumi, I know I would pay them a lot more for a signed Haruka cel than the same cel without teh signature. But that's just me. ^_^

[hyelakingsfan]

I was doing my research project and i saw this so i thought i would post it
An autograph can add to the value of animation art-depending on who signed it. An authentic signature from Walt Disney himself on any Disney animation art is the holy grail: in top condition, it adds about $1,500 to a piece's value.

[Keropi]

An authentic signature from Walt Disney himself on any Disney animation art is the holy grail: in top condition, it adds about $1,500 to a piece's value.

Walt Disney's autograph is an extremely expensive example so I'm not surprised. Even if his autograph were only a tiny blank piece of paper it would still cost a mint.

Check out this piece of paper here. It's not blank, but still...check out how expensive this 5" X 4" piece of paper (with a logo on it) is:

http://www.phil-sears.com/Disney-signature.htm

[hyelakingsfan]

Wow, that is pretty expensive.