“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership. “
- John Kenneth Galbraith, U.S. economist, “The Age of Uncertainty”

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”
-Peter Drucker

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”
- Albert Einstein

“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
- Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonald’s

“If you think you can do a thing or that you cannot do a thing, in either case you are right.”
- Henry Ford

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
-John F. Kennedy

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
-Abraham Lincoln

Neil Armstrong is an American Astronaut who was the first person to walk on the moon during the historic Apollo 11 moon landing mission on July 20, 1969. Armstrong has never clamored for fame or attention and saw his work as an astronaut as his duty and job , and not a means to an end.

Armstrong, along with most NASA Astronauts used an autopen for years on the majority of autograph requests he received. In fact, NASA is said to issue an autopen machine to every Astronaut! This has resulted in considerable scarcity of authentic autographs available in the market for collectors.

Armstrong stopped signing autographs for the public in 1994. This is believed to be due to his increasingly reclusive nature along with his concern for forgery and feeling exploited because people were profiting on his name. In fact, he once threatened to sue his longtime barber for selling locks of his hair in the mid-1990’s. his barber was unable to get the hair back so he donated the proceeds to charity instead. Some of this hair is likely the source for the 2009 Upper Deck Piece of History baseball card set featuring a card with a lock of his hair.

I’m always fascinated by this strategy, as the main result is a skyrocketing in value due to the lesser amounts of autographs on the market. It reminds me of when famous musicians announce a certain tour will be their “last” and send fans and ticket prices through the roof. But I digress…

Armstrong’s signature has been in the news recently as a check that he wrote to a fellow NASA employee for $10.50 the day of the Apollo mission as an installment on a loan. He instructed them not to cash the check unless he died in space. The check recently sold in an auction for $27,350, reportedly setting a record for any Astronaut autograph! The high price tag is probably due to the historic nature of the signature being dated the very day and written within hours of leaving for the moon and provides an enduring snapshot in time of that significant day.

His signature is one of the most valuable of any living person due to the historic nature of being the first person to walk on the moon. Accordingly, forgeries are rampant in the marketplace. If you are considering buying an Armstrong signature, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Authenticity is a significant concern, and authentication that certifies the item is genuine and comes with a lifetime guarantee is essential.

Expect to pay upwards of $5,000 for an original autographed picture. Interestingly enough, many of the authentic examples I have seen are signed in addition to the autopenned one. A cut signature will run you over $1,000 – more if matted and framed in a nice display.

Armstrong turned 79 years old in 2009, and one can only wonder what his autographs will be worth if he continues to maintain his non-signing policy through the years.

Can you imagine being interrupted during dinner with your family by someone wanting something from you? Or while in the bathroom?? Unfortunately for you and I and fellow autograph collectors, this happens every day. Respect people’s privacy and always be polite when requesting (not demanding) their signature. Whether you are collecting in-person or through the mail, being courteous and respectful of the individual will pay you and your collection dividends!

Rule #2 – Be Prepared! This rule comes in many forms. Did you send a self-addressed-stamped-envelope (SASE) along with your request?  Do you have a good pen or Sharpie? How about a backup? When attending events where athletes or celebrities are appearing, you want to have the specific items you would like to have signed, along with 3×5 index cards just in case someone is there who you weren’t expecting.

Rule #3 – Be Patient! Seasoned collectors know, and maybe have heard somewhere before, that patience is a virtue! You need to be able to enjoy the thrill of the chase and embrace the challenge of collecting autographs, whether in-person or through the mail.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be required to stand in line waiting for your chance. There are also situations, such as at a sporting event or movie premiere, there is no line! There isn’t even a guarantee you will have the chance to get the autograph you came for. Celebrities are notorious for stalling a while; it seems in an attempt for the crowd to thin out before they will sign. Curiously, this ploy is effective, and thus becoming increasingly common.

Equally important, be patient when making requests through the mail. Celebrities generally have extremely busy schedules, and it may take a long time for them to respond. In a way, the longer the response time, possibly the greater likelihood the signature you receive is authentic?!

Rule #4 – Be Persistent! Wait a minute, you ask, “How can I be patient and persistent at the same time??” There is a magic in finding the right balance of patience and persistence. Think of it this way – all you can control is your approach and methods of collecting autographs – you can’t control whether you will get a signature or not. I have waited all day for one autograph from a person, even after being ignored, dismissed, and blown off earlier in the day. I have also waited all day only to come away empty handed. It happens. Athletes and celebrities deal with collectors and fans every day. They notice and are able to discern true collectors and fans and many make a point to sign for them.

Follow these rules, and you are on your way to building your autograph collection!

Rob Sillito has been collecting autographs for over 25 years, and is owner of www.collecting-autographs.com.