The World’s Most Expensive Autograph (2024)

To make this reasonable, we need to set up fair rules:

– Full name autograph

– Signed on a paper cut

– Signed only by one human being, with no co-signer

Another critical component is that we must exclude historical names where there are no known autographs in existence. A signed paper cut of Jesus Christ would much probably be the most valuable autograph in the world, but it's somewhat irrelevant since such items don't exist. The same goes for Aristotle, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and many other important historical figures.

So who is the winner? The answer is Shakespeare. The English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) has written some of the most important and well-known works in English literature. Yet, no handwritten manuscript of Shakespeare has survived. However, six autograph examples of Shakespeare do exist. Due to the importance of Shakespeare, and the minimal quantity of his autographs, the value is extremely high. In 2006, Sotheby's sold one of the six examples for 4.6 million dollars. Interestingly, that is also the only one of the six examples that are in private hands. The other five are all owned by British institutions, including the British Museum and The National Archive.

The World’s Most Expensive Autograph (2024)

FAQs

The World’s Most Expensive Autograph? ›

Queen Elizabeth II: According to the Paul Fraser Collectibles' Top 40 Living Autographs Index, Queen Elizabeth II holds the crown for the most valuable living signature.

Whose autograph is worth the most alive? ›

Queen Elizabeth II: According to the Paul Fraser Collectibles' Top 40 Living Autographs Index, Queen Elizabeth II holds the crown for the most valuable living signature.

What is the most expensive NFL autograph? ›

Brady has won seven Super Bowl championships and has broken numerous records throughout his career. In 2021, a rookie card signed by Brady sold for a record-breaking $3.1 million at auction. The card was a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket and had been graded a Gem Mint 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services.

What sports player has the most expensive autograph? ›

As one of the inaugural members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a figure synonymous with greatness in sports, Ruth's distinction as the foremost player of his era resonates profoundly. Unsurprisingly, his signature holds the highest value, averaging an impressive $3,516.

Who has the most famous signature? ›

It's written at the top of all other autographs, it's centered, and it's by far the biggest – the signature in question belongs to John Hanco*ck. That's why Hanco*ck, a man that isn't well-known outside America, has one of history's most famous signatures in history.

What is the hardest autograph to get? ›

Toughest Autographs to Obtain
  • TIGER WOODS. Notorious for both martial issues and hole-in-ones, Tiger Woods has been known to refuse fan-pleaded autographs in public. ...
  • JAKE ARRIETA. ...
  • CHIPPER JONES. ...
  • BARRY BONDS. ...
  • PEYTON MANNING. ...
  • AARON RODGERS. ...
  • BRETT FAVRE. ...
  • RUSTY TILLMAN.

How much is Elvis Presley's autograph worth? ›

The previously mentioned factors can have a major impact on the value of an Elvis Presley signature. A vintage item with an authentic signature on it may sell for $3,000 or more at auction, yet a less desirable piece with a less certain signature may be for significantly less.

What is the rarest sports signature? ›

One of the rarest sports autographs of all time is from Archibald “Moonlight” Graham. Only five of the baseball player's autographs are known to exist, including a check signed in 1963 that sold for $3,000 at an auction in 2008 and a 1906 minor league postcard with his signature that sold for $5,000 in 2015.

What is the rarest football card ever? ›

The Rarest Football Cards Ever Produced. Now that we have a better understanding of what makes a card rare, let's explore some of the rarest football cards ever produced: 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski Rookie Card This card is widely regarded as one of the rarest and most valuable football cards in existence.

Who is the most expensive signed in football history? ›

The current transfer record was set by the transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million (£200 million) in August 2017.

Why are Michael Jordan autographs so expensive? ›

The value of the autographed object is greatly increased by a certificate of authenticity from a reliable source. Depending on these factors, the cost of a Michael Jordan signature can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, and occasionally even millions.

How much is Albert Einstein's signature worth? ›

As a result, the value of an Albert Einstein signature can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars or more.

What is the most expensive jersey ever? ›

Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey is the most expensive sports jersey ever sold. It sold for $10.1 million(around 843 350 000 in Indian rupees).

Who has the coolest signature? ›

Let's check out few of the most iconic signatures of all times:
  • 1.Pablo Picasso: This artistic signature reflects the creativity of a man whose first word was 'pencil. ...
  • 2.Walt Disney: ...
  • 3.Buzz Aldrin: ...
  • 4.Bruce Lee: ...
  • 5.Albert Einstein: ...
  • 6.Michelangelo: ...
  • 7.William Shakespeare: ...
  • 8.Rabindranath Tagore:
Dec 18, 2020

How much is a Walt Disney autograph worth? ›

Collectors of Disney artifacts prize the Walt Disney signature for its great value. Depending on criteria like the item it is signed on and the rarity of the signature, authentic signatures can sell for anything from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Who has the coolest autograph? ›

Perhaps the most famous autograph of all time belongs to John Hanco*ck, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Is this cool?

How much is Queen Elizabeth's signature worth? ›

Surprisingly, the Queen's signature - signed 'Elizabeth R' in ink - has a surprisingly modest value, estimated at just £4,500 for the historic autograph.

How much is a Marilyn Monroe autograph worth? ›

In conclusion, memorabilia collectors continue to place a great value on Marilyn Monroe's signature. Depending on what it is signed on and the circ*mstance, the value of her autograph can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is the oldest autograph in the world? ›

History. What might be considered the oldest "autograph" is a Sumerian clay table from about 3100 BC which includes the name of the scribe Gar. Ama. No ancient written autographs have been found, and the earliest one known for a major historical figure is that of El Cid from 1098.

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