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Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent resource for the collector and dealer
Review: Did you know that Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip rarely signed his full name? He would sign just "Schulz" and would accompany it with a doodle of "Snoopy" or other Peanuts character. Did you know that a Rudolph Valentino died at a young 31 years of age and was averse to mob-scene crowds seeking autographs, making his signature very scarce? Kevin Martin's Signature Of The Stars, focuses on autographs of Hollywood, Television and Music figures, providing a brief celebrity biography, approximate value, facsimile signature, and a rating of the autograph's scarcity. Autographs have been getting into the press lately. USA Today and other national newspapers recently covered the JFK auction of signed ephemera as a cover story. Financial writer Andrew Tobias authored a feature cover story for Worth magazine on the merits of autograph collecting as a "fun" investment. The article featured Marilyn Monroe on the cover and went on and on about the merits of autograph collecting - even detailing Tobias' own collection. With all this, you know there's some new found interest in autographs. Apparently that's how Antique Trader Publications, a rising powerhouse publisher of collector books sees it. Their Signature of the Stars, a 208 page reference title, is chockfull of interesting anecdotes and facts on over 350 celebrity and entertainment signatures. If you're not interested in Hollywood, Television or Rock'N'Roll signatures, don't run away. The book provides insightful discussion on autograph scarcity, terminology, pen and ink technology, pricing, and how and where to get signatures. There's a difference between the way ink flows from a ball point, fountain and felt tip pen. Listen to the author, and even a neophyte collector can raise a flag of suspicion about the most highly acclaimed signature. If you'd like to know what the codes are next to the listings of autographs for sale in an auctioneer's or deal! er's catalog, you can find it in the book's section on terminology. Also mentioned in other sections are reputable dealers, auction houses, reference books and collecting organizations. It seems that Martin has taken up where the late autograph legend, Charles Hamilton left off. In a narrow field, where there aren't many experts to begin with, there are even fewer reference titles on the subject. Signature of the Stars is a much needed title for the beginning or intermediate collector to learn from and develop their hobby successfully. Kevin Martin is a full fledged dealer and collector of autographs and brings the reader street-smart information about value, scarcity and biographical facts about the stars whose autographs are highlighted in the book. He is an associate editor for the renowned Sanders Price Guide To Autographs - a bible in the field. He is also a columnist for Autograph Collector magazine, writing their Fakes and Forgeries column.
Rating: 
Summary: I See Dead People ... Too Many Of Them!
Review: I bought this book to learn about the stars signing habits and see example of their signatures, so I'd know which stars would be my best bet to write to. Unfortunately, most of the stars listed in this book are DEAD! It does me no good to know the signing habits of dead celebs, since I obviously can't write to them. I bought the book in conjunction with the same author's "The Autograph Collector Celebrity Autograph Authentication Guide." While there are some signature examples in this book that aren't in the authentication guide (such as John Candy and Kathy Ireland), finding them is quite a pain because this book lacks an index. The authentication guide has an index, and practically doesn't need it because it's much better laid out than this book. The back cover of this book says that inside "you'll find the actual signatures of the stars reproduced". While that's true for most of the stars, there are very few reproductions to none at all when you get to the back of the book, in the "cast" and "Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame" sections. There should be authentic examples for *everyone* that is listed. To sum up this book, I think that it's trying to be too many things to too many people - price guide, authentication guide, and more ... it should stick to just one subject.
Rating:
Summary: I See Dead People ... Too Many Of Them!
Review: I bought this book to learn about the stars signing habits and see example of their signatures, so I'd know which stars would be my best bet to write to. Unfortunately, most of the stars listed in this book are DEAD! It does me no good to know the signing habits of dead celebs, since I obviously can't write to them. I bought the book in conjunction with the same author's "The Autograph Collector Celebrity Autograph Authentication Guide." While there are some signature examples in this book that aren't in the authentication guide (such as John Candy and Kathy Ireland), finding them is quite a pain because this book lacks an index. The authentication guide has an index, and practically doesn't need it because it's much better laid out than this book. The back cover of this book says that inside "you'll find the actual signatures of the stars reproduced". While that's true for most of the stars, there are very few reproductions to none at all when you get to the back of the book, in the "cast" and "Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame" sections. There should be authentic examples for *everyone* that is listed. To sum up this book, I think that it's trying to be too many things to too many people - price guide, authentication guide, and more ... it should stick to just one subject.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring layout - but fun to read
Review: It's a nice idea and an intressting book. But I would like to have a thicker book covering more stars. This book just skimms the surface. Also there was no index, so it's hard so find the right info quickly. The layout is cheap. I want more work put into this book.
Rating:
Summary: Boring layout - but fun to read
Review: This book is a must for all autograph collectors. It describes the hottest stars and their signing habits as well as the value of their signature. If you are looking for a reference guide, this is a must
Rating:
Summary: Not many newew celebs, not that great
Review: this has many deceased people, and it should really be called signatures of the stars. they are mostly biographies of people, but they do not really tell about their signatures. they have a signature of each person, but does not describe it. they do described their signing habits, but i feel that many are wrong. it is a good book to have to refer to when they were born, or just to look at their sig. it doesnt have people have many younger people like jennifer love hewitt, sarah michelle gellar, drew barrymore, etc
Rating:
Summary: Not many newew celebs, not that great
Review: this has many deceased people, and it should really be called signatures of the stars. they are mostly biographies of people, but they do not really tell about their signatures. they have a signature of each person, but does not describe it. they do described their signing habits, but i feel that many are wrong. it is a good book to have to refer to when they were born, or just to look at their sig. it doesnt have people have many younger people like jennifer love hewitt, sarah michelle gellar, drew barrymore, etc
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