About Avid Fan Expertise I am an avid autograph collector, and have been so for many years now. I started by writing to my favourite stars as a child, with a very good success rate. If you need a contact address for a celebrity, then I will do my best to help you. I cannot help with valuations for autographs, but if you are in the UK then I can point you in the right direction. I cannot help with ascertaining whether a signature is genuine, either; I can simply help you find that (sometimes elusive) contact address, whether a UK-based or a US-based celebrity.
Experience I have been writing to celebrities (TV, cinema and sports stars) on and off for 20 years. With some celebrities, you have a slim to zero chance of a genuine autograph, as many have a policy of only sending a pre-printed autograph, and I know which celebrities to 'avoid' if you are after the real deal!
Question QUESTION: Won as a prize in a 'Save the Whale' competition 30 years ago. I have a 1979 First Edition of the Monty Python Book
'The Life of Brian/Monty Python Scrapbook' which is mint and boxed. Signed by all the cast with hand written and drawn inscriptions,cartoons and tributes by the team. Could you please tell me what its approximate value may be. Many thanks.
ANSWER: Hello Ken and thanks for an interesting question!
Well the amazing thing is that I have a very very similar item to you! I have a copy of the 'Monty Python Papperbok' (correct spelling!) which has been signed by all six members of the MP team. It is my treasure!
Now, I do not normally advise on values as it is NOT my area....please do bear that in mind....but I can answer this one, as my item is so very similar.
According to the Fraser's Autographs website - Fraser's are a part of the well-respected Stanley Gibbons group - something signed by all six Pythons is in their Top 100 for investment purposes and very roughly, could be worth around £2000 now. However you have a mint and boxed item, so this could make it worth even more. Check out their website:
And click on 'Investment' and 'Frasers 100 Index'. You could always do what I did and take your book to them to their shop in London for an official valuation.
Do look after your book - as I am sure you alrerady do! - it can only go up in value, I assure you.
Kind regards,
AvidFan
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QUESTION: Thank you for your prompt and excellent advice - could I trouble you one step further. The reason for my enquiry is that as a 51 yr. old I am downsizing and moving to a smaller property. Amongst the items I came across in my loft is the python book which, along with other things feel that I can no longer justify taking with me and wish to sell it. As I live a long way from London ( LIncoln ) are you aware of any more local resource that I may approach with a view to this.
My thanks to you once again.
Ken
Answer Hi there Ken! Thanks for your email.
If I may, I would like to answer your question twice!
1) PLEASE do think again about selling your book. If it is featured in thre Fraser's Top 100 then it can only increase in value, year after year. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease hang onto it!
2) However if you do wish to sell your book then I do recommend Fraser's again - they have the resources to include your book in a London auction. I did (very briefly) consider selling my book and they did agree to take it on and sell it for me - which showed me just what a prized piece is was, and still is.
As I am from London myself then I am afraid I can only recommend Fraser's as they are THE gold standard of autograph collection....with an item such as the one you own, I would recommend going for the top, I really would.
I do hope that this is useful to you...but do feel free to email again if I can be of further help.
