Oftentimes, collectors try to get family members, artists or company executives to sign their collectible item. Some like to get one or two signatures on many of their items and others prefer to take one special item and get as many signatures as possible on it. Whichever method you prefer, your time could pay off in the terms of collectibility.
Most companies realize their loyal customers enjoy obtaining signatures and offer many ways to get them at events or special signings. Some pieces even come from the factory already signed, although those do not tend to increase the value in the same way one obtained through an actual meeting.
How exactly does a signature affect an item's value? Good question. It ultimately depends on who the signature belongs to and the item on which it has been added. Below are general guidelines:
LONGABERGER
Grandma Bonnie, add $100
Dave Longaberger, add $100
Tami or Rachel Longaberger, add $50 (unless on an Awards or Employee basket, then it may not add anything as these are way more common to be found with their signatures).
1 or 2 family signatures, maybe $20 (a single family signature may not add anything)
If have 5+ family signatures, add $50
PRECIOUS MOMENTS
Sam Butcher ... if the piece is a rare piece and it has Sam’s signature, $50 may be added to the value
Original trio signatures (Sam Butcher, Gene Freedman and Yasuhei Fujioka), you could add up to $100
Any of the newer sculptors, maybe $15 to $25, depending on the piece.
Often times, the value added for a signature may be seen in moving the item's value from 'average' to 'high' as the signature is a feature that makes the item 'more than the average item out there'. Like anything having to do with the secondary market, a signature is not a concrete way to increase an item’s collectibility, but it should help! As with all secondary market transactions, ultimately the value to add will depend on the buyer and how much THEY value the signature. Knowing that there are buyers out there who value a signature, if seller has one on their item, it would benefit the seller to wait until the right buyer is located.
Anytime signatures are mentioned, a word of caution is deserved. Sometimes a potential buyer may ask the seller to guarantee a signature. Unless you personally witnessed the family member signing the basket it is wise not to guarantee the signature. Signatures are very hard to authenticate and unless you were there, we recommend you not personally guarantee who the actual signor was. The Longaberger Company has been known to authenticate family signatures, but it may require you sending in or dropping off your basket at the manufacturing facility to have it examined. They will not authenticate anything by picture.
