Autograph Index Cards

[HOF Yankees]

How popular are they really? I notice collectors pick them up a lot and thought of picking up some myself? any input on these would be great.

[johnmh71]

I like collecting them. I have over 160 with no plans to stop. What I like about them is that your collection can be very diverse.

[Scott Garner]

Hi Jake,

Autographed 3 x 5's and GPC's (government post cards) have been the staple for collectors that requested a player's signature through the mail (TTM) since about 1940. GPC's are different from 3 x 5's because they typically were directly mailed back and have a postmark that dates the actual granted request to the fan. 3 x 5 postcards are small and can be easily stored. In addition, they can be matted for use should you ever want to frame a photo and a signature of a player together

That being said, things are definitely changing, because today's athletes are very reluctant to sign for free, especially 3 x 5's.

Full disclosure:
In my collection I collect the signatures of all no-hit pitchers. My collection is very heavy in GPC's (my preferred medium because of the date) and 3 x 5's. With earlier autographs I definitely prefer fountain pen. When autographs pre-date 1940, it's common to find to autograph cuts are the only available medium.

I hope that helps.

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

How popular are they really? I notice collectors pick them up a lot and thought of picking up some myself? any input on these would be great.

LOVE and PREFER Collecting Index Cards.... Here's a piece that I thought you mind find interesting on the topic...

http://autographnation.blogspot.com/...rspective.html

[parker1b2]

Most of my older HOF autos are on 3x5. For one they are usually cheaper then a photo or ball. Also I really like the way they can be displayed with a photo or photos.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by parker1b2

Most of my older HOF autos are on 3x5. For one they are usually cheaper then a photo or ball. Also I really like the way they can be displayed with a photo or photos.

I will definitely second that. Older signed photos can run quite a bit of money, where as a 3x5 of the same player can be dirt cheap sometimes. The fact that you can then choose a photo you really like to mat and frame with the 3x5 is all the better.

[sccoe]

I love GPC's and will always have a soft spot for the 3x5. The index cards are what I sent out to various HOFers, when at 8 years old I started collecting, and my handwriting was so bad I dictated and my sister actually wrote the letter requesting an autograph.

[brookdodger55]

I'm a Brooklyn Dodger collector of Cards and Memorabilia. A quick story
Back in the early 1990's I got ahold of Becketts players address book and decided to send a standard request to over 300 players with an index card enclosed and a return stamped envelope. I asked for an autograph and a favorite saying or quote. For about a year I was receiving a envelope about every day or too. In all I recieved 211 responses, 180 with sayings and quotes with auto's and added photo's and letters either by the player's or there family members(some were deceased). The majority of the players and there families were so nice. My initial Goal was to collect as many Brooklyn player as possible currently have around 600 index cards/paper cut/ checks of Brooklyn players. I have a long way to go in my collection at only 41 years old. Always on the hunt for a autograph on anything.
Mike

[thetruthisoutthere]

Autographs on index cards are very cool.

I have Tom Tresh's autograph on seventeen index cards.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

Autographs on index cards are very cool.

I have Tom Tresh's autograph on seventeen index cards.

Are you sure none are secretarial Chris?

[HOF Yankees]

awesome stuff

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

Autographs on index cards are very cool.

I have Tom Tresh's autograph on seventeen index cards.

He has a great autograph - distinctive style, yet you can read it easily.

But on 17 index cards - is it like a puzzle?

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Runscott

He has a great autograph - distinctive style, yet you can read it easily.

But on 17 index cards - is it like a puzzle?

I grab all sigs of Tommy Tresh.

That was a good one though, Scott.

[PowderedH2O]

I have probably 5,000 signed index cards of various athletes. Ok, maybe more. In many cases, I could not find/create an item for these particular athletes to sign (since most of these were before the internet). The other thing is that if I sent something out in the mail, an index card was a very low risk item. On occasion, I have added a small photo or something afterwards, but most of the time they are blank, or have a minimal amount of information about the athlete typed on the card. I prefer them to baseball cards, baseballs, or anything else for that matter, Easy to store, easy to read, and easy to deal with.