Why are pencil autographs from the pre-1950s era so disrespected by collectors?

[GKreindler]

Not that my opinion means much being that I'm not really a collector, but personally I really dig the pencil autographs. I think it doesn't even really come down to an aesthetic thing with me either, which is weird. I mean, an ink signature's boldness can't really be disputed. However, the pencil autograph has somewhat of a charm.

I guess for me it's mainly because it provides an imaginary narrative, that maybe someone at the ballpark had nothing but his/her scorecard and a pencil to score with when he met his/her hero during batting practice. Coming to mind are all of those wonderful photographs of players signing things with kids leaning over the railing or fence in the hopes of even a look of recognition. And then there they are grasping that pencil...

Of course players in those situations signed anything with pencils or pens, but I guess in my hazy, ideal world, it was always a pencil. Weird.

And by the way, the pieces shown in this thread are unreal. I LOVE that Gehrig, David.

Graig