If you’re just starting out collecting movie memorabilia
or autographed sports memorabilia, the prices you see listed for items
like Star Wars posters and autographed basketballs or baseball bats may
come as a shock. Keep in mind that movie posters, movie memorabilia and
sport memorabilia items have value in the eyes of collectors because
they have a connection to famous people or to fond memories, and that
the value of any piece of movie memorabilia or sports memorabilia is
determined by what collectors are willing to pay to own a piece of movie
or sports history. Just how high can those prices go? Take a look at
some of the prices paid for movie posters, basketball memorabilia,
baseball memorabilia and football memorabilia over the last few years
for an idea of just how valuable your Hollywood collectibles and sport
memorabilia can become.
Autographed Basketball Memorabilia
Signed
basketballs, especially those used in a championship game, often
command high prices at auction, but game jerseys are among the most
popular autographed basketball memorabilia available today. How much can
a game jersey command? According to Wikicollecting, a game jersey worn
by Julius “Dr. J” Erving in the 1976 ABA All-Stars game fetched $188,321
in a 2007 auction and a Celtics home jersey worn by Bill Russell in a
1967-68 game – and signed by Bill Russell – brought in $65,000 in a 2008
auction.
Hollywood Memorabilia
Movie
memorabilia fetches huge prices at auction, and highest prices often go
to mementoes from popular film franchises, such as Star Wars movie
posters and Pirates of the Caribbean Hollywood collectibles. The highest
price paid for a piece of Star Wars movie memorabilia was $625,000 for
the Panavision PSR 35mm camera used to shoot principle footage for Star
Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. That makes the price for an original Star
Wars: The Duel poster seem like an absolute bargain.
Football Memorabilia
If
you’re looking for bargain sport memorabilia, you can’t do better than
starting a collection of football memorabilia. When you compare the
prices paid for football collectibles to those paid for other sports
memorabilia, it’s clear that autographed footballs, football helmets and
game jerseys are highly undervalued. That’s changing rapidly, though,
as American football becomes more popular throughout the world. The most
expensive piece of football memorabilia ever sold is the plaster cast
used to cast the first 40 Heisman Trophies. It sold at auction in 2008
for $89,625. Want to get in on the ground floor with football
memorabilia? Check out the selection of autographed football jerseys and
autographed footballs available through memorabilia dealers online.
Collecting movie memorabilia and autographed sports memorabilia
is a growth industry – but it’s far more than that. It’s a fun and
challenging hobby that can afford you hours and hours of fun.
