Buying autographs on eBay is fun, because you can build your collection fast.  But wait, there's a cheaper way.  It's one of the great secrets in autograph collecting.  It's called "Autograph-by-mail Collecting", and it lets regular people like us, without wealth or connections, acquire fabulous autographs from fascinating celebrities.

Here's how it works.  You find a mailing address for your favorite celebrity.  You write her or him a letter, and politely ask for an autograph.  You enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  You wait.  If your letter was well received, you may receive an autograph back in the mail.  It's entirely up to the celebrity.

Believe it or not, many celebrities respond to this type of autograph request.  It is categorized as "fan mail", and it's one way celebrities keep in touch with their fan base.

During the 1980s and 1990s, I wrote thousands of letters to celebrities.  They sure did respond!  I amassed tons of great autographs.  Sure, there were some fakes among the bunch.  But a high percentage were authentic.  I received signed index cards, signed photos, signed magazines, signed books, even signed sketches and handwritten letters with interesting content.  Celebrities from all walks of life responded, including actors, actresses, musicians, astronauts, scientists, athletes, writers, even U.S. Presidents.

Because celebrities have been so generous to me, I have to share my secrets with you.  Some of my ideas were published in the 1990s in my own newsletters like Autograph Research, Space Autograph News, and Celebrity Home Address Newsletter.  I also wrote articles for Autograph Collector, The Pen and Quill, The Autograph Review, The Astrophile, The Autograph Collector's Magazine, and more.

Now I'm pleased to share my secrets on eBay.  Here's what I recommend to obtain celebrity autographs through the mails.

First of all, let me thank the 5,000+ people who have viewed this Guide as of January 3, 2008.  I'm glad you would read this.  I am especially grateful to the dozens of people who took time to leave feedback on my Guide.  I really admire people who leave feedback.  You are a small percentage, but you spread good karma!  Maybe, just maybe, you could leave feedback after reading this Guide?  That would sure make me happy!  And now for the Guide.

First, you have to find a source for celebrity addresses.  Sometimes you can find books and magazines on eBay to discover addresses.  There are other address sources on the internet, and you can even try the library for biographical directories like "Who's Who In America".

Don't be surprised if you find multiple addresses for the same celebrity.  Sometimes they have personal offices, fan club offices, management offices, publicity offices, etc.  If you really want their autograph, then write to every address.  Many years ago, I had multiple addresses for Leonard Nimoy, but the only one that returned autographs was the address for his accountant.

Second, you have to write a good autograph request letter.  It must be legible, and it should be simple, no more than one page.  Here's a sample letter you could send to almost any celebrity:

"Dear Mr. Johnson,

"You are one of my favorite actors of all-time.  You've been in some great movies.  My favorites include "Michael the Heroic Scribe" and "Michael vs. Freddie Part 7".  Could you please send me your autograph?  I have enclosed a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  Thanks for your time.  I look forward to your next movie!"

When writing to celebrities, it helps to mention something personal in your letter.  Why do you like a particular celebrity, or a certain movie?  Share your thoughts in the letter.  This type of feedback is helpful to celebrities.  You can even enclose poems or original art related to the celebrity.  Your goal is to write a letter that stands out from the usual fan mail pile.  Popular celebrities don't have time to respond to every letter; only the best make the cut.

Third, you need to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  This makes it easy for a celebrity to respond.  All they need to do is place their autograph in your envelope, and it's done.  If you send a small envelope, you'll receive a small autograph.  A big envelope yields a bigger autograph.  For example, if you enclose a 9" x 12" self-addressed envelope, with enough postage for up to two ounces (two first class stamps), you will probably receive back an 8" x 10" autographed photo.  If you send just a #10 envelope with one first class stamp, you may only receive a 3 1/2" x 5" signed photo.

Fourth, you must be patient.  After sending your letter, all you can do is wait.  Through my experiences, writing to celebrities in diverse fields, I discovered the following:

• More than half the celebrities you write will respond
• More than half the celebrity responses will yield an autograph
• About a fourth of the celebrity responses send fake autographs
• About a fourth of the celebrity responses either decline to sign, or they send info about how to purchase autographs (often through a charity)
• Celebrities respond equally well to hand-written letters versus typed letters, so don't sweat getting writer's cramp
• The average celebrity responded in about three weeks; some took a few days, others took years

Don't hold your breath for autographs if you're writing to the most current, hottest celebrities.  They probably get tens of thousands of pieces of mail every week!  The best responses come from celebrities who are outside the spotlight, such as new talent not yet discovered, and old talent partially forgotten.

Fifth, you should keep track of your efforts, to capitalize on your successes.  When you discover a celebrity who responds, you can write them periodically for autographs.  You can send them items, like magazines and movie posters, and many times they will autograph and return the items to you.  You can build a deep and varied collection of autographs, one celebrity at a time, if you want.

In a few wonderful instances, you may even receive celebrity letters with not just an autograph, but interesting and personal content.  Then you become more than a collector of history--you actually help create history.

Once I wrote hundreds of letters to a diverse group of celebrities, asking them if there had been any books which inspired them in their lives.  I was pleased to receive dozens of replies, most of them letters with content.  Each letter offered a glimpse into the celebrity mind.  One person, comedian Phyllis Diller, even sent me an autographed copy of the very book which inspired her.  The sum of all those letters gave me a great perspective on inspiration.  I reflect on those lessons from time to time, as I seek inspiration in my own life.

Another time, I wrote dozens of letters to war heroes, asking them how winning the Congressional Medal of Honor had changed their lives.  Like many guys, I always fantasized about being a hero, but this gave me a reality check.  Their responses were particularly moving.  Suddenly, that collection of autographs became more than an artifact--it became an archive of living history.  I've since shared the letters with my son, because he's interesting in military things and wars, and I want him to know what it was really like.

I love autograph collecting, where fresh wisdom springs forth among dusty collectibles.  Good luck with your own collection!  Whether you buy autographs, or beg for them, it's always a fun hobby.

If this Guide is helpful, please take a moment to leave feedback.  Thanks for reading and have a great day!