WHAT PEN SHOULD YOU USE FOR GETTING ITEMS SIGNED? : eBay Guides

Greetings fellow collectors!

Over the years we've been asked many, many times, "What is the best pen to use when getting items autographed"? Well, there is no single answer to this. It all depends on what kind of item are you getting signed. Here are some of the most common items, along with some do's & don'ts:

ON BASEBALLS:

What to use: BALL POINT PEN. The debate rages on over which type of pen, though most collectors prefer the medium point papermate or bic stick. Blue seems to be most popular.

What NOT to use: Never use a sharpie! Sharpies tend to bleed, and also do not produce the crisp, clean signature that ballpoint pens can. Maybe it will look nice at first, but trust me, it will eventually turn into nothing but an ink blob.

Caution: Ink on leather is not an exact science. Even under the best of conditions, the ink may bleed or fade. The best possible combination, that produces the best chance for a beautiful, long-lasting autograph, is the blue medium point papermate on a genuine Major League baseball. Many fans choose to get cheaper, synthetic leather souvenir baseballs signed, only to find that most of them will eventually fade or bleed. Synthetic leather simply does not hold an autograph for very long. If you have some synthetic leather baseballs that have been autographed, the best way to protect them at this point is to spray them with a clear coat matte finish, then put them in a cube or ball holder and keep them out of direct sunlight. Same advice goes for any signed baseballs you may have.

ON PHOTOS/POSTCARDS/TRADING CARDS:

For these items, the REVERSE is true from baseballs:

What to use: Sharpies! The color would depend on the photo. Use blue or black if the athlete is signing a light part of the photo, use silver or gold if they are signing a dark part of the photo.

What NOT to use: Ballpoint pens! While great for baseballs, sharpies work best on flats. Autographs in pen on flats tend not to stand out as much, and sometimes don't stand out at all.

More items that are best signed by sharpies: jerseys, helmets (including mini helmets), footballs, hockey pucks, golf balls, basketballs, etc.

Again, what color to choose from is up to you, but consider if the spot you want to get signed is a darker or lighter area.

If you found this helpful, we would be grateful if you click "YES" below.

Any questions, ideas, or thoughts on this or any hobby subject, please let us know!

Thanks!

Steve & Jen
OceanStateSports