What's a good price for various signatures?

It’s a matter of opinion but to me it all depends whether the signature is on a book plate or the papers themselves. Also depends on the scarcity of the book that has been signed. Book plate signatures to my knowledge are less coveted.

Dagoths wrote:

It’s a matter of opinion but to me it all depends whether the signature is on a book plate or the papers themselves. Also depends on the scarcity of the book that has been signed. Book plate signatures to my knowledge are less coveted.

Yes, I'd rather have the signature on the book, though I'd take the book plate if it was a good deal.

This is a very difficult question to answer as it really depends on the location of the signature, if it is on a letter or an interesting object, then expect to pay a lot more than if it is just a cut-out signature.

Provenance is very important for signatures to satisfy yourself that it is genuine, as you should pay nothing for a fake signature.

Yes,as trotter says,very difficult to answer. A rare book becomes significantly more valuable and desirable with a signature,1st/1st edition of The Hobbit for example. Is it a beautiful signature,flowing and unrushed for Tolkien even before arthritic changes had more than one type...a worky day one or a calligraphic? Is there an inscription alongside? Is it meaningful.Is it to someone important to the artist in question. Is it in Elvish? Huge difference in pricing if provenance rock solid as without it's a stab in the dark...you might be convinced but would another buyer in the future? How rare is the signature? Christopher signed lots of books and his Father very little as he tended his signature to be a gift,a thank you and book signing events for him very rare indeed,but for someone like Alan Lee then it used to be joked that unsigned copies were rarer. I jest,but you get the point.Also,forgetting everything else,how much do you desire a signed book. A book or object physically held by the writer/artist will be more coveted by collectors than a signed bookplate as there is that visceral connection through time with that object and so has sentimental value. How collectable is the writer/artist? Are they in fashion now? Will they be outside fashion i.e eternal and if so always a good investment as long as there is good/excellent provenance. Provenance is the key.A fundamental.Best to keep to that principle and do your homework as you may very well know more than the seller yet a fair price keeps everyone happy and they might have more interesting stuff to sell you that has thus far been undisclosed.Good luck and enjoy the hunt.

Like Trotter says: provenance. These CoH's and some deluxes are simple enough regarding Christophers signature but for a first ed. Silmarillion I would need solid provenance considering prices. For a JRRT signature I would need as close to a watertight provenance i could get because they cost a fortune and there are many fakes, some of those being well-made.

Alan Lee's signature is very common and easy to get. When you pay £2000 for a 1992 superdeluxe LotR set, Alans signature really doesnt make a dent. You pay £2000 for a well made set of books that is truly rare (250 copies)