Skip to content
Contact us on: +44(0)1534 639998 | info@justcollecting.com
Contact us on: +44(0)1534 639998 | info@justcollecting.com

PFC40 Autograph Index

PFC40 AUTOGRAPH INDEX HIGHLIGHTS

10%

Average compound increase per annum between 2000-2020 of the index

£40,000

Price of a Steve Jobs signed magazine – the most valuable individual in the index

£4,500

Value of an Elizabeth II signed photo – the most valuable living signature in the index

Up 50%

The rise in value of Kurt Cobain's signature, the biggest climber between 2018 and 2020 – to £3,000

 

Investing in autographs: Paul Fraser Collectibles' PFC40 Autograph Index uncovers best performers

The 2020 edition reveals Kurt Cobain's signature is the best performer between 2018 and 2020 – up 50% in value from £2,000 to £3,000.

  • At £40,000, Steve Jobs is the most valuable signer, a result of his reluctance to sign, early death and Apple’s iconic status.
  • Steve Jobs is also the best performing autograph of the 21st century, up 24% per annum since 2000.
  • Queen Elizabeth II is the most valuable living signer, at £4,500.

 

Most valuable living signatures (signed photos unless otherwise stated)

  1. Elizabeth II: £4,500
  2. Prince William (signature): £3,500
  3. Paul McCartney: £2,950
  4. JK Rowling (signed book): £2,750
  5. Prince Harry (signature): £1,750

 

Most valuable "deceased" autographs

  1. Steve Jobs (signed magazine): £40,000
  2. Stephen Hawking (signed book): £30,000
  3. James Dean: £18,000
  4. Bruce Lee (signed album page): £12,000
  5. Horatio Nelson (handwritten letter): £12,000

 

Best performing autographs between 2000 and 2020

  1. Steve Jobs (signed magazine): Up 24% per annum to £40,000
  2. Barack Obama: Up 19% per annum to £350
  3. Kurt Cobain: Up 19% per annum to £3,000
  4. George Harrison: Up 17% per annum to £4,250
  5. Neil Armstrong: Up 16% per annum to £10,000

 

Best performing autographs between 2018 and 2020

  1. Kurt Cobain: Up 50% to £3,000
  2. Prince William (signature): Up 27% to £3,500
  3. Queen (rock band): Up 25% to £5,000
  4. JK Rowling (signed book): Up 22% to £2,750
  5. Martin Luther King: Up 18% to £6,500

 

Quote

Paul Fraser Collectibles’ Daniel Wade comments: "Since 2018 autographs from key modern figures have become significantly more popular. That's because the interested age group have reached a time in their lives with more disposable income. We're talking names such as Prince William, JK Rowling and Kurt Cobain. They are among the best performers in the past two years.
“Any basket of rare autographs would likely have delivered annual compound growth of 10% over the past 20 years, beating most traditional investments. Even the worst performing name in the index (Jimi Hendrix) delivered 5% annual compound growth. No one has shown a loss in value over those 20 years.”

 

About the PFC40 Autograph Index

The PFC40 Autograph Index tracks the values of 40 of the world’s most sought-after autographs since 2000. The prices given are an evaluation of the dealer price for a fully authenticated, best quality 8 x 10 inch signed photo (unless otherwise stated), based on close monitoring of dealer and auction sales.

A “best quality” example will feature a photograph in superb condition, depicting the subject in their most famous era, with a sharp, clear signature acquired during that period.

 

Name Type (£) 2000 (£) 2016 (£) 2018 (£) 2020 2018-2020 2000-2020
per year
Ali, Muhammad Signed photo 250 1,950 2,250 2,500 11% 12%
Apollo XI Signed photo 2,000 12,500 13,500 15,000 11% 11%
Armstrong, Neil Signed photo 550 8,500 8,950 10,000 12% 16%
Beatles, The Signed album page 2,950 9,500 9,500 9,500 0% 6%
Beatles, The Signed photo 5,500 28,000 29,500 29,500 0% 9%
Bonaparte, Napoleon Signed letter 995 5,500 5,950 5,950 0% 9%
Castro, Fidel Signed photo 325 3,950 4,200 4,500 7% 14%
Churchill, Sir Winston Signed photo 2,600 7,500 7,950 7,950 0% 6%
Cobain, Kurt Signed photo 100 1,600 2,000 3,000 50% 19%
Dean, James Signed photo 1,600 18,000 18,000 18,000 0% 13%
Diana, Princess of Wales Signed photo 1,250 9,500 9,500 10,000 5% 11%
Dickens, Charles Handwritten signed letter 795 5,950 5,950 5,950 0% 11%
Disney, Walt Signed photo 450 4,950 4,950 4,950 0% 13%
Einstein, Albert Handwritten signed letter 1,750 8,950 10,500 10,500 0% 9%
Elizabeth II Signed photo 1,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 13% 8%
Harrison, George Signed photo 195 3,750 3,950 4,250 8% 17%
Harry, Prince Signature 100 750 2,000 1,750 -13% 15%
Hawking, Stephen Signed book 2000 15,000 30,000 30,000 0% 14%
Hendrix, Jimi Signed photo 3,000 7,500 7,500 8,000 7% 5%
Jobs, Steve Signed magazine 500 30,000 40,000 40,000 0% 24%
Kennedy, John F. Signed photo 3,000 8,500 8,500 9,000 6% 6%
King, Martin Luther Signed photo 795 4,950 5,500 6,500 18% 11%
Lee, Bruce Signed album page 1,750 11,000 12,000 12,000 0% 10%
Lennon, John Signed photo 1,000 7,500 7,950 7,950 0% 11%
Mandela, Nelson Signed photo 600 4,500 4,500 5,000 11% 11%
McCartney, Sir Paul Signed photo 175 2,500 2,950 2,950 0% 15%
Monroe, Marilyn Signed photo 2,000 10,000 11,000 11,500 5% 9%
Moonwalkers Signed photo 1,950 17,000 18,000 19,000 6% 12%
Nelson, Horatio Handwritten letter 4,000 11,000 11,500 12,000 4% 6%
Obama, Barack Signed photo 10 350 350 350 0% 19%
Picasso, Pablo Signed photo 1,400 4,500 4,500 5,000 11% 7%
Presley, Elvis Signed photo 750 3,500 3,500 4,000 14% 9%
Putin, Vladimir Signed photo 50 150 175 200 14% 7%
Queen (rock band) Signed photo 500 3,000 4,000 5,000 25% 12%
Rolling Stones, The Signed photo 995 6,950 6,950 8000 15% 11%
Rowling, J.K. Signed book 395 1,950 2,250 2,750 22% 10%
Starr, Ringo Signed photo 195 1,250 1,500 1,500 0% 11%
Trump, Donald Signed photo 50 450 650 750 15% 14%
Warhol, Andy Signed photo 195 2,950 2,950 3,250 10% 15%
William, Prince Signature 200 2,500 2,750 3,500 27% 15%
  Overall £47,920 £291,350 £331,625 £346,000 4% 10%