One definition of the word "philography" would be "the collecting of autographs, especially those of famous persons" which of course is a rather unusual way of putting it as we all have our own ways of defining someone who is famous.
The hobby is something that I started when I was very young. I remember hearing stories from older generations of people that they had collected an autograph of someone at some point in their life and they cherished it as one of their most prized possessions. They would go on and on about how valuable it was and how much it meant to them.
As a young child, my world was full of people who I believed to be famous, and I really thought that it would be a wonderful thing to achieve getting their autographs. I went on a mission to collect autographs all the way through life until a few years ago.
I collected autographs and obtained them through what I believe, in the most curious of ways as I have had just about anything and everything written upon from bed sheets to unused rolls of toilet paper to the standard photograph and paper.
Until 2018, I had one of the largest autograph collections out there with various signatures. I am not saying that it was the best collection in the world, nor am I saying that it was the most valuable. But to me, it was satisfying. And then one day in October I lost it all.
So why do I collect autographs and why do people often ask for them of other people?
First and foremost, the autograph is a tangible possession. In some ways it is a personal connection between the person signing it and the person receiving it.
When it comes to someone famous, it is a way of showing that the person asking for the autograph did in fact meet someone considered to be famous. And it becomes a part of their memories of meet that famous person. Other people seek out certain autographs for their value.
I tend to ask people for their autograph for nearly the same reasons, but also, I want something that I can be reminded of them. To reflect and smile and be happy with those memories of that person to why I asked them to start with.
The hobby is something that I started when I was very young. I remember hearing stories from older generations of people that they had collected an autograph of someone at some point in their life and they cherished it as one of their most prized possessions. They would go on and on about how valuable it was and how much it meant to them.
As a young child, my world was full of people who I believed to be famous, and I really thought that it would be a wonderful thing to achieve getting their autographs. I went on a mission to collect autographs all the way through life until a few years ago.
I collected autographs and obtained them through what I believe, in the most curious of ways as I have had just about anything and everything written upon from bed sheets to unused rolls of toilet paper to the standard photograph and paper.
Until 2018, I had one of the largest autograph collections out there with various signatures. I am not saying that it was the best collection in the world, nor am I saying that it was the most valuable. But to me, it was satisfying. And then one day in October I lost it all.
So why do I collect autographs and why do people often ask for them of other people?
First and foremost, the autograph is a tangible possession. In some ways it is a personal connection between the person signing it and the person receiving it.
When it comes to someone famous, it is a way of showing that the person asking for the autograph did in fact meet someone considered to be famous. And it becomes a part of their memories of meet that famous person. Other people seek out certain autographs for their value.
I tend to ask people for their autograph for nearly the same reasons, but also, I want something that I can be reminded of them. To reflect and smile and be happy with those memories of that person to why I asked them to start with.
Of all the autographs that I had in my collection, there were very few signatures that I had from people whom society would call "famous" at all. Yet it still meant something to me and a lot more than whether or not they were valuable or famous enough.
I have even signed a few autographs myself in my lifetime. When I was eight years old, I appeared on television for a statewide aired commercial. I remember being taken out of school early for that day to record two commercials. One where I was standing the background while an adult spoke, and the other commercial where I had "dialogue" with a girl who also appeared alongside me. It was a fundraising campaign for disabled children in the area. Once that commercial hit the TV air waves, I had teachers and even the school principal asking for my autograph. Though in my lifetime, I have probably signed my signature maybe 50-60 times.
The reason for this post is because I most recently asked someone for their autograph and they stalled and stalled and stalled for days before finally sending me their autograph. They kept making excuses that they were not famous enough to sign autographs and the number one excuse that I receive when asking someone for their autograph is because they say it has absolutely no value at all and is worthless.
You know what though? Considering someone to be famous is a matter of personal opinion. I don't really care for the celebrities that we see Hollywood and the like. I prefer to receive the signatures of someone more down to earth for lack of a better term. Someone who isn't jaded and tainted by the industry of Hollywood.
If I am asking you for your autograph, then you can be assured that I have already found plenty of value in you and/or what you do. Therefore, I shall seek it and will do so until it is received.
And the collection that I had ever since I was a child? The number of signatures were in the thousands. Not the world's largest collection by any means, but it was decades of working with the hobby. And I will note that in 2020 I decided to start over again. The collection today is very small by comparison. But a hobby is a hobby and I enjoy the sentimental value of everyone's signature that I have collected since starting the collection over again.
You know what though? Considering someone to be famous is a matter of personal opinion. I don't really care for the celebrities that we see Hollywood and the like. I prefer to receive the signatures of someone more down to earth for lack of a better term. Someone who isn't jaded and tainted by the industry of Hollywood.
If I am asking you for your autograph, then you can be assured that I have already found plenty of value in you and/or what you do. Therefore, I shall seek it and will do so until it is received.
And the collection that I had ever since I was a child? The number of signatures were in the thousands. Not the world's largest collection by any means, but it was decades of working with the hobby. And I will note that in 2020 I decided to start over again. The collection today is very small by comparison. But a hobby is a hobby and I enjoy the sentimental value of everyone's signature that I have collected since starting the collection over again.
