I’ll go first, because I asked the question. In addition to several distant presidents and the likes of Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, and Ben Franklin, I’m thinking of the more recent past. I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford a signature of Shakespeare, said to be the rarest of any kind. And Jesus never signed anything, as far as we know. No, he would have to settle for someone else. I am an artist and I gravitate towards certain painters. Over the years of collecting fine art, I have managed to obtain signed works from everyone from Picasso and Marc Chagall to Leroy Neiman and Peter Max, most recently. But let’s be more objective. Who is admirable and why would one want his signature or autograph?
We have the right to envy other famous people for what they have achieved and for what they were. We want to get away from them and a signature is something quite personal. If it’s on a specific photo, album, t-shirt, or other document, then all the better. It brings us closer to them in a way that allows a cosmic connection, while providing a degree of satisfaction. Which brings me back to the main question.
Some former presidents come to mind. I loved Kennedy until that fateful day in Dallas. A lot of TV stars were my heroes, like Rod Serling because of his writing and anyone on Star Trek, but they were just actors. I loved the Beatles and Billy Joel, for their amazing writing and music. I think a lot about any inventors and other creative people. In the business world, there’s Apple’s Steve Jobs, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet, to name a few of the movers and shakers who have altered the corporate landscape.
We have our share of prolific writers like Stephen King, Tom Clancy, and Dean Koontz. However, there are so many worth choosing, where do you start? Neil Armstrong, who was the first to walk on the moon, or perhaps Prince Charles, the future king of England? On a personal level, my wife treasures a book signed by Eleanor Roosevelt. I have a personal letter from Salvador Dalí’s secretary while she was in New York and a signed photo. I also have a photo of Robert Redford taken at an event I attended. But I have someone else in mind at the top of my “most admired” list. He was someone who changed America and possibly the world. His vision, creativity and passion was to affect children and families for decades to come. He started with a mouse that appeared in a movie called Steamboat Willy in 1928 and the rest is history.
Walt Disney made animated movies and redesigned the American theme park. There is hardly a man, woman or child on this planet today who has not seen part of his legacy. Whether it’s a picture of Mickey Mouse, one of the many Disney-Lands, toys, pictures or TV shows, his stamp is everywhere. I looked for something special about him that could not be faked or duplicated. Today, I have a check he signed in 1963 with his Anaheim bank account while he was building Disney World. He was authenticated by Phil Sears, a noted Disney memorabilia collector and verifier. He makes me smile every time I look at him, just to be reminded of the joy that Walt brought, and continues to bring, to millions.
I can buy a few other autographs from other influencers, but none will be that special. So was it worth the effort and cost? I’ll say yes for myself with no regrets. Walt passed away in December 1966 at the relatively young age of 65. That check is and was part of his legacy because it helped finance his many projects. But enough of my collection.
Who would you like to connect with through a signature or autograph? Who is a hero or a heroine for you? What part of your legacy or successes would you like to share as a signature? Even if they died, you could probably still get one like I did. The Internet is a great resource with dozens of legitimate businesses that specialize in that subject. By the way, if you like my articles and have followed my career, I’d be more than happy to send you my signature, though I wouldn’t count on it increasing in value anytime soon.