The Rise and Rise of the Artists Signature – Artists Signatures Make Fraser’s Rarities Index

Fraser’s Rarities Index, listing the 100 most sought after autograph’s, counts Picasso, Dali, Warhol and Chagall amongst their number.

 Artists such as Andy Warhol have seen as much as a 1014% increase over the decade with the Rarities Index as a whole enjoying an average compound increase of 12.9%.

 Over the past decade, the Rarities Index has outperformed both the FTSE 100 TRI and UK House Price Index. The cumulative increase of nearly 280% proves that there is almost as high a demand for the signature as for the artwork itself.

Mike Hall, Chief Executive of the stamp and autograph specialist Stanley Gibbons, said, ‘Evidence proves that the movement in the prices of rare stamps and autographs are uncorrelated with equity and property markets. Rare signatures represent good value at this time due to the fact that it’s still a relatively immature market. Last year my investment in rare stamps and signatures was the only asset I own that went up in value.’

An undedicated signed photo by Picasso would have set you back just ?1250 back in 1997, now anyone wishing to acquire a similar item would have to find nearly ?4000 – that’s an increase of 216% over the decade.

Its not just artists that made the list either- illustrators’ signatures such as those of Walt Disney, Charles Shulz and Hanna Barbera are enjoying similar increases in value:

 In 1997 an undedicated signed photo by Walt Disney would have set you back just ?395, it is now worth ?3950; an increase of 900%.

‘In some cases, I consider the prices remarkably cheap when considering the rarity and historical importance of some of these items. For that reason, autographs perhaps provide the best opportunity for exceptional returns’ said Mike Hall.