Summary

Noah Nelson, a journalism student and avid collector, details his pursuit of obtaining autographs from every U.S. president, with current acquisitions including those of Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.

Abstract

Noah Nelson, a senior at the University of Illinois, has a passion for collecting autographs, particularly from U.S. presidents. His collection currently includes autographs from Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, each with its own unique story of acquisition. Nelson's interest in autographs spans over a decade and covers a wide range of celebrities, but the presidential collection holds a special significance for him. He aspires to emulate Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's similar collection, aiming to own a complete set despite the rarity and cost of some signatures. Nelson shares the excitement of his finds, such as a discounted Gerald Ford autograph and a surprise George W. Bush signature from a Goodwill store, highlighting the thrill of the hunt in this hobby.

Opinions

Nelson expresses particular excitement about his Gerald Ford autograph find, emphasizing the unexpected delight of a discount.
He seems knowledgeable and confident in the authenticity of his Jimmy Carter autograph, citing consistent signing habits and public book signings.
Nelson views his acquisition of Donald Trump's signature as a fortunate event, especially considering the value of recent presidential autographs.
He conveys a sense of accomplishment in finding George W. Bush's autograph at a Goodwill store, an experience he likens to hitting the jackpot.
Nelson acknowledges the challenge and expense of collecting presidential autographs, with some, like George Washington's, being extremely costly.
Despite the difficulties, he is determined to complete his collection, envisioning it as a personal museum within his home.
He encourages fellow collectors and enthusiasts to persevere in their pursuits, offering a sense of camaraderie and shared passion for collecting.

I Now Own Four Presidential Autographs

The collection is building. Will I reach them all?

My presidential autographs collection so far including Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Donald Trump.

I love collecting autographs.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been doing this for over a decade now. Whether I meet the celebrity in person or buy the signature somewhere, it’s been one heck of an adventure so far.

I collect autographs from all types of celebrities. Many include categories like:

Political figures
Hollywood stars
Athletes
Musicians
Authors
And so much more

But one of my goals is to collect autographs from every person who has ever served as president of the United States.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has been doing just this for years now. I want to follow in his footsteps.

It’s a rare collection, and one I hope to obtain altogether someday.

And now, the journey is ongoing!

Here are the stories behind all of the presidential autographs I own so far.

Jimmy Carter

I bought President Carter’s autograph at a local bookstore in Springfield, Illinois. I couldn’t believe I found something like this when I opened the first page.

I haven’t had authenticated yet, but I know it’s real because Carter signs everything the same way. And I know it’s his signature because he still has book signings even today.

Normally, his autograph is worth anywhere from $50-$200 depending on the condition and what it’s on. I paid $30 for mine.

I call that one heck of a deal.

Donald Trump

With him being a recent president, Trump’s signature still ranges from $100-$1,000 depending on what the item is.

I was fortunate it enough to be given one of his signatures on a campaign postcard in March 2016. However, I found another Trump signature too recently.

It was a torn page out of a copy of his 1987 book “The Art of the Deal” tucked inside the pages. I didn’t know it until after I bought it for $3 at a used bookstore.

I guess I know something about the art of a deal.

Gerald Ford

I love shopping at antique stores. Sometimes, I find the coolest things I never expect.

One day last summer, I found a Gerald Ford autograph on an Illinois Republican Convention Program from 1980. It was priced at $100 but the owner shocked me.

He pulled it out of the case and noticed a half-off stick on the top. I had never seen it on there before.

“It’s still half off,” he told me. “It’s now $50. That okay?”

I couldn’t hold back my excitement. “That works!”

Normally, Ford’s autograph goes for $100-$200. I was willing to pay that too, but a nice surprise every once in a while is always appreciated.

It was that day.

George W. Bush

Goodwill stores are hidden treasure chests.

Over the years, I’ve found many signed books from all kinds of people for less than $3 apiece.

Some include:

Ted Turner, founder of CNN
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s
Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister
Judge Jeannine Pirro
Jim and Michelle Duggar
Sean Hannity

All were great finds. But the coolest one was finding President George W. Bush’s signed book.

I had been looking for his signature for a while. He’s normally found in Goodwill stores apparently. I thought I would never find, but then I hit the jackpot.

I couldn’t believe it.

His autograph normally prices around $100-$300. I didn’t mind paying 1% of that cost.

Closing Thoughts

The journey continues until I find all of them.

The most expensive is George Washington at around $50,000. Some of the most difficult to find include:

Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
John F. Kennedy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Andrew Jackson

I don’t know how long it will take or how much money I will spend along the way, but I plan to complete my collection.

It’ll be like having my own museum right inside my house.

For all of you hunters out there, it’s a whirlwind of a hobby. Keep going!

Happy hunting!

Do You Collect Anything Cool?

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon. Like what you read? You can write for Medium too!