Sell Autographs and Collections | Brandes Autographs
Do you have an original autograph, signed photograph, letter, manuscript or an entire collection to sell? Brandes Autographs buys historically significant autographs and complete collections from private owners, collectors, families and estates worldwide. Since 1997, Markus Brandes has specialised in evaluating, authenticating and placing original signed material with international collectors.
Whether you have inherited a collection, are reducing your holdings or have discovered a signed document among family papers, we will give you a discreet and informed assessment. An initial enquiry is free and without obligation.
Offer your autographs by email and include clear photographs, the name of the signer and everything you know about the item's history.
Who buys original autographs and autograph collections?
Brandes Autographs is an established specialist dealer based in Switzerland and active in the international autograph market. We purchase individual items of importance as well as larger collections and estates. Our areas of interest include history and politics, literature, science, exploration, aviation and space travel, music, art, film and other culturally significant fields.
Every offer is considered on its own merits. The value of an autograph depends not only on the fame of the signer, but also on authenticity, content, date, rarity, condition, provenance and the type of document. A complete letter with important historical content can be considerably more significant than a simple signature by the same person.
What we are interested in buying
- Autograph letters and letters signed by important historical figures
- Signed photographs, portraits and presentation photographs
- Signed documents, certificates and official papers
- Manuscripts, musical quotations, handwritten notes and working drafts
- Signed books, programmes, records and historically relevant memorabilia
- Friendship albums, autograph albums and collections assembled over many years
- Collector archives, inherited collections and autograph estates
We are particularly interested in rare material with reliable provenance or meaningful content. For direct purchase, individual items should generally have a likely retail value above US$100. Collections are assessed as a whole, so they may still be of interest even when they contain items of different values.
What we usually do not buy
- Modern celebrity autographs without credible provenance
- Printed, stamped, secretarial or Autopen signatures
- Most common signatures with a low individual market value
- Material whose ownership or lawful origin cannot be established
- Most modern sports, television and mass-produced fan material
If you are uncertain, you are welcome to send photographs. Please do not discard, separate, clean, frame or cut anything before asking. Envelopes, old labels, accompanying letters and the original arrangement of a collection can provide important evidence of provenance.
How to offer an autograph for sale
- Take clear photographs. Photograph the complete front and back in daylight. Add close-ups of the signature, date, address, stamps, seals and any damage.
- Describe the item. Tell us who signed it, what type of object it is, its approximate dimensions and where it is located.
- Share its provenance. Explain how and when it was obtained, inherited or purchased. Include old invoices, certificates or correspondence if available.
- Send your enquiry. Email the information to shop@brandesautographs.com. For a large collection, begin with overview photographs and an inventory if one exists.
- Receive our assessment. We will tell you whether the material is suitable for direct purchase, consignment or further examination.
Please do not send original material until we have agreed on the next step. Photographs are usually sufficient for an initial assessment, although a final offer may require physical inspection.
Option 1: Direct sale to Brandes Autographs
A direct sale is the simplest option if you prefer a prompt and confidential transaction. After examining the material, we make an offer based on authenticity, condition, historical importance and current international demand. If you accept, we agree on secure delivery and payment.
Advantages of a direct sale
- Free and non-binding initial assessment
- Specialist knowledge of international autograph markets
- Fair evaluation based on the individual object
- Discreet handling of private collections and estates
- Prompt payment after agreement and receipt
- No need to catalogue, photograph and market every item yourself
Option 2: Selling valuable autographs on consignment
Consignment may be appropriate when an item or collection has strong sales potential and you are prepared to wait for the right buyer. Brandes Autographs examines, researches, describes, photographs, certifies and markets accepted material through its international network.
We agree the sales strategy, asking prices and commission before accepting a consignment. The traditional standard arrangement is an equal division of the final sale price; particularly valuable items or substantial collections may be handled on individually agreed terms. Accepted consignments normally consist of items with an individual value of at least US$50.
Advantages of consignment
- Professional research, cataloguing and presentation
- Authentication and certification by an experienced autograph dealer
- Exposure to established collectors and international sales channels
- Transparent agreement on prices and terms before the sale
- Online sales reporting and payment after successful sales
Why sellers choose Brandes Autographs
Markus Brandes has worked professionally with autographs since 1997. Brandes Autographs serves collectors around the world and specialises in original signatures, letters, signed photographs, manuscripts and documents. This experience helps us recognise not only famous names, but also historically important material whose significance may be hidden in the text, recipient or provenance.
We approach private collections with care. An autograph is not merely a commodity. It may be a family document, the result of decades of collecting or a unique witness to history. Our aim is to assess it responsibly and, when purchased or consigned, place it with a collector who understands its importance.
Frequently asked questions about selling autographs
Where can I sell original autographs?
You can offer historically significant original autographs directly to Brandes Autographs. Send photographs and provenance information by email for a free initial assessment. We buy internationally, subject to examination and agreement.
Does Brandes Autographs buy entire collections and estates?
Yes. We assess complete autograph collections, inherited holdings and estates as well as valuable individual items. For a large collection, send overview photographs and any existing inventory first.
How much is my autograph worth?
Value depends on the signer, authenticity, document type, content, date, rarity, condition, provenance and current demand. A name alone is not enough for a reliable valuation. Clear photographs and background information are essential.
Do I need a certificate of authenticity?
No. A certificate can be useful, but it is not required for an initial enquiry. Its evidential value depends on who issued it. We examine the item and its provenance independently.
Can you value an autograph from a photograph?
Photographs are normally sufficient for an initial opinion. A binding purchase offer or final authentication may require examination of the original.
Should I clean or remove an autograph from its frame?
No. Do not clean, trim, repair or separate the item from related documents. If it is framed, photograph it first and ask before opening the frame. Original condition and accompanying material can affect both authenticity and value.
Is my enquiry confidential?
Yes. Offers from private owners, collectors, families and estates are handled discreetly.
Offer your autograph or collection
Send clear photographs and all available information to shop@brandesautographs.com. We look forward to learning about your autograph, manuscript or collection.