Nothing can be said with a great deal of certainty about the origin of autograph collecting. However, historians of autograph collecting frequently refer to 16th century German students as the predecessors to present-day autograph seekers. During those days scholars who traveled extensively preserved books replete with letters of correspondence written by people they came across in the course of their trips. This type of album had introductory letters that opened doors to prospective destinations for study and growth on a student’s path. The inspiration for these students to accumulate was thus practical since the worth of the collected signatures lay in their capability to open new avenues, not in the inherent value of the handwriting of the separate signers.

Towards the later half of the 18th century, persons throughout Europe who had enough time to spare were amassing compilations of letters and academic documents written by the influential men of politics and letters. The emphasis during the period was on colossal personalities from the past. John Milton was a fittingly renowned literary subject; along with a large number of continental monarchs who would have been apt choices. Towards the early 19th century, documents and correspondences of writers and political leaders belonging to the period became the preferred choice of determined collectors.

Autograph collectors had two explanations for their actions. One was linked to historical intent; to save the earliest documents of an eminent author or politician. The other was related to highlighting the collector’s social position. Since during those days a market for autographed letters and manuscripts was non-existent, to be able to gain access implied that you were an individual of great esteem in the social order where their authors lived and at the place from where their written items spread.

Autograph Collecting in America

Autograph collecting in America did not commence with enough seriousness until around 1815. Written description from 19th century newspapers confirmed William Sprague of Albany and Israel Tefft of Savannah as the initial key American collectors, though they were almost immediately trailed by countless others. These initial American collectors were in a peculiar situation in comparison to their European equivalents. While Englishmen could accumulate autograph of English writers, there was a complete absence of a well established American literature, compelling collectors to obtain the autographed manuscripts of eminent national and local statesmen which consisted of both historical personalities as well as writers of the period, together with European authors. It was not until the emergence of national literary personalities like James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, and others belonging to their generation that autograph collecting in America gained the required momentum.