Q n A with Amit Chhawsaria

Amit Chhawsaria

Amit Chhawsaria is a Civil Engineer with being awarded Gold Medal from University of Pune. He's currently working as Sr. Design Engineer and based in Mumbai.

A native of Akola, Amit is very passionate about collecting autographs and has built up a collection of 3000+ autographed items. He's also a travel enthusiast and loves indulging in different cultures.

 

 

1.         Since when have you been collecting autographs?

Would be 2015

2.         What made you take up philography as a hobby?

I have been collecting world banknotes, coins and stamps since I was 9 years old until I  discovered that autograph can also be collected by writing letters and other ways which felt very interesting so I got myself involved into it which I have been enjoying all these years.

3.         So how did you ensure that the autographs you are collecting through letters are not fake.

There are instances when the secretaries sign (secretarial autographs) or mechanical arm commonly known as Autopen are used for signing autographs.  But it is not a common practice in India as I understand volume of fan mails requesting autographs are lesser compared to that in western countries. In west mostly American serving presidents, some NASA astronauts and celebrities like Kate Winslet, Bill Gates etc. who have a huge volume of fanmail and might not have enough time are known to use autopen. So when you are on a platform where people discuss autographs and you do your own research you can find it if the autograph is genuinely hand signed or not as every autograph has some peculiarity, you learn the writing patterns and flows of celebs. But it is all what you learn over time and how open you are to accepting the fact of the autograph you possess.

4.         Did you realize that Autographs can fetch you money?

Yes of course there’s no denying to that, and I did realised that once I started collecting. Moreover every collectible has value in its own market as there are people who collect cigarette packs, matchbox labels and what not around the world. Actually in India the market for autographs is currently limited as there aren’t many collectors. It definitely has a monetary value and can be insured but it lacks liquidity. Infact many people do buy autographs as investment purpose to diversify their portfolio.

5.         Apart from the Autograph collectors club, the only one of its kind, aren't there social platforms which help to buy and sell autographs? 

The main purpose of Autograph collectors club is creating a platform for likeminded people who share the passion of collecting. Coming to buying and selling there are many online forums like RACC, Memorabilia companies, eBay, auction houses, facebook groups etc. but those are not based in India. Though collectors trade or swap mutually through whatsapp, meeting inperson etc.

6.         Is there a demand of the Indian celebs in the western market?

Very few Indian personalities make it to global wish list of collectors like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, CV Raman, Rabindranath Tagore, Indira Gandhi to name a few are sought after in many countries due to the global influence their work have had. Some collectors would want a Sachin Tendulkar and recently Virat Kohli too but it is restricted to cricket playing nations which are not many.

7.         How do you think technology has affected autograph collection?

Technology has not ruined but in fact has advanced the Autograph collectors life I think. Unlike before, now one can very easily connect with other collectors, find details about personalities, find contact details online and can even compare and study autographs. Inperson autograph collectors can know whereabouts of celebrity or happening events. 

8. Now with technology people want to take selfies with their heroes rather than take the autograph.  They want to post this on social media so is it that with the selfies, do you think the craze for Autograph is fading away?

It’s very individual choice to do what they enjoy or would like to cherish but also it is true that people take more selfie’s now for the sake of social media posts.  Earlier it was more of autographs as people carried pocket diaries and didn’t have handy cameras so whenever they bump into celeb autograph was the easiest thing to record the event.

9.  Do you also think this selfie drive has increased due to lack of awareness of the value of autographs in people?

I am not very much sure but this might also be a reason. Not everyone knows that autographs have a value and maybe with increase in awareness we might see a small percentage of people shift from selfie to autographs. But it is all a speculation.

 10.  Any autograph which you simply cherish, which one and why?

It's very difficult to pick and choose one as it has been a beautiful journey with collecting over 3,000 autographed items.

# Wow! Were they all collected in person?

Not all of them, by various modes of collecting. For inperson collecting I am fortunate to be working in Mumbai, actually living in a metropolitan city gives you an added benefit to meet personalities who might not reply to letters and collect their autograph and it’s really an experience. When I started I did not had that access. Many people who don't stay in tier 1 cities do it by the traditional method of writing letters etc. which I involve myself too from time to time, unless they are willing to travel to other cities for collecting autographs.