Hobby Oddity: David Bowie Autograph Cards Exist
By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor
If you’re over the age of 35 (and hopefully those who are under), you likely recognize the genius of David Bowie. He’s one of the most influential music artists of all-time and still respected today. A star of his stature wouldn’t have a certified autograph card, would he? Actually he has two.
Good luck finding one, though.
2015 The Man Who Fell to Earth, which was produced by UK manufacturer Unstoppable Cards, has a pair of David Bowie autograph cards. While there’s some interesting content outside of Bowie’s signature, the film is somewhat obscure in the grand scheme of things. The product likely only exists because they were able to secure David Bowie autographs.
He signed two different cards, one with him in a hat, another without. Both are limited to just 50 copies each and combined to land one per case. Although it’s possible that a second one could slip into a case, collectors should be cautious about buying loose single boxes unless it’s from a source they trust.
Needless to say, supply dried up fast. Because of the UK distribution, few even made it to North America. When they first came out, the cards were in the $300-400 range. The last one to sell on eBay was in November and it sold for $997.91.
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks.
That is the great thing about Rock Hall of Famers- they are not at shows signing a gross of baseballs or at a hotel with a room full of mini helmets- probably 80 percent of his autographs signed go to fans-
2 variations’ and each card only has 50? So only a total of 100 autograph cards from a living legend that doesn’t sign to much WOW, I bet these cards go way up in value over time. It’s like getting and Andy Warhol or Beatles autograph, super rare. I wish I had the money to afford one. Sports figures come and go unless your the Griffey Jr. or Derek Jeter of your generation but Rock Gods are forever!!!! Super cool…
Damn it.
I wish you had reported this when it came out. I’d have scraped together the cash at $300, but
$1000 or so . nope.
Great timing with the story. David Bowie passed away this morning. Amazingly only 3 of these autos are on eBay at the moment. Then again, with there only being 100 total, I would imagine a lot of them are in permanent collections.
Yes, I heard about it just as I was going to sleep last night. An icon who will be missed.
RIP David. This post is a little spooky considering he died less than a week later. Now these autograph cards will be his only ones, I hope I can still get one.
Hi, I’m from Cardiff, Wales in the UK and a Bowie fan of 44 years. Was made redundant from my job back in 2015, my 40th year as a fan and was given a small pay off for my inconvenience. Decided to spoil myself with something special and managed to get a signed Bowie card from a dealer on Ebay, I paid GB£250 for number 29 of 50, the card arriving on my 52nd birthday in June 2015!. It really is my pride and joy, and who would have thought the great man would eventually leave this realm 6 months later to the day?. See them selling for £1000 now, but mine’s going nowhere…..except my son’s inheritance!
I own his autograph card (no hat). Just kicking myself I didn’t buy the other variant with hat.