Autograph

The autograph, also autograph is handwritten transcript of an author (usually a celebrity ) or a composer. As public and private collectible autographs are then particularly appreciated when wearing a signature.

Linguistic

The word is etymologically Autograph on late Latin autographum and Latin autographus back to Greek αὐτόγραφος autógraphos " wrote itself ".

The genitive is the autograph. In the majority of the diffraction varies: the autographs or autographs.

The mere handwritten signature is called autograph, especially the signature of a celebrity.

Acquisition, development and data backup

Not only in medieval authors is the existence of a handwritten transcript of great text- critical importance for the edition. Since the 16th century it has collected autographs of famous people, where they did not hesitate to remove signatures or other handwritten lettering from their original context of use by clipping it about from the documents or by out sparked studbook leaves.

Archives and libraries differ traditionally in the treatment of autographs. While handwritten documents, such as letters of rulers in archives remain in the files related and are usually not well developed separately, the autographs are recognized individually as in probate inventories in libraries. Since 1966 autographs at the central register of autographs ( CCC) are reported. In recent times, there is the possibility autographs and discounts directly by a client in the central database Kalliope to collect at the Berlin State Library.

Autograph collections are variously for some years wholly or partly digitized and made available on the internet.

Trade

Autographs are traded second-hand bookshops. The leading auction house for autographs in Germany is the autographs action JA Stargardt in Berlin (founded in 1830). As a special literature for autographs Thomas Kotte (from Kotte Autographs GmbH) has excelled in Roßhaupten. In Austria has long been the company Gilhofer & Ranschburg founded in 1883 in Vienna leader; today is the successor House Inlibris to call Gilhofer Nfg. In Switzerland, the company Moirandat Company AG in Basel is a leader.