Welcome back!
This blog was originally meant to document my "in-person" autograph adventures, and has done so...so far!
But recently, I had such an great "in the mail" autograph success, I thought I'd share it with everyone!
About 4 months ago, I was re-reading one of my back issues of "Autograph Collector" magazine. It's a great read for those who like reading about autograph successes, and historical autographs. One area of the magazine includes addresses, so you write to your favourite celebrity. AC usually has over different one hundred addresses in their magazine each month.
However this edition had an article, that included a celebrity address. A Rolling Stones fan wrote about how he had recent autograph success, with an English address, writing to the Stones' drummer, Charlie Watts. His article spoke of how he wrote to the legendary drummer 3 times over the last 2 years, with Watts responding each time, signing everything he sent! This really peaked my curiousity! Apparently, to this writer, Watts was a fantastic (personalizing) signer through the mail!
Quick note; "Personalizing" signer means, a celebrity who puts your name on the item they're signing. ie; "To Corinna, All the best or Best Wishes, Charlie Watts". Most celebrities, who personalize, do this to prevent the sale of their autographs, on eBay, craigslist, and other sale sites. Personally, I don't sell autographs. Ever.
After reading about Watts good signing habits, I thought that could be great autograph to get. Now the real question would be; What to get Charlie Watts, of the Rolling Stones, to sign?
Recently, I was in Busters (kind of a pawn shop), and noticed they had used records. I couldn't remember if they had a used Stones album, but I thought that would be cool to get signed...a Rolling Stones album! So, after short 5 minute drive, I arrived at Busters, greeted the owner, and went to the used records area. After flipping through a few hundred records, I finally came across a Stones album! They had "Rolling Stones, Still Life; The American Concert". Awesome, a live double record! It was fairly priced...4 dollars! It was cheaper than printing off an 8x10 photo!
Afer slapping my 4 bucks down, I left Busters to head to the Post Office to find 2 envelopes large enough to fit the record...to send to England, and back. Luckily there was bubble mailers for sale (an envelope that has an air bubble pocket to protect its contents) that were large enough for the album to fit into safely. After spending 6 bucks on the 2 large envelopes, I was heading home, to finalize the project.
When I got home, I decided to write a letter to Charlie Watts, explaining that I was a fan of his music, thanking him for continunally touring, and requesting an autograph. After writing a nice letter to the legendary drummer, I broke open the Autograph Collector mag again, to get the address. After writing Watts' address on one envelope, and my address on the other...I put the record, letter, and my SASE into the Watts' addressed envelope.
Back to the post office I went.
Once there, I went to purchase Canadian postage to the UK, and English postage to return. I was informed, they did not sell English stamps. DAMN! After taking a second to think about what to do, I decided to throw 10 dollars into the letter to Charlie, hoping it would be enough for him to pay for English postage back to Canada. After stuffing everything into the large envelope (again), I paid the 5 bucks to ship it to the UK...and mailed it.
One month went by.
Two months went by.
Three months went by.
At this point, I gave up on the autograph...since the magazine article said they got it back in about 6 weeks. Since I didn't have the proper postage to send it back to Canada, I figured the album et al, was tossed in the garbage. After thinking about all that...I gave up on the idea all together, and forgot about it.
Four months went by.
Then one day, I was checking the mail and got a key in the mailbox, to check the parcel mailbox area. When I slipped the key into the lock, it hit me what it could be! When I opened the door...sure enough...it was the return envelope from Charlie Watts! YES!
Basically, I ran back into my house telling my wife, Corinna, that I got something back from the UK! She smiled and asked if it was the record album? I said...let's see! I was glad to see that it the right envelope, addressed to me and not a "return to sender" envelope. I ripped into the package, and pulled out my album, back facing me.
When I flipped it over...there it was. CHARLIE WATTS' AUTOGRAPH! Sweet! He personalized to me and signed it underneath. "To Chris, Charlie Watts '09!" Both Corinna and I stared at it, basically trying to figuring out Watts' signature...we couldn't really make it out. Personally I think he signs his intials, in a fancy way and adds the year. Regardless, I now had the biggest band on Earth drummer's autograph! When I opened the album, just to see if he wrote a note back...I found something.
Charlie Watts didn't write an note back, he simply gave me back my 10 dollar bill, that I sent him for postage! How kind is that?! He picked up the 3 pounds postage to send the record back to Canada! That's about 7.50 Canadian. I found it really nice, that he would pay for the postage himself to send an autograph back to Canada for a fan. Really nice.
Well that's about it for this autograph adventure, thanks for reading, and sorry for a delay between stories!
Many, many, many thanks to Charlie Watts for his time and kindness!
See ya soon,
Chris
PS- Exciting news, Insider's Edge (a Canadian collectables magazine) has decided to publish my Larry Walker story in a future edition! I'm very excited, more news to follow!
Here's their website; http://www.hobbyinsider.net/
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