Signed books are sought after by collectors, but let’s take a closer look at the term.
“Signed” should not refer to the frequently seen inscription of the book’s owner inside of a book. Some sellers do use the term “signed” or “inscribed” very loosely to refer to such ownership marks and cause confusion for buyers.
If an owner with important/famous and/or had connections to the author of the book, their signatures can be important and worth the notation of signed, as long as the person makes clear who signed the book.
“Signed” most often refers to an autograph of the author (possibly with an inscription saying something to the person who owned the book).
Some authors frequently signed books (at events or otherwise) and their signatures are often less valuable for resale purposes. Other authors do not sign frequently and their signature becomes sought after (and, therefore, more valuable for resale).
“Signed” Series Book
When it comes to series books, the process of collecting signed editions becomes more problematic. Some authors, like Roy J. Snell, were real people who wrote books under their own name and occasionally signed books.
However, many series books were published under personal, publisher, or house pseudonyms. The most prolific use of pen names was on books produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate. This “book packager,” founded by Edward Stratemeyer in 1905, produced more than 1,400 books under many dozens of noms-de-plume.
When a collector finds a series book with a signature matching the pen name on the title page of the book, the first question which comes to mind is “who really signed it?” Was it the actual hired ghostwriter for the book, a Syndicate employee, a bookseller trying to increase the collectible value, or just a well-meaning parent trying to impress their child?
On my “signed” series book page, showing examples from my collection, I have books that have the authorized signatures of a pseudonym as done by the Syndicate, possible fake signatures done by owners or well-intentioned parents, ghostwriter signatures, etc.
See also Association Copy
See also Marginalia