Television Autographs

From the silver screen to television screen, the stars of beloved serial shows have a fervent following. Signed memorabilia including photographs and props from television's biggest stars often elicit a frenzy when they appear for sale on the auction market.

Today it seems hard to imagine a world without television, but just a century ago, the technology did not exist. Talk of such technology began early in the 19th century, yet radios dominated living rooms until the early '30s. When RCA debuted their inaugural television studio at the 1939 World's Fair, the popularity of television became widespread.

Following these first days of television networks, producers developed a range of shows. Broadcasting experienced its biggest boom in the '50s due to the debut of color footage and the introduction of beloved American television actors such as Lucille Ball and Alfred Hitchcock. The world grew fond of their characters and fell in love with television. This passion is still prevalent today, kept alive by the collecting of signed television mementos.

Quick Facts

• Television got its name from Russian scientist Constantin Perskyi in a paper delivered at the First International Congress of Electricity in Paris in 1900
• The first television picture was created by Philo T. Farsnworth in 1927
The first television commercial appeared in 1940. Lasting only 20 seconds, it interrupted a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers