For many people, autograph collecting has its roots way back to ancient Roman times. Some of the first inclinations of autograph collections began with the signet rings Romans used to seal documents with wax. They would drip wax onto the envelope, then press a ring into the wax before it hardened. Each of these rings bore a mark specific to the individual who wore it. Rich manuscript collectors would create alba amicorum, which translates to "albums of friends." These were books that one's friends and family would sign, so the owner of the book could display their network of friends to visitors. By the time the 1890s rolled around, Walter R. Benjamin had established a retail business on Broadway in New York City with the express purpose of selling autographs and manuscripts. From there, it's easy to see how the modern sports memorabilia autograph became popular. Autographs may have started for reasons of official documentation and evolved to show the value of a work of art, but sports autographs are the current pinnacle of autograph history.--powerssportsmemorabilia.com.