Since his star rose in political circles, autograph collectors and dealers have been focusing on the charismatic Senator from Illinois, thinking he might one day be elected President of the United States. Now that day has come and Obama autographs are much sought-after.

There are some things to keep in mind when looking for Obama collectables and signatures. When shopping, be sure to check a dealer’s reptutation. A list of successful transactions reflected in an eBay feedback score is important. It’s also wise to try and find out as much as you can about the history of an Obama autograph. Is the seller willing to offer specifics about where and when the item was signed? Are they willing to provide pictures in the listing? Is the starting bid high enough to make you realize they know what they have is valuable? Has the autograph been authenticated? While that’s a great level of security, Obama’s autographs haven’t been submitted for professional authentication very long. Just because it doesn’t come with a COA doesn’t mean it can’t be legitimate. However, you might ask the seller if they’d be willing to allow you to submit the item for authentication and offer a money-back guarantee if it wouldn’t pass.

What’s your legitimate Obama autograph worth? Early in the campaign, you might have gotten $25-50 for a nice signed photo, baseball, book or other ‘normal’ item. Now, most real Obama signatures go for $200 and up. It’s not likely that price will come down. The fewer times he’s in public, the fewer autographs the President will sign.

It might be wise to invest now, with supply at possibly its highest point ever. Once the available Obama autographs work their way through sales channels, it’s likely the demand will outweigh the supply.