World’s Most Expensive Autographs: Whose Signatures Are Now Worth a Fortune!!!

10 of the World’s Most Expensive Autographs: Whose Signatures Are Now Worth a Fortune!!!

Autographs, especially by someone who is historic or world-famous figure, can be reallyvaluable. Fans flock to their favorite actors and actresses with a pen and paper, hoping their idols would grant their wish and sign their precious signatures on whatever surface their fans present them. While anything signed by a Hollywood superstar can increase in value over time, not all expensive autographed items are inked by those who toil in the entertainment industry.

Signatures of sports icons, political figures, famous scientists, and even outlaws are also worth a lot, especially if they are signed on something that carries much relevance to their respective industries, to the society and, in a larger scale, to the world. Here are the 10 most expensive celebrity autographs in the world.

#10 John F. Kennedy’s Newspaper: $39,000

Who thought an old page of a newspaper can be worth almost $40,000? Well, it is if former President John F. Kennedy placed his signature on it two hours before he was assassinated. On November 22, 1963, a woman approached the president and asked him to sign the front page of the Dallas Morning News, where a photo of him and wife Jackie Kennedy was featured. It was Kennedy’s last known autograph.

#9 Jesse James’s Photo: $52,000

Jesse James was considered the Robin Hood of the United States back in the 19th century. Like the fictional swordsman slash archer of English folklore, James purportedly stole from the rich and gave it to the poor. After a series of successful robberies form 1866 to 1876, James’ gang of bandits was virtually decimated. On April 3, 1882, as James and his cohorts prepared to stage another robbery, fresh recruit Robert Ford shot him in the back, killing James instantly. It was soon discovered that Ford was working with the Governor of Missouri to apprehend or kill James. The photograph is the only one Jesse has ever signed. Since he was an outlaw, he rarely signed everything, thus his signature has now significant value to the collectors.

#8 Jimmy Page’s Guitar: $73,000

Anything a musician signs can be very valuable, especially if that particular musician reached critical and commercial success during his career. The same is true for guitarist Jimmy Page, who helped form and headed Led Zeppelin, one of the biggest rock bands in the 1970s. And when a 1963 Gibson EDS-1275 model with Page’s signature came up for sale, every music fan went crazy over it. Even after almost 50 years, the guitar is still functional and playable, which adds more to its value.

#7 Albert Einstein’s Photo: $75,000

Scientists, especially someone like Albert Einstein, project a serious aura of knowledge, which augments their serious views on science and the world we live in. So when Einstein stuck out his tongue for a snapshot, it easily became one of the scientist’s most iconic images. Einstein requested a bunch of copies for this photograph but only signed a few. Forgers tried to make money by selling similar photos with fake signatures. However, one picture with Einstein’s original autograph soon surfaced and was sold for $75,000.

#6 Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe’s Baseball: $191,200

Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were superstars in their own right. DiMaggio was a baseball god and Monroe was America’s favorite bombshell. It was only natural that their star power grew exponentially when they got married. So when both icons signed a baseball, not only did it become one of the most expensive baseball memorabilia in the world, it was THE MOST EXPENSIVE signed baseball in the world when it was sold in 2006. That record has been broken in 2012, though.

#5 Jimi Hendrix’s Contract: $200,000

Contracts are supposed to be signed by all parties involved, containing terms and arrangements that are beneficial to all people or entities concerned. But Jimi Hendrix, one of the few musicians well ahead of his generation and gone from this world all too soon, was clearly ripped off in a contract dated October 15, 1965. 1% of royalties to one of the greatest guitarists of all time was clearly a bad deal. Too bad, Hendrix did not live to see his contract rake in $200,000 at an auction.

#3 John Lennon’s Murderer Signed LP: $525,000

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot four times in the back by Mark Chapman. Five hours earlier, Chapman approached the singer as he was leaving home and asked Lennon to sign Chapman’s copy of Lennon’s Double Fantasy LP. The signed album soon became evidence during the murder trial, where Chapman was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

#2 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: $3.7 Million

President Abraham Lincoln signed a total of 48 copies of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1864. Out of these, only 26 are known to have survived. Most of them are displayed in museums and universities while others were kept by private citizens and politicians. In 2010, one of the copies surfaced in an auction and was sold for $3.7 million, the highest amount ever paid for a document bearing Lincoln’s signature.

#1 George Washington’s Acts of Congress: $9.8 Million

One of the most valuable pieces of literature in American history, Acts of Congress was George Washington’s personal copy of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the First Congress. The first page contains Washington’s signature. In 2012, Sotheby put the book on the auction block and bidder Ann Bookout immediately dropped $9.8 million to secure the book. The auction was over in five minutes. Bookout, who serves as a Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Regent of the Board, place the book in the president’s library where it belongs.

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Gold Producing Countries In The World

Top 10 Gold Producing Countries In The World

All that glitters is not gold, but fear not: there’s plenty of gold to go around. Much of the wealth is distributed unevenly, however, and gold production varies widely among different nations. From relative unknowns like Uzbekistan to long-time champs South Africa, gold production of dozens of tons per year is not unheard of in the most gold-rich nations. This sample of gold producers starts at number ten, Uzbekistan, until the surprise grand champion nation which produces almost four times as much.

10. Uzbekistan – 90,000 kilograms

Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on precious resources (though they might have a tougher time shipping them!). Coming in at number 10 on our top ten biggest gold producing countries in the world is Uzbekistan, producing 90,000 kg of gold per year. Much of the country’s gold is nationalized, and owned by Navoi Mining and Metallurgial Combinant mine. While Uzbekistan is at the bottom of our top ten list, it does boast the biggest open-pit mine in the world, which is the Murutau mine. Gold isn’t the only precious resource that Uzbekistan is known for. It also boasts impressive reserves of copper, molybdenum, silver, and uranium.

9. Indonesia – 100,000 kilograms

While Uzbekistan claims the largest open-pit mine in the world, the record for the largest gold mine on the planet, belonging to Indonesia, is Grasberg. This mine employs 19,000 workers. Unfortunately, it’s also considered one of the world’s most toxic locations. This mine releases 1,000 tons of mercury into the atmosphere every year, in addition to producing 100,000 kilograms of gold. In fact, the people who live near this mine consume fish that contain twice the recommended amount of mercury, meaning that it’s an extremely unhealthy process for the people of the area.

8. Ghana – 100,000 kilograms

Once known as the Gold Coast for the abundance of metals, Ghana produced 100 tons of gold in 2011, though its supplies are diminishing as there are only an estimated 1,400 tons in reserve. Ghana’s gold mining industry makes up 5% of the country’s GDP, and minerals are 37% of the nations exports. Ghana is second on the list of largest gold producing countries in Africa, behind South Africa.

7. Canada – 110,000 kilograms

Oh Canada, land of snow, oil, and precious metals. The majority of Canada’s gold is from Ontario, specifically Red Lake gold mine. Canada is so patriotic about its gold, in fact, that if you have a few hundred dollars laying around, you can get yourself a Canadian gold coin for several hundred dollars! Get them while you can, because the Canadian gold mines are among the smallest in the top ten list of highest gold producing countries.

6. Peru – 150,000 kilograms

Peru is the largest producing gold country in Latin America, and only second in the Americas to the United States. While the country is bringing in some certain money from gold profits, the price of gold mining has negative impacts on the environment. Mining in Peru has increased by 400% in the past decade, which means that a huge toll has been taken on the Peruvian Amazon. The problem with Peruvian gold mines is that many of them are located at the top of mountains, and the mountains and land in the surrounding area are affected by the mining processes.

5. South Africa – 190,000 kilograms

The number one gold producing country in the entire content of Africa is South Africa, coming in at 190,000 kilograms per year. Perhaps the most amazing thing about South Africa’s gold mining is that there is still more than 6,000 tons left to be uncovered. In fact, until 2006, South Africa was considered the largest producer of gold on the planet, and while there’s some lagging behind these days there’s room for catching up. Gold mining in South Africa has been the biggest driving force behind the country’s participation in the global economy. An 1886 South African gold rush led to the establishment of Johannesburg, the biggest city in the country today.

4. Russia – 200,000 kilograms

With roughly ⅙ of the world’s landmass, it is not surprising that Russia would be chalk-full of gold. Over 5,000 tons are still sitting, mostly untouched, in the far eastern reaches of Siberia and beyond, but Russia has also been steadily importing gold to feed its seemingly insatiable appetite for the shiny stuff: in 2012, it imported roughly 5% again of its then-reserves of over 900 tons of gold sitting in the bank. Whether sitting in the bank or under ground, Russia surely likes its gold.

3. United States – 237,000 kilograms

Topping the Russians are their Cold War rival: the United States, the third-ranked producers of gold at current rates. While its mines are mostly in Nevada (nearby to Las Vegas–a strange coincidence of shimmering city with shimmering metal) and Montana, most of its gold sits in vaults under New York City, Fort Knox, and elsewhere. Over 8,000 tons of gold are held in these vaults by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department; the totals are equivalent to 75% of total foreign reserves. The current high production figures are due to the reopening of once defunct mines in Montana as gold prices have spiralled up in recent years.

2. Australia – 270,000 kilograms

The miners down under have been working steadily under their barren soils to yield a massive haul and earn second place on the list with 270,000 kilograms of gold. Two thirds of the total comes from mines in Western Australia, based out of Perth. The largest open mine on the continent, named the Golden Mile, leads the nation in production of this valuable export, which earns Australia $14 billion per year. In addition to roughly 7,400 tons of unmined reserves, Australia holds around 80 tons of gold or 9.3% of its foreign reserves.

1. China – 355,000 kilograms

Topping this list as it tops so many others, China mines almost ⅓ more than the next closest competitor. In addition to taking top honors as producer, China is the number one consumer of gold, befitting a country whose development has pulled hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Most mines sit in Shandong Province, located midway between Beijing and Shanghai, and roughly one fifth of output is controlled by the China National Gold Group. Despite its vast gold mines, only 1,000 tons are held as reserve–a massive amount by most standards but a mere 1.7% of its foreign holdings. Over 1,900 tons are still sitting in the ground, although they are fast going: its annual pace has risen over 10% and seems, if anything, likely to pick up with higher gold prices.

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Most Intelligent People In The History Of The World

13 Most Intelligent People In The History Of The World

We know these people are exceptionally intelligent and talented. But just how intelligent are they compared to each other? Here are 13 of the most intelligent geniuses in the world, or at least as far as two Western scientific studies had afforded us.

How we get the IQ

Estimating the IQ levels of people who had died centuries before a refined scientific intelligence benchmarking had been developed is tricky; but here we have two of the most often quoted studies: the 1926 Early Mental Traits of 300 Geniuses by American psychologist Catherine Cox, who computed the IQs of geniuses from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century; and the 1994 Book of Genius by English learning expert, Tony Buzan, who ranked a more encompassing 100 greatest geniuses of our world.

The disparity in their lists is evident. Buzan had Da Vinci at the top with an IQ of 220, while Cox gave the artist-inventor only 180 points. Still, it’s fun averaging the two lists to see who among these geniuses trump their fellow brainiacs in sheer IQ performance. Those who didn’t appear in the top twenty of both lists are automatically out of the game, but it’s not to say they are any less than intelligent than the people in this list (we can never tell).

Moreover, the list didn’t include twentieth-century geniuses such as Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi and Stephen Hawking. Likewise, you’ll note that these are European geniuses; hence, mind masters from Asia did not appear, too. Those things aside and without further ado, here they are: the most genius of geniuses and their mind-boggling IQ levels and achievements.

13. Charles Dickens – IQ level: 165

The English writer, poet, social critic. He is known for his literary masterpieces including Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield. He is also regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period, the time when England reigned supreme in the literary, science, trade and military world.

12. Raphael – IQ level: 170

Yet another Renaissance artist made it to our list, the Italian contemporary of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Raphael was a painter and architect, the third member of the trio great masters of the High Renaissance. His most famous works include the Mond Crucifixion, the Deposition of Christ, and the Transfiguration.

11. Michael Faraday – IQ level:175

The English scientist who received little formal education. His works advanced the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry, the precursor of the high technologies that we enjoy today. Testament to his genius, numerous scientific principles are named after him: Faraday’s law of induction; Faraday effect: Faraday cage; Faraday paradox; Faraday wheel; and Faraday wave among others. His research would make it possible for later inventions in electricity and current.

10. Baruch Spinoza – IQ level: 175

A Dutch philosopher. He was among the first to lay down the foundation of the age of Enlightenment that saw science challenged the status quo of the Church. The age led to great leaps in the fields of science, politics, and economics, spearheaded by among others, Spinoza’s magnum opus, the Ethics, which challenges the authenticity of the Hebrew bible.

9. Michelangelo – IQ level: 177

Tied with the French philosopher is another Italian Renaissance man, the sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer, Michelangelo.  Famed for his masterpieces, namely David, Pieta, Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, and The Creation of Adam. Many experts even argued he is the greatest artist of all time, a subjective account yet not without substance considering his contributions to the High Renaissance art.

8. Desiderius Erasmus – IQ level: 177

A Dutch humanist, theologian, social critic. He was a strong advocate of religious tolerance during the Reformation age, when Catholics and Protestants were at each other’s throat. Using humanist techniques, he prepared a new batch of Latin and Greek editions of the New Testament, which would become influential materials during this tumultuous time. Although critical of the Church, Erasmus maintained his Catholic faith, believing the Catholic hierarchy could be reformed internally without the need to create an offshoot faith.

7. Rene Descartes – IQ level: 177

The French philosopher, mathematician, and writer. He is called the Father of Modern Philosophy because of his writings. Notably, the Meditations on First Philosophy is still a standard reference in universities around the world. He is also renowned for his mathematical contributions, specifically the Cartesian coordinate system and for bridging algebra and geometry that made the development of calculus possible.

6. Galileo Galilei – IQ level: 182

The Italian physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher. He is best known for giving us the telescope. But that’s just a mere speck in his wide-reaching scientific achievements, namely the discovery of planetary objects such as Callisto, Galilean moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Io. He was also responsible for confirming through actual observation the heliocentrism nature of the solar system—the sun is at the center and the planets revolve around it—putting him at the crosshair of the Inquisition during his time.

5. John Stuart Mill – IQ level: 182.5

An English philosopher and political economist. He is best known for his influential contributions to liberalism, the idea of individual freedom in contrast to unfettered state control in handling the economy. The Mill’s method is also widely used today to arrive at a conclusion via induction, a tool that lawyers and scientists have used in advancing their arguments.

4. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz – IQ level: 191

The German philosopher and mathematician. He is regarded to have contributed to the development of calculus independent from Newton, notably his works, Law of Continuity and Transcendental Law of Homogeneity. He was also a prolific inventor in the field of mechanical calculators, making it possible for non-genius like us to calculate complex mathematical problems with the aid of this device.

3. Isaac Newton – IQ level: 192

The English physicist and mathematician. He is regarded to have developed much of calculus, the building blocks of today’s engineering feats. His Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy is one of the most influential scientific works, heralding the age of enlightenment when Europe burst into an era of advancements that gave birth to modern technologies.

2. Leonardo Da Vinci – IQ level: 200

The Italian Renaissance man. His genius spanned across science and art. Best known for his Mona Lisa, Da Vinci was actually more than an exceptionally talented painter.  He was a mathematician, engineer, inventor, sculptor, architect, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. He was the epitome of the Renaissance man, bringing to the world his wealth of knowledge to advance mankind’s fate.

1. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – IQ level: 220

The German poet, novelist, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He’s best known for his literary works, such as, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Sturm und Drang, and Faust. Although he’s best regarded as a literary genius, Goethe was also involved in scientific studies, particularly in the field of natural science. He had a wide collection of minerals as part of his extensive studies in geology.

These people might appear remarkable and rare, but genius is more prevalent than we imagine it to be. “Everybody is a genius,” so said Einstein, “but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

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