Autographs, once cherished as celebrity relics, are now being overtaken by selfies, according to German autograph hunter Christian Bach.
"It’s sad, but we can’t stop the trend," acknowledges the collector, who, at just 44 years old, has already amassed no fewer than 10,000 signatures from well-known and lesser-known personalities.
Bach believes that social media, flooded with countless photos, is the main reason for the decline in interest in autographs.
"The interest in signatures has completely disappeared. Today, you look at your mobile phone several times a day and see an infinite number of images," laments Bach, who is also the President of the German Association of Autograph Collectors.
Belgian football legend Enzo Scifo signs autographs for RSC Anderlecht's supporters at the Parc Astrid stadium in 2000. Credit: Belga
He admits that he also collects photos with celebrities, but he prefers to ask someone else to take the picture rather than taking a selfie.
"I don’t like selfies at all. You usually look silly in a selfie," explains the 44-year-old.
He obtained his first autograph in 1993: a piece of paper signed by German football player Pierre Littbarski, who won the World Cup in 1990.
