I’m going to a lecture by one of my favorite authors next week, and I’ like to get her to autograph a book for me. But all my copies are e-books on my Kindle, and I’d like her to autograph that. I’m reluctant to just test a bunch of stuff on it and mess it up, but I thought maybe one of you have already solved this. My first thought is a Sharpie, and my second thought is a brush and some tiny jar of paint of some kind. The back of the Kindle is … let’s say matte black.
Silver sharpie?
Oh, come on. Buy a dead tree copy of one of her books and have her sign that.
Or use a silver sharpie.
But I have 4 of her books on my Kindle. She can sign all 4 with one signature. 
But there are other authors’ works on the kindle, right?
I’ll give you points for clever, but come on.
In my experience the rule on getting an author’s signature is usually that you qualify by buying a book. I am sure that they will catch up with the digital revolution eventually, but I doubt that day is here yet.
I always figured the rule for getting an author’s signature was being a fan and making the effort to show up and ask for a signature.
Besides, an autographed Kindle is basically going to advertise that author every time Boyo Jim pulls it out on the subway. Why wouldn’t she be thrilled to autograph something so permanent?
I don’t find it all that odd. Wasn’t there an I-pod that had the signatures of U2 on it?
An autographed kindle will decrease in value.
Sharpie is a brand; it’s not a type of ink/paint.
You want a paint pen.
This is interesting – the idea of the value of the Kindle changing. I was talking about it with my car pool this morning. My idea was that once a Kindle dies (and it’s quite old), it’s worth nothing. But if it’s an autographed dead Kindle, it might be worth … something.
Anyway, on what do you base your opinion? Or have you found some evidence that makes this a fact?
I’ve bought 4 of her books. They’re just in a non-paper form.
Sure, but in common parlance for at least the last few decades it means Sharpie brand permanent marker. I, too, would have thought a silver Sharpie permanent marker would work fine.
Thanks, I’ve found this.. I’ll go to the local store and see if I can buy less than a six pack of them.
I have an autographed NFL football, signed by a friend of mine who is a retired player. I’ve shown it to friends and tossed it around over the years and the signature is wearing away. I keep meaning to get him to autograph another.
Spraying a fixative on it afterwards might help keep it from deteriorating, though I don’t know how those do on plastic, they’re generally used for paper. You could also put a clear decal over it to preserve the signature.
Since the market for autographed Kindles is rather thin, I don’t have any cites. But, since you asked, in my opinion an autographed book has a higher likelihood of appreciating in value than an obsolete Kindle, whether autographed or not.
Which is why I chimed in.
Many Sharpies are not permanent markers – even ones that we traditionally think of as ‘permanent’ - so saying ‘Sharpie’ nowadays and sending someone to grab one will very often result in a common and not-very-permanent marker. Even when their most common marker was ‘permanent’, I still wouldn’t say it was best suited for the task at hand.
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One of my friends says I should buy a Kindle cover and get that autographed. I expect it has about the same issues – maybe more if its some kind of textured faux-leather thing. Any thoughts on whether this would be preferable?
Sharpie does make paint pens, which I have used to good effect in the past to write permanent labels on smooth plastic and metal surfaces. The paint is oil-based, is not alcohol-soluble, and does not rub off as easily as regular Sharpie marker ink.
There are also finer-tipped versions; the thick ones have a blunt tip about 1/8" across.
They are not quite as simple to use as a standard Sharpie, though - they have to be shaken to mix up the paint, and the tip has to be pushed in and held down for a moment to get the paint flowing. If the tip isn’t charged properly you get a flow of solvent without pigment in it, or a big drop of paint that smears easily. I usually start the pen working on a piece of scrap paper, then move to the project surface after the paint flow is stable. The paint also takes several minutes to dry completely.
Despite these drawbacks, I haven’t found a system that works better for durability, color intensity and opacity, and portability. The metallics really do leave a bright looking finish, much nicer than the regular Sharpie metallic ink.
ETA: what Philster said