Club of Autograph Collectors

The Club of Autograph Collectors (Czech: Klub sběratelů autogramů, KSA; Slovak: Klub zberateľov autogramov) is a Czech and Slovak collectors' association dedicated to the pursuit of autograph and manuscript collecting. It was founded in 1986 as a breakaway from the Club of Collectors of Curiosities (Klub sběratelů kuriozit), within which an autograph-collectors section had previously operated. The club's founder, Ivan Vápenka, designed its logo using the signature of the Czech painter and illustrator Mikoláš Aleš, a mark that remains in use today. The organisation is registered as a spolek (association) in the Czech Republic. The club brings together more than 230 members and organises two major gatherings each year, in spring and autumn, at Novotného lávka in Prague. These meetings include autograph-signing sessions with well-known personalities, and participation in the signing events is open to the general public. At the autumn meeting, a competition is held for the most beautiful autograph in a collection, with the theme announced by the club committee in its magazine. The club publishes Autogram four times a year. The magazine carries specialist articles by members and public figures on topics related to autograph collecting, reports on club activities, information about meeting dates, and advertising. The club also maintains an official website at autogram.info and a closed Facebook group for members. Its activities are centred on the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and it cooperates with partners such as the online marketplace AUKRO. The club's motto, displayed on its website, is a quotation attributed to J. W. Goethe: "The most happy man from all over the world is the collector."

The Club of Autograph Collectors (KSA) traces its origins to an autograph-collectors section that existed within the Club of Collectors of Curiosities (Klub sběratelů kuriozit). In 1986, that section broke away to form an independent club. The founder was Ivan Vápenka, who also designed the club logo based on the signature of Mikoláš Aleš, a design still in use. The club is registered as a spolek (association) in the Czech Republic. Since its founding, the club has served collectors in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It organises two meetings per year, in spring and autumn, at Novotného lávka in Prague, in the building of the Czech Union of Scientific and Technical Societies, near Charles Bridge. These gatherings feature autograph-signing sessions with invited celebrities and are open to the public as well as members. The autumn meeting includes a competition for the most beautiful autograph in a collection; the theme is announced by the club committee in the club magazine. The club publishes Autogram four times a year, carrying specialist articles, activity reports, meeting dates, and advertising. It maintains an official website at autogram.info, which lists contacts, statutes, membership applications, photo galleries, and participants in past events from 1986–1992 and from 1993 onwards. The club also operates a closed Facebook group and cooperates with partners such as the online marketplace AUKRO. Its website displays a motto attributed to J. W. Goethe: "The most happy man from all over the world is the collector."

• 2026

  Spring autograph-signing gathering scheduled for 18 April 2026 at Novotného lávka, Prague.

• 2025

  Autumn autograph-signing gathering scheduled for 8 November 2025.

• 1993

  Website photo gallery records participants from 1993 onwards, indicating continued activity after the 1986–1992 period.

• 1986

  Club founded as a breakaway from the Club of Collectors of Curiosities; Ivan Vápenka designs the logo using Mikoláš Aleš's signature.

A membership-based collectors' club and community for autograph and manuscript enthusiasts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, combining regular live signing events with a specialist quarterly publication.

• Autogram magazine

  Quarterly publication with specialist articles, club news, meeting dates, and advertising.

• Club membership

  Membership for autograph and manuscript collectors in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

• Autograph-signing events

  Spring and autumn gatherings with celebrity signing sessions, open to the public.

1. 1KSA official websiteautogram.info
2. 2Wikidata: Club of autograph collectorswikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (Slovak): Klub zberateľov autogramovsk.wikipedia.org