Signatures and Documents from Historical Religious Figures

Religious signatures, autographs, signed letters, and other signed pieces by religious leaders are of great interest to their followers. The father of the Reformation, Martin Luther, is extraordinarily rare; an autograph piece may appear for sale once in a collecting lifetime. Equally rare is autograph material of John Calvin, the French theologian and reformer who brought his own version of Protestantism to Europe. Signed letters of the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley, are very rare but less so than those of Calvin. The founder of the Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy, developed a belief in spiritual healing and in 1875 published "Science and Health," explaining her metaphysical system. She carried on extensive correspondences during her lifetime, but her signed letters have been very aggressively collected by her church and she is quite rare now.

Members of the Mormon Church have always had an interest in their history, and there has been a very strong demand for autograph signatures, signed letters, and signed documents of Brigham Young. He lived a long life and was happy to sign his name on cards, which were always cherished by his admirers and followers. Joseph Smith, however, is quite a different story; his early death meant that he did not create very many signed documents and they are rare and of great interest to members of the church he founded.

In the Roman Catholic Church, autograph signatures, signed letters, and documents of popes, particularly in their role as Cardinals before becoming pope, are generally available and not in particular demand, with the exception of Pope John XXIII. This very popular pope signed many pieces, but they are not frequently seen on the market. Signed letters and signed documents by Roman Catholic saints are very rarely seen.

Please browse our selection of religious signatures, collectibles and memorabilia or you may search our entire inventory alphabetically, by name or by category.