Signing A First Day Cover

hi,
I have a 1st day cover and I personally know the person who took the photo that was used on the stamp. I was thinking about asking him to sign the FDC. Would this add any value to it and if so what should he write on it? Does it have to be witnessed?
thanks

I can't answer your question directly because I think the value of a unique item is very subjective. But I'll offer a few thoughts as I literally have hundreds of signed covers:

1. Write down somewhere where you store it WHO signed it and what the significance is. The covers I have have been a headache trying to figure out who signed and why because the previous owner documented nothing.

2. Take a photo of the person holding the signed cover and add it to where you store it if you want some proof.

3. Most covers, especially 1940 and later, have very limited "value" anyways so unless this is somehow an already rare or unique cover, I wouldn't worry too much about depreciation. At least yours is unique!

4. I'd personally avoid any kind of message from the signer. Like "Hey Tom, best wishes - Dan". The next person may not be named Tom lol. Signature alone is often preferred by most autograph collectors.

5. Be mindful of the ink used to sign. Avoid anything that may bleed or cause damage or a smell. Also be careful about storing. I've seen some stored in rather cheap FDC holders and the ink stuck to the plastic and then smeared on the cover. Not pretty. Let it dry very very well.

Here is a good article about signed v inscribed. It's for the book crowd, but still applicable:

https://lopezbooks.com/articles/signed/

I guess the point on that too is that that also is quite subjective and many sources would value not inscribed. To each their own and probably no right answer in that regard. What's probably most important is documenting who's autograph it is with the item. A signature that no one can interpret arguably has zero added value and would probably certainly detract.

I have had a number of covers illegibly signed with a scribble by sports celebrities. The first thing I do when I get home from the event is to pencil their name on the back.

For the case above, it would be nice if it were signed "Joe Smith, photographer". He has probably signed enough of them to do it automatically.