The artistic journey
Queen was formed in London in 1970 when Brian May and Roger Taylor, who had already played together in Smile, met Freddie Mercury, who chose the band's name and designed its logo. In 1971, bassist John Deacon joined, completing the lineup that would remain unchanged for twenty years. After their debut album, Queen (1973), the band achieved a breakthrough with Sheer Heart Attack (1974) and especially with A Night at the Opera (1975), which featured Bohemian Rhapsody: six minutes of balladry, opera and hard rock that spent nine weeks at the top of the British charts. This was followed by A Day at the Races (1976), News of the World (1977), featuring We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions, Jazz (1978) and The Game (1980), propelled by Another One Bites the Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Greatest Hits was released in 1981, becoming the best-selling album of all time in the United Kingdom. On July 13, 1985, the band played for twenty minutes at Live Aid at Wembley in front of 72,000 people and nearly two billion television viewers, in a performance considered one of the greatest in rock history. In 1986, the Magic Tour concluded with the historic Knebworth concert, Mercury's final live performance with Queen. Freddie Mercury died on November 24, 1991, just a few months after the release of Innuendo; in 1995, his bandmates completed Made in Heaven with his final recordings. John Deacon retired from public life in 1997, while May and Taylor continued with Paul Rodgers and, from 2011, with Adam Lambert. In 2018, the film Bohemian Rhapsody won four Oscars and brought the band back to the top of the global charts. In 2024, Sony Music acquired the band's catalogue for around one billion pounds.
Why collect a Queen autograph
An original Queen autograph is one of the most sought-after items in international music collecting. The signatures of Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, were all signed during his lifetime and are increasingly rare on the market: every authentic piece retains a historical value that is destined to grow over time. Even rarer are items signed by all four members of the classic lineup, which necessarily had to be created before November 1991. John Deacon's signature is also difficult to find today, as he has been retired from public life since 1997. Queen autographs are particularly prized on vinyl records and album covers such as A Night at the Opera, News of the World and The Game, on tour programmes and tickets from the 1970s and 1980s, on official band photographs and on memorabilia related to Live Aid 1985. The signatures of Brian May and Roger Taylor, who are still active with the Queen + Adam Lambert project, complete the range for those who collect the band's history from its beginnings to the present day. The worldwide success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody has brought a new generation of fans closer to Queen, driving demand across the entire market for memorabilia related to the band.
Original Queen autographs at MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the leading Italian destination for high-end collecting. Every original Queen autograph available at MTM is selected by our experts according to strict criteria regarding provenance and authenticity. Every signed item is always accompanied free of charge by an MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts that declares the provenance and authenticity of the autograph based on our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the item, MTM autographs may also be accompanied by additional third-party certifications recognised internationally — including COAs issued by organisations such as PSA, JSA, Beckett, Epperson, Autograph COA or the Autograph Association — which are either included in the price or can be purchased separately. Each product page clearly states the certification available for that specific item.
