The signature is usually the value, and the signature is the part that disappears quietly.
What actually destroys it
Light. Ink fades, and sunlight does it fastest. A signed shirt on a wall in a bright room is on a timer.
Humidity, which brings mould on fabric and foxing on paper.
Folds, which weaken fabric and set permanently in anything with a print or a number.
Direct contact, where anything pressed against a signature over years lifts the ink.
What to do instead
- Out of direct light, always. If it is displayed, keep it off a sunlit wall.
- Fabric folded along existing folds, refolded occasionally, interleaved with acid-free tissue over any signature.
- Cotton or muslin, not sealed plastic for long-term fabric storage.
- Paper flat, between boards, in a box, out of light.
- Inside wall, off the floor, silica nearby but not touching.
Framing
A frame protects from dust and handling and does nothing about light unless the glazing is UV-filtering. If a piece matters, frame it with UV glazing or keep it stored and display something else.
What it costs
Tissue and the right wall for nothing. UV glazing for the pieces you display is the one real expense, and it is cheaper than a faded signature.
Questions people ask
Can a faded signature be restored?
No. It is a condition fact you will have to write down.
Should I wash a match-worn shirt before storing?
No. It changes the object and must be declared if it has been done.
Is a loft safe for memorabilia?
No — heat and humidity swings are worst there.