Just last week, Meg Ryan arrived in Steve Reed’s post office box, bringing his autograph collection to 7,000-plus.

SABATTUS – Cher held out the longest.

Steve Reed wrote her 44 letters over 12 years, variations of “Hey, I’m a big fan, could I have a signed picture?”

Nothing. Two years ago he stopped asking.

Then an 8-by-10 – embellished simply “Love, Cher” – arrived back in February.

Reed remembers laughing hysterically and flashing the photo to everyone at the Sabattus Post Office. Finally!

He would have drawn the line at 50 letters. A man can only try so hard.

Since 1992, through that sort of perseverance and a touch that appears to persuade even the most famous, Reed has amassed 7,000 signed photos from celebrities, politicians, sports stars and TV personalities. From Mohammed Ali to Jerry Seinfeld. From Pope John Paul II to Paris Hilton.

Each letter, each polite request, is worded a little differently.

After the Oscars, he writes to congratulate actors on their wins. During the O.J. Simpson trial, he wrote to the prosecution, defense and Judge Ito. (How many people in Maine have a signed Kato Kalin head shot?)

He writes President Bush once a month, telling him he’s in Reed’s prayers. He writes condolence notes as well. “Sorry you lost your wife,” to Jimmy Stewart. “Sorry to hear about the death of your commerce secretary,” to President Clinton after Ronald Brown died in a plane crash.

“I don’t care that they didn’t really read it. The thought that they could have read it, that Steve Reed sends his condolences, it’s an incredible thing to think about,” he said.

He started the collection after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He was dealing with health problems of his own.

“Honestly, it took a lot of pressure off feeling sorry for myself,” Reed said. In the winter, he jots off about 100 letters a week.

Sidelined by back surgery in June, “When I was laying on the couch for nine weeks, instead of boo-hooing about it I wrote for autographs,” he said. “It is a powerful thing to get from a celebrity, ‘Hey I admire where you’re coming from.’ I’m writing this to help keep my spirits up.”

He’s got a standing offer to neighborhood kids to help them write fan letters, too. He’ll find any address.

Reed, 42, keeps close track of his stats.

He’s got an 80 percent response rate. Seventy percent of people just send a picture; 30 percent do a picture and note.

Twice have celebrities called him (his number is on some letters). He heard from country singer Travis Tritt and Buck Rogers’ star Erin Gray. She actually left a message on his answering machine; he kept it for years.

Only once has someone asked for a head shot of him in return (Tom Poston from “Newhart”).

“It’s a thrilling thing every day I open my mail and get something else,” Reed said.

He’d love to get Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney and Celine Dion. When he first got started, Reed was on a quest to get the signed photos of all living presidents. He has Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush senior and the current president.

Richard Nixon was too elusive. Reed really tried.

“I just could not get him to send me one,” he said. “He was a tough ticket.”