When is it evident that a type of item has become collectible and has value?
This is a question that can be challenging. We even find it difficult here at Intercollector! We like to think that we are ahead of our time and some of the items we offer are the collectibles of the future, which may well be the case.
Intercollector has taken on the enormous task of addressing all collectors no matter what they collect. This is quite different than most companies who tend to focus on one area. We believe in the commonality and shared experience of collectors and the understanding this fosters. Right now, this is more of a mission statement than a reality as we are so small, but we believe in our approach and what the future holds.
We have identified five reasons people collect. A person can collect for one of these reasons or all of them. I think the first three are shared by most collectors and these are the main motivators we promote.
- Excitement – The hunting and finding that perfect item that costs less than the perceived value.
- Community – Meeting and connecting with people with similar interests
- Emotional – This is quite complex but simply put it doing something where you feel in control and you feel happy when you add something to your collection.
- Status – Blue chip art and luxury collections such as watches and cars give people a visible representation of their wealth and power.
- Financial – Buying and selling with hopefully a profit
So to go back to the original question – what defines a valuable collectible?
People – Some collectibles that are rather inexplicable like Beanie Babies, are down to how people are persuaded by clever marketing. That aside if enough people are excited then an item becomes collectible, simple.
Rarity - The harder to find the more collectible, simple.
Quality – This is rather obvious although with 20th century collectibles some items are quite plentiful and were mass produced in their time such as costume jewellery. If the quality is there and age it is collectible regardless of how many there are.
Condition – Again simple but an issue that that can be forgotten in the excitement. I have brought home many damaged items for this reason.
There have been many types if items that I have collected over the years. Most of the items I have collected are not particularly valuable but at the time I rather thought that they would increase in value.
Amber
Vintage Bag
Chinese Textile
Vintage Jewellery
Egyptian Revival
Sunglasses
Vintage Souvenirs
Filigree Silver
Sub item one
Taxco Silver
My rule of thumb for buying items is that I need to break even and not take a loss. If I have any doubts then I won’t buy it. This rule of thumb is always there, but I can honestly say that even with the best of intentions most of the list above has seen mainly depreciation. There are some steady categories such as Chinese Textiles and Egyptian Revival as you can still find good examples of this on the open market and they maintain their value or increase. I am currently obsessed with Taxco and Native American silver and am learning what to buy. This also seems quite stable.
This isn’t to say that things don’t rebound and become popular again. I have some items that might skyrocket someday so I am biding my time.
I have sold many of the best pieces in my collections thanks to Intercollector and I have learned that trading, that is buying and selling, is the most fun way to collect. By trading you get to find things that make other people excited and happy as well as yourself.
Vintage collectibles should be used and traded. There is no joy in a collection that remains under lock and key for just the owner to admire. The exceptions to this rule are vintage toys, comic books and stuff you find at Comicon. The phrase “mint in box” will always be associated with this market. That is a whole other world to me. It is big business and not really the same as what I do. For me collectible items become collectible over time due to the beauty and rarity. Comic books, superhero and movie collectibles are mainly manufactured for that purpose, to collect. Yes, it started with vintage comic books but due to the demand this market evolved into what we know today.
The point is that collecting is an adventure. There are times when the benefits of collecting are emotional rather than financial. I have always said that a collector’s brain is searching for order in their creative world.
