Kollectomania - Collectors Blog

There are hundreds of different things people can collect from postage stamps to toilet chain handles and everything in between.  Most people start by collecting something that they find attractive, interesting or nostalgic.  Whatever you want to collect, enjoy it and keep it in good condition, then one day you may have a valuable collection, but if not you should still have had years of pleasure from it.

Collecting doesn’t have to be expensive as there are many things that can be obtained for nothing like postcards, stamps, old coins, matchbox labels or bus tickets.  As your collection grows you may want to buy the scarcer items in order to build it up.  Some collectables are quite cheap to buy like beer mats, postcards or old bottles whereas some are always relatively expensive like vintage cars, film props or girlfriends.  Whatever you collect should be obtained in the best condition that you can afford because it will look nice and if you ever give up the collection it will sell much more easily and for a higher price. Try to avoid buying pieces that are excessively worn, broken, scratched, chipped, bent or have missing parts unless it is something very rare or expensive.

You will need to store the collection so that it can be displayed and kept in good condition.  Many smaller items can be stored in an album.  There are special albums available to display stamps, first day covers, booklets, coins, banknotes, postcards, cigarette cards, trading cards, football and theatre programmes, photographs and ephemera.  Note: Ephemera is the collective name for goods that were designed to have a short life, like newspapers that are read then thrown away or chocolate bar wrappers, matchboxes, food containers, etc.  Larger collectable items like diecast model cars, science fiction toys, action figures, teddies and dolls, glass and china can be displayed in glass fronted display cabinets or on open shelves.  Model train collectors usually display their collections set up on a working layout complete with trackside accessories.  Ensure that your collection is not displayed where it is exposed to sunlight otherwise it will fade or discolour.

If you are passionate about your collection you should gradually build up a good knowledge about it so that you know what to look for or what to avoid when buying more items.  A good priced catalogue is a great help, it usually gives background and technical information, shows which items belong to any group or set and gives prices for each item.  The values given in a catalogue should only be considered as a guide to what you may have to pay as many dealers sell most items for less than the catalogue value and some scarcer collectables sell for well above.  The dealers prices will be governed by the supply and demand of the market rather than the catalogue price.  The prices of most items will vary a bit from one dealer to another.

Some ramblings about buying new collectables:  do not expect them to start increasing in value for many years.  If you want to sell after a few years you should consider them as second hand goods that may only sell for about a half or quarter of what you paid when new. You should generally expect it to take twenty years or more before they are worth more than you paid.  There will occasionally be exceptions to this.  Be careful about buying new collectables from large glossy adverts in newspapers or magazines as they are usually grossly overpriced in order to cover the high costs of the adverts; it is better to buy from a dealer who will be cheaper and can give you sound advice.  Also beware of words like “limited edition,” “unique,” “collectable,”  “rare,” or “scarce”, as these are words that are used very liberally to entice people to buy collectables. Ignore them as they are usually not true.  Any ‘Limited Edition’ item that has been produced in a quantity of more than a few thousand will usually not be any more scarce or valuable than any other item.  Many people think that the older a collectable item is the more valuable it will be but this is often not so.  You can buy stamps or postcards that are over 100 years old for a few pence and you can buy some Roman coins that are nearly 2000 years old for a little over £1 each.

Here are a few suggestions of places where you can buy collectables:-  dealers in shops, markets, collectors fairs, antiques fairs, car boot sales and collectors magazines.  You can also buy from auctions; either public auctions, postal auctions or on-line auctions although you may find it more difficult to know exactly what you are buying if you are new to collecting.  In newspapers and free-ads papers there are offers of collectables that are available locally.  You may also be able to buy or swap with other collectors that you  know.  Remember to buy items in the best condition you can afford and enjoy your collection.  Happy hunting.

The bit on the end. Buy wisely and look after your collection and later on it could look after you.

Copyright Richard Farrow 2008.   This article may be copied in part or in full if acknowledgement or a link back is given to our online store at  www.kollectomania.co.uk the online vintage collectables shop.