Collectibles and Collecting

I

Introduction

Collectibles and Collecting, groups of items of a similar type that are acquired and saved as a hobby. Millions of people all over the world enjoy the activity of collecting. Just about anything can be a collectible, from children’s toys to car hubcaps to matchbooks. Some collectibles can sell for a few dollars at a yard sale, others for thousands of dollars in specialty stores or at auctions. Although there are many recognized areas of collecting that have their own publications and organized groups of collectors, the world of collectibles is ultimately limited only by the imagination and desire of the collector.

Collectibles are sometimes grouped together with antiques, the buying, selling, and collecting of which is an established industry. However, antiques are traditionally defined as items at least 100 years old, whereas collectibles have no such limitation—most are mass-produced items and many are new or just a few years old. Although some collectibles increase in value and are bought and sold frequently, many collectors are motivated simply by nostalgia and the fun of collecting, and some only rarely part with an item.

This article does not focus on traditional antiques collecting or on the hobbies of coin collecting, stamp collecting, or book collecting. Since it is impossible to fully cover the numerous areas of collectibles, examples are used to discuss various types of collecting, why and how people collect, and the history of collecting.

II

What People Collect

Just about anything can be a collectible. Many dealers and collectors view collectibles as items that fall outside the traditional antiques categories of books, furniture, dolls, glass, and pottery or porcelain. They generally include more modern objects, such as post-World War II toys, magazines, sports memorabilia, comic books, or trading cards. The popular auction Web site eBay has around 50 different categories under the term “Collectibles,” including autographs, breweriana (beer-related objects), Disneyana (items associated with the Walt Disney Company), housewares and kitchenware, military items, pens and writing instruments, and science fiction-related items. Some examples of more unusual collectible categories are barbed wire, board games, cheese labels, swizzle sticks, empty cereal boxes, advertising pencils, airsickness bags, telephones, drugstore tins, baby rattles, bug sprayers, and swanky swigs (decorated jelly jar glasses).

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Collectors tend to pursue items that have personal meaning to them, such as objects related to their childhood. For example, cast-iron vehicle toys were extremely popular in the early 20th century. Adults who grew up during that era will likely make up the majority of collectors of those items. Collectors who grew up in the 1960s often collect action figures, superhero comic books, space memorabilia, robots, Beatles paraphernalia, or other items that were popular when they were young.

Collectibles also include new items specifically manufactured for collection. Sometimes called limited editions or collector’s editions, these items are typically numbered or signed to add to their collectibility. The most familiar examples of these are limited-edition porcelain plates and figurines (such as those made by Danbury Mint and the Franklin Mint) and toys such as collector-edition Barbie dolls or Hot Wheels cars. These items are commonly manufactured in limited quantities, in essence creating “instant demand” to sell more collectibles. And while manufacturers of these items may tout the items’ potential investment value, few of these “manufactured collectibles” actually increase in value. Despite their supposed limited number, these items are often quite common and lose their value as the market becomes saturated and demand drops.

By definition, collectors must shape their collections in some way by deciding what to collect and what not to. Once a collecting genre is selected, a collector will either take a wide approach (collecting all soda pop memorabilia) or narrow the focus (collecting only Coca-Cola items, or only older Coca-Cola bottles). A person interested in collecting toys may collect thematically (collecting only Shirley Temple dolls and toys), by era (only 19th-century dolls), by manufacturer (only teddy bears made by Steiff), by region (only German tin toys), or by material (only cast-iron vehicles). This still affords the collector many alternatives while limiting the collection in scope and size—often necessary for those with limited space or money. Sometimes collectors will begin by collecting widely, and as they become more involved in the hobby they narrow their focus. Often they can sell the excess items in their collection or trade them with fellow collectors.

III

Why People Collect

People have various reasons for collecting. For many it is simply a hobby. Sometimes, however, collecting becomes more than just a hobby—it can become all-consuming. It is not uncommon for collections to become extensive, such as collections of 10,000 die-cast cars, 600 porcelain vases, or several thousand cookie cutters. A collector may start with just a few items, only to feel an intense urge to acquire more. Some collectors have been known to fill their entire house with their collection, or rent storage space to handle the overflow. Often the only things limiting a personal collection are space and money.

An object or a collection’s investment potential motivates many collectors. Over time, sometimes even just a few months or years, collectibles may greatly increase in value and become a source of profit for those who choose to sell. Timing is everything, however. Once a collectibles market cools off, such as Ty Beanie Babies in the early 2000s, values can drop fast, although less common variations may still command high prices.

Many collectors insist that monetary value is a secondary factor in their collecting. They cite other reasons for pursuing their hobby, such as the knowledge gained in collecting, connections made with fellow collectors, and—perhaps most vitally—the pleasure that accompanies finding and acquiring a new and much-desired object. Some psychologists have suggested that humans feel the need to collect objects to overcome feelings of anxiety or loneliness, especially stemming from childhood. Other experts theorize that collectors are acting to assert control over objects and create order in their world. Psychologists also note that collecting is different from the condition known as hoarding. Collectors specialize in certain kinds of objects and usually organize their collections, whereas people who hoard tend to amass a random assortment of items and rarely take stock of their trove.

IV

Evaluating Collectibles

Evaluating collectibles is a subjective process, but many price guides try to define the parameters that should be used. These are factors that expert appraisers will most commonly weigh when placing a value on an item. Generally, collectibles are evaluated based on the following considerations:

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