Many people consider themselves book collectors but there are few who painstakingly gather valuable works. Some books are obvious collectors’ items while others are only appreciated by very knowledgeable connoisseurs – these five examples allow you a glimpse into the world of antique publications.
Perhaps, it’s the hint at prestige which chipping paint seems to mean given that anything old—money or a half-moon table—is in some way better than the same thing, new. Or perhaps it’s mystery, of past as well as and lives gone by, or that layers can be so rich that they’re just as much watercolours as rot and rust.
Antiquing a favourite hobby, the world over. It’s easy to see why. The pastime can be both exciting as well as profitable. However, while money can be made from buying and selling antiques, for many the hobby is also about craftsmanship, nostalgia and personal connections to items.
Action figures were all the rage during the late 1970s and into the early 2000s. Usually based on famous movie franchises, collecting action figures was one of the most popular pastimes of the age, where young children especially would scramble every year to get a hold of the latest release.
Whether you’re a seasoned vinyl collector or simply testing the waters, there’s no arguing that finding a bargain deal is the ultimate find. You can find albums online, at your local music store or even your nearest charity or second-hand shop. Part of the thrill is never knowing what you’ll find – there could be a limited edition hiding amongst it all.
Swords are one of the best items around to collect. They display well, they’re extremely hardy, and they come in an almost endless variety of shapes and sizes. Choosing the right kind of swords for a new collection can be something of a challenge for a beginner. They might want to choose franchise-only swords, or they may be after ones that have historical value.
Do you want to make some extra money by investing in jewellery, or do you just want to make sure that when you do make that once-in-a-lifetime buy that you are spending your hard earned cash wisely? The gemstone market can be a maze to navigate as a beginner with many an unscrupulous dealer ready to make a quick buck. And, often, while certain jewellery might look beautiful, the stones included therein are only as valuable as the modern market and fashions.
Discovered in an attic by the original owner and gently retrieved from the thick layer of dust that cradled it, almost 60 years after it was made, the battery-operated ‘Machine Man’ toy robot – in its original packaging – was auctioned in Pennsylvania at Morphy’s Auctions for an incredible $159,900. This amount far exceeded the original estimates for this item which was assumed to sell between $60,000 – $90,000, based on a very successful sale of the same model a year previously which had fetched $86,100.
For most of us, a collection usually consists of stamps, baseball cards, specific toys, or even cars. But everyone assigns value to different items, and some people have built collections that might be considered strange and unusual by most. These are collections that have made waves in the industry for being unique and interesting, and for being valueless in the eyes of most others.
Human beings have always set themselves apart from the natural world because of the way we interact with the environment around us. Where all other animals – apart from birds – are generally stuck to the region where they evolved, humans instead invented the means of getting around as fast as possible. Where the animal kingdom does not ever have the need to collect and use items, humans around the world have created collections of items for countless millennia.