Serial Collector: A Guide To Collecting!

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Collecting as a hobby includes seeking, finding, retrieving, organizing, displaying, storing, and preserving interesting items. A collector actively participates in the aforementioned activities by accumulating merchandise. Collectibles are the items that the collector wishes to acquire, including coins, stamps, books, comics, antiques, toys, dolls, sporting goods, gadgets, and electronics. Some collectors focus on a niche interest, such as postage stamps, milk bottle labels, and coins from the around the world. Others accumulate general merchandise that catches their eye.

Antiques, or collectibles exceeding one hundred years old, usually have a higher value than newer, more common items. Therefore, a large percentage of collectors have monetary incentive in acquiring their items. Antique dealers may describe older collectibles as vintage. Most collectors acquire man-mad objects; however, some private collectors store away sea shells, rocks, butterflies, and other naturally forming items. Some collectors invest thousands of dollars, while others only acquire items a minimal cost.

Coins

People have stored coins for their bullion value for as long as they have been openly traded. People did not start collecting coins for their artistic value until Ancient Roman and Mesopotamian times. Citizens from these empires collected and cataloged coins for their artistic value. However, contemporary coin collecting did not occur until the start of the 14^th century. At the dawn of the Renaissance, the privileged classes actively collected coins as a trend of sorts. The monarchs and nobles of the medieval periods collected coins as a hobby, mainly because only the wealthy could afford the pursuit. Coin collecting did not become popular in the mainstream until the emergence of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. In fact, hobbyists have formed coin shows, trade associations, and regulatory bodies during these times.

Most collectors start collecting coins simply because they enjoy it as a hobby, investment incentive, or may get involved through the influence of a relative. Coin collections fall into one of several categories, including collections organized by country, year, mint mark, variety, specific type, composition, subject, period, printed value, volume, and/or copy niches. Coin dealers have become accustomed to the appraised value of coin collections. They have the authority to determine the value of a coin based on its condition, mint mark, and year of production. Coin grades are administered in one of the following categories, including uncirculated, almost uncirculated, extremely fine, fine, very good, good, about good, fair, and poor condition. The National Numismatic Collection currently has over 45,000 coins, medals, and decorations on public display.

Stamps

Stamp collecting consists of acquiring postage stamps and other related memorabilia. It heralds as one of the world’s most popular hobbies. An estimated 20 million collectors reside in the United States alone. A stamp collector does not necessarily study postage stamps. Casual stamp collectors accumulate postage stamps for the utter enjoyment of the artistic value hidden within the fine details. Philatelists, collectors who study stamps, usually have a fairly large and comprehensive collection. Stamp collectors accumulate stamps for a variety of reasons, including historical value, geographical aspects, and for the imagery. Stamp collecting actually supports some countries that deliberately create limited runs of stamps for avid collectors.

Stamp collectors use a variety of equipment, including stock books, stamp hinges, a magnifying glass, stamp tongs, and other novelty items. Many stamp collectors begin by asking their friends and family to save stamps for them in the mail. As the collection gradually grows, collectors may seek to add rare and lesser known stamps. Some might pursue defining characteristics, such as a variety of colors, watermarks, and paper type. Stamp collectors seek postage stamps, topical stamps, postal stationary, stamp sheets, federal duck stamps, maximum cards, souvenir pages, first day covers, Cinderella stamps, and postal marks.

Books and Comic Books

Book collecting consists of seeking, locating, organizing, storing, categorizing, and preserving a variety of books at the discretion of the collector. A bibliophile, or a lover of books, enjoys acquiring books to read, admire, and collect. Many bibliophiles collect casual books and antiques. The hobby started with the collection of illuminated manuscripts as commissioned by the elites of Burgundy and France during the 15^th century. Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy had the largest private book collection, totaling roughly 600 volumes. This was done to preserve antiquarian books from being destroyed.

Contemporary book collecting can be easy and inexpensive, depending on the collector’s interest. Technological advancements have allowed book collectors to network, sell, and trade new and used books across a variety of medians, such as online book shops, auction platforms, and brick and mortar book shops. Average book collectors may seek and acquire books by favorite author, first editions, or books on a variety of subjects. Book prices depend on the supply and demand of a given subject, limited available copies, and their overall condition. The Private Libraries Association, a prominent book collecting association, usually offers guidance for experienced and inexperienced book collectors.

Antiques

Antiquing, or the act of collecting vintage merchandise, consists of shopping, finding, negotiating, and bargaining for old items. Antiques collectors seek these items for personal use, gifts, and for profit. Antiquing takes place at garage and estate sales, resort towns, antique districts, auction website and houses, and collectives. Amateur antique collectors may need an appraisal to determine whether the item falls into an authentic vintage category. Antiques are valuable collectible items that may be desirable because of age, beauty, rarity, emotional attachment, unique features, and overall condition. Antique magazines and other related materials are available to become adept at collecting vintage items.

Dolls and Toys

Doll collecting consists of seeking, identifying, acquiring, and preserving dolls and similar toys. Doll collectors acquire valuable dolls based on their overall age, condition, rarity, value, or sentimentality. Many doll collectors start their personal collections at an early age. The basic concepts of doll collecting include protecting, preserving, maintaining, and displaying each doll. Value and prices of carious dolls are listed in various reference materials, including online auction websites, antique magazines, appraisal services, and others. Dolls can be made from a variety of materials, including cloth, bisque, hard plastic, metal, paper mache, porcelain, vinyl, and wood. Popular brand dolls include Raggedy Ann and Andy, Tiny and Little Betty, Wendy Ann, Princess Elizabeth, Barbie, Precious Moments, Madame Alexander, Lee Middleton, Adora, Robert Tonner, and Vogue.

Sporting Items

Collecting sports memorabilia can be an enjoyable, profitable hobby for sports enthusiasts. Sports collectors need to recognize certain aspects about the memorabilia to assess its value, such as whether or not it has an official license, if it's a limited edition, or if it has an athletic autograph. An officially licensed product contains the emblem of the professional athletic association, such as the NBA, NCAA, NFL, NASCAR, NHL, and the MLB. A limited edition product has a certain set of characteristics, including the manufacturer number, a certificate of authenticity, and the total number of pieces of the memorabilia that were produced. A certified signature, or an athletic autograph, identifies a piece of sports memorabilia as a collectible. A professional athlete simply places their signature on a picture, card, jersey, ball, or any other piece of sports material. Sports memorabilia collectors usually obtain athletic signatures on their own; however, some may go to a sports good store to purchase these items. Sports collectibles can also be found at auction websites, auction houses, yard sales, garage sales, and real estate sales.

Gadgets and Electronics

Japanese Nintendo Famicom Console pre NES

The technological age has introduced an increased interest in gadget collecting. Similar to other hobbies involving collectible items, techies collect antiquated and newly released electronic gadgets. These items can include the iPhone, network media player, RC cars, RC helicopters, SLR camera, and video game consoles to name a few. Gadget collectors usually acquire newly released electronics out of simple enjoyment, to stay up-to-date with technological trends, or to showcase their collection to others. Gadget collecting may yield a profit if the items do not become antiquated too quickly.