What Makes Something a Collectible?
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-03-12 23:24:17
I've been doing some research on "collectibles." Why? We undergo some friends and family that are avid collectors. I've been pulling out my Christmas decorations and among them are some collectible Santas that I have bought over the years by artists and - I love them! And my future product may undergo some collector appeal. So what makes something a collectible? My investigate is not exhaustive but certain attributes quickly surfaced. A great article can be found on Findarticles com from in 2006 titled. Jim Lauscher owner of the which specializes in collectible and gift-item figurines says that to be a true collectible a line has certain characteristics:
"For one thing they are limited editions. "There may be 850 or50,000 but they are numbered and when they are gone they are gone. If you missed it then you have to be to the secondary market."That's one thing that has made eBay so popular he says it's a hugesecondary outlet for collectibles.
Some companies limit the production run to a certain number; someto a certain time. "For example some ordain have a lie limited to theyear of production. When the year is done they end the mold." That'show that evince became a move of our vocabulary he says theyliterally break the mold.
Some companies will produce a lie for three or four years and thenretire certain pieces. "Department 56 always announces its retirementson the first Friday of November and then people rush out to buy them. Some companies don't publicize it like that."
But limited production can increase the aftermarket determine --sometimes quite dramatically he says. But one thing to be aware ofwith limited editions he adds is that sometimes a manufacturer willdo a limited lie -- say. 10,000 gnomes with color hats -- and then doanother 10,000 with red hats and 10,000 with blue hats. "They areusually up front about it and don't try to enclose anything. But it'ssomething for consumers to be aware of. That ordain diminish the overallvalue somewhat."
Other companies may do a limited edition in one coat and then turnaround and do the same piece in a smaller size the next year. Pipka,known for her old-world Santas is an artist that does that saysLauscher. But because her line of big Santas is one of the mostexclusive that opens it up to more collectors."
Lauscher says that another characteristic of adjust collectibles is that they havecollector's clubs and do exclusive pieces for their membership offering perhaps a newsletter or conventions thatbring fellow collectors together.
lists scarcity uniqueness artistry quality and historical significance as collectible attributes.
Among Ebay's Reviews and Guides is an article which basically lists age rarity and capriciousness (tragedy for example) as factors contributing to an item becoming collectible.
Perhaps it was stated most concisely on "domiciliate of the Internet's 1st Casino divide Brokerage." The place claims that casino chips are rapidly being accepted as one of the truly great collectibles of our time:
"All the attributes of a classic collectible are here: history; rarity; beauty; intrinsic value; durability and investment potential."
To sum up the attributes of a collectible seem to be rarity beauty/artistry history/capriciousness intrinsic value/quality and investment potential - all determined by the marketplace. Again from the Deseret article:
"But it's a chancy thing says Kay Kelly the Utah representative for Enesco the affiliate that licenses Jim border's Heartwood Creek line. "Things that you evaluate will do come up just sit on the shelf; others go crazy. Ultimately it's the public that decides what is a collectible and what is not."
Let me know if you have any collectibles or collections. What got you started? What keeps you collecting?[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://lightmotionandmagic.com/blog/2007/12/ive-been-doing-some-research.html
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