Buying gifts for the collectors in your life can be a difficult thing. Along with all the usual gift selection issues, it’s hard to know what they already have and/or if an item’s conditions will meet the collector’s standards. What can you do?

Here are 13 gift ideas for collectors of all types of things — at all price levels.

#1 Collecting Books & Guides: The wide array of titles from Schiffer Books means there is likely something to appeal to most any collector. From Antique Dresser Sets to My Pretty Pony, from Canes & Walking Sticks to Josef Originals — even Civil War Tour books, Schiffer’s got a wide selection. Not only that, but new editions may mean these are guides your collector doesn’t already have.

Currently Schiffer is offering a special: Any US customers who purchase any three titles from their website get 20% off their entire order. (Should you be really confused about exactly which war it us Uncle Bob collects memorabilia from, there are also gift certificates.)

#2 Cleaning Tools & Storage Supplies: Each type of collection requires special care and that means special tools. Sure, you know all about Polyethylene & Polypropylene sleeves and archival supplies for comic books, magazines, trading cards, postcards, other ephemera, and coins, but there’s so much more.

Perhaps your antique textile or furniture collector could use a proper screen &/or vacuum for taking care of their fancy antiquities. Or maybe your bibliophile needs repair tools and supplies. Oddiophiles Audiophiles need vinyl cleaning solutions, phonograph needles and turntable belts. Virtually any collection can use items for proper display. Maybe your collector just needs more shelving. Whatever it is, large or small, collectors appreciate these gifts.

They may not seem exciting to you, but they are. Where you see plastic bags & boxes or ‘just cleaning supplies’, a collector sees a safer, more cared for collection — and the extra money in her pocket means she can bid a little higher on something at auction.

#3 Pocket Tape Measures: Why give just any tape measure when you can give one of these beauties from Kyle Designs? Not only pretty to look at, but practical for measuring furniture, hardware, and even the size of your car doors as well.

#4 Black Light Keychain: Make it easier for your collector to make the right decision with this take-it-everywhere Ultra-violet Mini Light.

#5 Magnifying Glass or Jeweler’s Loupe: Otherwise known as ‘the loop’, the small portable (and discrete) magnifying tool allows for collectors to better inspect items for everything from maker marks & signatures to flaws & repairs. A collector can never have too many jeweler’s loupes.

#6 Calendars: Each month brings a new item to covet with collectible themed calendars.

#7 Digital Cameras: It’s not just that collectors need want to show their junk off (like here), or maybe sell it online, but they do need to record their collection for insurance purposes too.

#8 Kitchen Goodies: Everyone thinks of vintage textiles and linens — and they are fine ideas too — but there’s so much more. For pop art lovers there are Pop Art Cappuccino Cups, for kitsch lovers these Paint by Numbers Coasters, for Coke collectors, oven mitts, and for fashionistas, coasters featuring vintage sewing pattern illustrations. (Don’t forget Cafe Press for nearly any theme, anything, on a mug.)

#9 Gift Certificates: Yeah, eBay’s got gift certificates, but you know the expression, “Think global, act local,” so get your collector gift certificates from their local antique mall or thrift shop. They will be happily received and greedily used!

#10 Collection Software: You need a gift idea; they need something to do during the long winter (non-buying) months. There are many sorts of collection programs & databases, which can help with insurance issues, pricing, &/or general organization. Check Visual PackRat and Primasoft for some ideas, and Trussel for book software or do an online search.

#11 A Wallet: Even chicks dig groovy wallets. Tucking them in a pocket is much easier than carrying a purse or shoulder bag & squeezing through the flea market throng.

#12 Seeds: Sounds crazy, especially this time of year, but seeds make excellent gifts for collectors. Not just plant collectors love ‘em, but anyone who loves vintage living does, and of course the vintage crate collectors & anthropomophic veggie folks do too. Rare strains & organic seeds sell out quickly — I always forget to order my Moon & Stars Watermelon seeds early and end up saying, “Next year…” And there’s a Seed Savers Membership for the really big gardening guru (or wanna be, like me).

#13 Folding Shopping Carts: Metal or canvas, these portable carts are great for collectors who haunt block rummage sales, auctions, and flea markets. Can’t tell you the number of times we’ve whined as we’ve had to carry all our goodies in our arms — or drawn straws to see who will schlep bags & boxes to the van while the other one gets to continue the buying fun.

I suspect many marriages and relationships could be saved if only a folding cart was in the trunk.

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Article Tags: audio, books, calendars, carts, display, gifts, keychain, kitchen, Schiffer, storage, Thursday Thirteen, tools, vinyl

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Gotta Collect? Then You Gotta Connect - Join our Collectors’ Community!

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 7:16 am and is filed under collecting fyi. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.