So you find yourself without a defined collection with shelf and wall space to fill. How do you get started? You’ve asked yourself what should I collect?
My last blog discussed the collection of old magazines and how my fascination grew after finding 1930’s Better Homes, Country Gentleman and others that gave me inspiration on how to furnish and decorate our newly purchased older home built in that period.
Let’s start by acknowledging what your interests are, hobbies you have and stuff sitting around in drawers, attic, garage, closets, and basement.
The basement has a collection of old tools, always a good collectible. But you’re still using them for projects around the house and to keep your Henderson cycle running. The garage , well used car batteries and half cans of oil just doesn’t make the cut. And who put all that broken furniture in the attic? Well there are several drawers with stuff, keys of all sorts for forgotten locks. Kitchen utensils, very vintage all with green wood handles, inherited from a great aunt. A pile of expired credit cards, many from banks, department stores and gasoline companies with names changed more often then a babies diaper.
Your closet has some sports items, All Star Pennants, Super Bowl programs, a signed football from the Packers’ glory years, bobble heads and collector cards. You’re glued to the HDTV for two games on Sunday and can’t wait for Monday Night. Looks like you have the start for a sports item collection.
Here you have many choices. First, there are lots of sports card shops and sports collectible stores, but that’s the easy answer and most will have you paying retail prices. Sports autograph sessions are another venue for collectors and the chance to get your item signed, is an important way to increase the value of a common item.
Ebay, of course, offers lots of items, but be careful with things reported to be authentically signed. As with any source, check the seller’s reputation.
Auctions provide sports collectibles and these are advertised in the weekly auction papers. Reading the auction results offers the opportunity to scout going prices on many of the items the beginning collector will want to add to a fledgling collection. Sit in on some auctions before jumping in. Watch the crowd to see if all the bidding comes from the same people. Learn your competition. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to do your own bidding.
We had attended a once-a-month auction of general merchandise on a regular basis. It very often had sports collectibles. One bidder consistently won bids of special items but showed great restraint in getting out when the price seemed to pass his high point. The first time we saw him at that auction, he was sitting with his dad (who had to bid for him) as the lad was only 14 years old!
You are not too young to start!
On a personel note, all of us at Collectors Quest, share the loss of one of the great collectors, Ralph M. Kovel. Born here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 88 years ago, and lived in Shaker Heights, OH with his wife Terry. His inspired writings in books and articles has been a benifit to all collectors for many years. We offer Terry and his family our deepest sympathy.
