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Well...it just might surprise you. So many times, as I walk through a flea
market or antique shop, I over-hear other shoppers saying, "Oh, I
used to have one of those"... followed by the sound of disbelief when
they look at the price tag ... followed by the words, "I should have
kept it!" While it may be difficult to imagine that the toy or book
or dish we use today could be worth ten times more than it's original
purchase price in the future, it does happen - and here are just a few
tips on recognizing a potential treasure:
The Maker, Author, Celebrity, etc. - Knowing a bit about who made the item
- and when - is always important. Knowing what a person has accomplished
and how they stand out in their field is also key. You will probably want
to take care of anything directly linked to someone |
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to setting a record - or making a box office smash - especially if they
did it despite exceptional odds or if they were able to do it
repeatedly...not necessarily while being the most popular or socially
accepted among their peers or fans. Of course, we have seen this to be the
case, as well, when someone who has had no time to really make much of a
history for themselves - become an unforgettable part of history through
their untimely death. While unforeseen events often trigger the sudden
rise of an items' particular value...timing can be everything when it
comes to the collectible market. You've got to "know when to hold 'em
and know when to fold 'em".
Dates, Signatures and Marks - Know what your item should say (or not say)
and what identifies it as the 'real McCoy' - McCoy pottery pieces have
many different identifying marks which were used since the company first
began...some are very similar in the way they look and some very
different. What was made, when it was made and where, being some of the
determining factors for which mark was used. Lack of that knowledge has
caused more than one disappointment to be sure. Having a treasure right
under your nose and letting it go for a quarter or fifty cents when it is
worth five dollars or more can leave you with a sick feeling. Tossing away
something your Grandfather gave you, because you find it unattractive -
only to find that it is irreplaceable is...(well, maybe we shouldn't open
up a wound that deep). Keeping something in the best condition possible,
is only part of what it takes for an item to be considered valuable. In
fact, some things are not required to be in pristine condition...but
instead, are expected to have certain wear associated with
them...however, all items with moving parts, for instance, should have all
of their parts and the parts should be working for most to be considered
of any worth. We all know to look for signatures, of course, but being
sure that a signature is not forged is not always easy - in fact, it is
one of the most common mistakes made by enthusiastic collectors. If you
are putting out any amount of real cash - get an expert's opinion before
committing.
With All Of This In Mind.. What Do You Have?
If you are like most of us, you have things from your past...and somewhere
in the future, some of those things are bound to become worth some money.
When and just how much...is anybody's guess. Some items are a little more
predictable than others, though. The more rare, because of how it was
made, or how long the artist created, or the effect of the author's
writings on society, or even because of who owned it, are all to be
considered. What you don't know can hurt you, financially speaking, and
yet the average person can easily be the owner of any number of items that
will be valuable tomorrow. If you want to test something out - ask your
pre-teen what they think...if they say it's cool hold onto it for a few
more years - it's almost certain to be in demand as retro, if nothing
else! If you are holding onto something that you believe to be valuable
now - don't let someone sell you short...if you don't know enough about
the item find someone you can trust to educate you on the item...or
educate yourself at your local library - or online. The Internet is a
wealth of information at your fingertips.
Everything old truly becomes 'new' again in a new generation's eyes and
while chances are you will not get rich off of your past - handing it over
to someone for a fair price based on it's true worth - can be a very
rewarding way of preserving it!
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