There are a couple of reasons why people start collections and hold onto them – a love for the subject matter, sentimental value, or even their value. This last point in particular carries a lot of weight for most, as some collectibles, if properly taken care off can also be a great investment. However, not all hold or increase in value with time. As a result, storing such items becomes a gamble that may or may not pay off, especially so if that was your primary goal for starting the collection in the first place. Therefore, it is always recommended to start a collection of something you are truly passionate about. Eventually, with some time and effort, you will most probably get hands on a collection go items that become timeless classics that continue to maintain or even increase in value as the longer you hold onto them.
But what if you do not want to join the crowd of coin and stamp collectors out there and don’t really have pockets deep enough for things like cars and high-end watches? Well, here is a list of great in-demand collectibles that are not too hard to get into and, with time and effort put into learning the ins and outs of the hobby, can be both incredibly fun and a great investment when done right.
Vintage Advertising
Advertising has been a part of human society for thousands of years, dating as far back as 4000BC with ancient rock paintings. However, modern advertising, as we know it today, first began to appear in 18th century England. It grew in popularity as time passed, eventually moving on to include television, radio, and other media. Today, there is a huge market for vintage advertising, with many, especially those from world famous brands such as Coca Cola, worth hundreds, or thousands of dollars, depending upon their condition. These advertisements include everything from newspaper prints, posters, coasters, and leaflets, all the way to full blown signboards. It is also pretty easy to get into collecting them as they can be readily found online. Also, if you enjoy travelling, many can be found at fairs or antique stores abroad. Best of all, they make for great home decorations for any enthusiastic collector.
Retro and Modern Video Games and Memorabilia
For many of us, we were lucky enough to be born in a time that has seen everything from the invention of video games and watching them grow into the complex entertainment and tech power houses they are today. For many people who grew up with them, retro video games harken back to their childhoods and to a simpler time. But that’s not all, these older generation games and consoles can be worth a pretty penny, especially if they hold great historical significance, are rare, or even those that were famously bad.
The same holds true for modern video games, and their related collectibles and memorabilia. Remember that what’s modern today will become the future’s retro. In fact, rare action figures, statues, signed art prints, or even controllers can drastically increase to several times their original value practically overnight, and only go on increasing in value from there as time passes. Furthermore, with digital distribution taking over, older physical copies of games will continue to increase in value as well.
Trading Cards
Trading cards, at their core, are just two-sided cards made of paperboard or thick paper that contains an image of a certain person, place, or thing, together with a short description together with perhaps some stats and other text. The quintessential example of trading cards are sports related cards such as those for Baseball and Basketball, with some modern cards even going so far as to include autographs or even DNA hair samples of their subjects.
However, trading cards are not just restricted to sports, and encompass card games such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, which focus more on their characters and artwork. As with most things collectable, their value is generally determined by their rarity, uniqueness, and demand. In fact, some of these cards are worth well into the thousands. However, getting into the hobby is relatively easy, especially for the card games. All you really need is a general idea of the rules, knowledge of how to determine the type and rarity of a card, together with a couple of starter and booster packs, and you are all set to start collecting.
Comic Books
People have been collecting comic books ever since the first modern comic were introduced to the public in the early 1930s. Today there is a huge market for them, especially for mint condition originals that mark the first appearance of the more popular superheroes. However, there are a lot of other factors that also determine their overall value, including rarity, the costume of the superhero featured, the writer and illustrator, and if they were sighed or not. In fact, the recent success of the Marvel series of movies has only served to renew interest and introduce more people to the industry.
Compared to the other collectibles on this list, getting into collecting comics for their monetary value can be quite hard as it is quite hard to determine which comics will become valuable in the future, and older rare issues may be difficult to locate and get a hold off. However, if you love the subject matter, thein this hobby can easily be the most satisfying.
Vinyl and Music Memorabilia
As with video games and other forms of entertainment, music has also made the transition to the digital realm. For most fans, this convenience serves them simply fine, but for the most dedicated music aficionados only physical vinyl records will do. It is a good thing that they, together with other music memorabilia also make for great collectible items. Vinyl records are in fact have seen a resurgence in recent years with several popular artists and indie groups embracing the format. Outside of these records, CDs, autographs, concert posters and more, all make for great collectors’ items.
Toys and Action Figures
As with retro video games, this is a market purely driven by nostalgia. Old and famous toys from 70s, 80s and 90s make for great collectibles. These can be anything from old barbies and toy cars to rare Lego sets and tin toys. Of special mention here are rare action figures from old G.I. Joe, Transformers, He-Man and Masters of the Universe, and Star Wars figures lines. Mint versions of these can cost you quite a bit more but can fetch you much more in years to come. But as a whole, collecting toys and action figurines can be a very rewarding and enjoyable hobby that can be relatively easy to get into.
Obsolete Tech
Obsolete tech is effectively technology and devices that have become redundant in light of a newer more modern alternatives being developed. While most people would just dispose of such items, it just might be worth holding onto such items. This is because these items are yet another collector’s dream driven by nostalgia. Obsolete tech items such as typewriters, turntables, old televisions, and computers hold a special place in the hearts of any techie. You will be surprised how much an old computer, one that could barely store a couple of MB of data back in the day, is worth today in working condition.
Pens
Collecting pens is a fun hobby that is extremely easy to get into and is one of the few that that do not devalue with normal use. In fact, as with most of the other collectibles mentioned here, vintage pens in general usually increase in value over the years. This is especially true if you like travelling as unique pens can be found all over the world. One thing to note, while you can collect everything from ballpoints, rollerballs and even pencils too, it is usually only fountain pens that are prized by collectors. If you wish to start your own pen collection, we recommend refraining from buying every pen you can get your hands on. Instead, focus on purchasing only those you genuinely like. Let your collection grow organically and it will end up being an extremely rewarding hobby to get into.