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CHAPTER 3

Know Your Collectibles:

An Indispensable

Overview

What is a collectible? How does it differ from an antique? These questions aren't easily answered, because while some items definitely fall into the collectibles field and others can be only thought of as antiques, there's a gray area into which fall articles that are old or older and still are collected. Baseball cards, commemorative plates, Avon bottles, Hummel figurines, Disneyana, and salt and pepper shakers are a few examples of merchandise that anyone would place under the heading of collectibles. Articles from these categories can be as recent as last month or may go back several decades. People may look for anything that's ever been done in these categories, or they may collect just a special segment of what's available.

The United States Customs Office defines an antique as any object that's a minimum of 100 years old. However, Webster's Dictionary seems to take issue with the customs people. It says an antique is "a relic or object of ancient times or of an earlier period than the present." We tend to consider anything made prior to World War II as an antique. But this isn't a hard and fast rule. And collectibles and antiques may overlap. For instance, there are items— postcards, for example—that go back much further than World War II that we would put into the collectibles category. Most collectibles are mass-produced. Many popular examples surface in all of the markets. We find that having a good selection of collectibles along with antiques makes for a more interesting booth and increases our sales.

The collectibles field is a fickle one. What's in today may be out a month from now. Baseball cards, which in the past several years have enjoyed a rush of almost crazed enthusiasm, appear to be on the wane. Last year kids were buying and trading and expecting to pay for their college educations with the profits from their collections. This year only the older cards with notable players seem to draw any real interest. The problem, of course, is that baseball cards have little intrinsic value and are produced in huge numbers. Scarcity is always a determining factor in value.

Some collectibles have a strong, and what appears to be an ongoing, following. Salt and pepper shakers, postcards, and dolls, for instance, have a steady market. The current collectibles, those you see advertised in papers and magazines, in our opinion, are a risky investment. There are so many of them that interest on the secondary market is lukewarm. There are exceptions to this. Hummels, Rockwell plates, and some of the Precious Moments figurines are holding their value, and many are increasing annually.

We don't advise stocking up on any one collectible until you have become attuned to your market and know what your customers want. At that time, you may choose to select one or two collectibles as specialties, learning all there is to know about them. If you become an expert on a collectible that's popular in your area, collectors will come to rely on you as a source of merchandise. Regular customers are the backbone of the business. You'll be able to learn a great deal from the collectors as well. Most of them belong to clubs, and many of the clubs publish newsletters and hold meetings at which the latest information on their collectible is swapped by members. If you need advice on pricing or dating a collectible that you've purchased or want to purchase, these collectors' clubs are invaluable sources.

We've found that there's someone who collects almost anything. There are even collectors of moldy cheese. We advise sticking to the more conventional collectibles. You can wait a long time for a customer looking for the moldy cheese.

The following is a list of some collectibles you might want to look for in your search for merchandise. These are, in our opinion, items you're likely to find. There are many more types of collectibles that we don't mention, and because of the limitation of space, our descriptions are sketchy. There are entire books on most of these areas of collectibles.

ADVERTISING ITEMS

Ashtrays, boxes, booklets, buttons, mirrors, signs, paperweights, posters, bottle openers, trays, thermometers, trading cards, and a host of other items are collected because of the advertising that appears on them. A collector may hunt for examples from national companies or seek only items from a specific area. There are many reproductions of advertising items floating around in the markets. Most collectors look for examples dating from before the 1940s; those pieces from the late 1800s to the early 1900s are the most desirable.

AERONAUTICA

Baggage tags, airline dishes, playing cards—any memorabilia from, or to do with, any specific airline—are collectible. Items depicting, about, or from any of the various people who are well-known in the field of aeronautics, such as Charles Lindbergh or Amelia Earhart, are highly desirable. These may range from autographs, photographs, or biographies to medals, dolls, or candy containers.

ALUMINUM, HAMMERED

From the 1920s through the 1940s, decorative, as well as useful, hammered aluminum was popular. Pitchers, trays, tumblers, candy dishes, and any number of other items fashioned from this material graced American homes. It fell from favor after it was mass-produced to such an extent that it became common. Many of the old pieces are now being sought by collectors. This is a growing market.

AMERICAN DINNERWARE

The following companies made dinnerware that is now collected and that turns up often at garage sales, flea markets, and auctions. We find these wares to be brisk sellers: Blue Ridge; Crooksville China Company; Stangl; Taylor, Smith, and Taylor; and Western Stoneware. All of these companies marked their products on the back.

ANIMAL TAGS

These tags are used to register animals. This isn't a category you'll be asked about every day, but if you find some examples that are very inexpensive, you might want to purchase them. Look for tags in the shapes of dogs, cats, and other animals. The tags should have a year on them, and those before 1930 are most sought. Many examples are made of metal, but during World War II, plastic and paper were used.

AUTOGRAPHS

Signatures of the famous and infamous surface from time to time. There are two things to consider in buying them. First, how common is the autograph? Second, how well known is the person? Entertainers, like Frank Sinatra, sign lots of pictures, menus, programs, etc., for fans. Often their signatures aren't worth as much as someone such as Orville Wright whose contact with the public wasn't as great. Authenticity is, of course, important.

AUTOMATA

Battery or key operated inanimate objects usually made of tin, tin and cloth, plush cloth over tin, or plastic have a strong collector following. The more complex the activity, the more desirable the piece. Condition is important to value, and having the box in which the object came is a big plus.

AVON

An assortment of soaps, perfumes, jewelry, plates, figurines, etc., made by the California Perfume Company and Avon Products, Inc., are found in large numbers at garage sales and flea markets. Collectors want items in mint or excellent condition. The original box is extremely important in this collectibles category. Bottles with product are preferred to those without, but this isn't as essential as the box.

BANKS