b"By Jim and Bobbi Jeen Olson,WesternTradingPost.com I m not sure if this is collectible or not,While all antiques technically could but I guess it isbecause I collectbe collectibles, not all collectibles are them. Someone recently made thisnecessarily antiques (modern art is remark and it got me thinking, whatan example of this). Some antiques makes something a collectible? Whilecan be worth a lot of moneyothers there are a few variations of the definitionnot worth much at all (other than from source to source, all of them prettysentimental or historical value). So be much say, A collectible is any objectcareful and research which antiques are regarded as being of value or interest truly collectible by also being valuable. to a collector.They should be considered as such because they are still desirable in the So technically, by definition, anythingmarketplaceotherwise, you are just can be collectible if someone collectsgetting a piece of old decor or yard art it. Perhaps a better way to put it would and not a collectible. be it is at least collectible to that person but this does not necessarily mean itSomething else worth mentioning is is valuable. Does it? One thing we alsothings that were made to be collectible need to realize is the difference between rarely are. This includes pretty much being valuable and being collectible all kinds of commemorative or mass-because not all collectibles are valuableproduced products. As a general rule, if and not all valuables are necessarilythe collectible says Made in China or collectible. Or are theyMade in Taiwan on itits not a collectible. It is a decor item, or possibly a cheap knock-If the definition of a collectible is any objectoff and these types of collectibles are rarely a regarded as being of value to a collector,wise investment at least if you are hoping for and we are to assume that pretty muchappreciation in the future. They are decorative anything can be collectible, then anythingitems at best, and mass-produced decor is rarely of value is also collectible. But howcollectible or valuable later on. But people still do we determine if something is trulycollect things like these, dont they? You might valuable in the collectibles world? Andask. So doesnt this make them a collectible? who determines value? The short answerHmmmisthe marketplace determines monetary value. However, value is also subjective. There isTechnicallyyes. As mentioned, anything of value to sentimental value, regional value, functional value,Courtesy of Rare Coin Wholesalers a collector could be considered a collectible. But when social value, collectible value, and so forth. And differentadding in the additional stress test regarding the value, types of value are not equally important to all consumers. items mass-produced as collectibles rarely qualify. As mentioned above, there are several other reasons to But when talking about collectibles in the traditional sense of the word,collect besides monetary value.it is a commonly held belief that most folks prefer to add to the standard definition by saying that the object is also potentially valuable.Collect the things you love, that are authentic to you, Meaning it is worth more than its original value or that it goes upand your house becomes your story. ~ Erin Flett, in value over time. This effect generally happens due to rarity andDesigner. That is great advice! However, if you popularity (among other factors, including the passing of time).are collecting with an eye towards the collection In other words, the item also has some monetary value to besomeday being worth more than you invested, you considered desirable to most collectorsat least to some degree.dont want to be like the guy who collected leaves. You see, he really thought he was raking it inWhen talking about collectible value in the marketplace, wetill he tried to sell. tend to place more value on items that are rare in nature, yet remain popular. An example of this would be the Honus Wagner baseball card produced by the AmericanWhen talking about collectible value in the Tobacco Company in 1909. These were originally givenmarketplace, we tend to place more value on away with a pack of cigarettes! However, in modern times, one of these cards can sell for over 1 millionitems that are rare in nature, yet remain dollars! The reason the card is so valuable is verypopular. An example of this would be the few have survived the test of time and there areHonus Wagner baseball card (at top) many collectors out there for sports memorabilia. So this item qualifies on two main pointsit is rare,produced by the American Tobacco yet remains popular to a large audience in the marketplace. Company in 1909. These were originally given away with a pack of cigarettes! Another thing that often gets confused with being valuable or collectibleHowever, in modern times, one of these cards can is age. Folks often use the terms collectible and antique interchangeably. It's important to realize there is a distinct difference between them.sell for over 1 million dollars!ArizonaRealCountry.com October 2021 23"