Collectables - There’s Gold At
The Back Of Them Shelves…
21st century iconic consumables with a distinctly British heritage have never been more desirable, whether its cigarette cards, sticker books, dolls, action figures, sea shells or rocks, it seems collecting is in our blood.
For those who decide to trade in their collectable items, online market places are often the first port of call, with over one million items currently listed in the collectables category of one popular online auction site. And it’s not just the sort of things you’d expect either… there’s always a market for the more obscure objects: just recently a limited edition jar of Marmite changed hands for around £20!
So how do we distinguish between valuable items and junk at the back of the cupboard?
Top TV presenter and collectibles expert Jamie Breese has a wealth of experience turning knick knacks into notes and in this video he points out what you should be looking for.
Here are Jamie’s top tips for identifying collectables that could be hidden away in your home:
- Know what you have! Today it is so much easier to work out what treasures you might just have lurking about! My favourite insider tip is to use to superb ‘completed listings’ feature on eBay.co.uk. Just log in, click on Advanced Search and enter the name of your collectable. Check the Completed Listings Only box: presto! – you have a bang up-to-date price ‘real world’ price guide for everything sold over the last few weeks. It pays to think counter intuitively: don’t always assume that just because a consumer good is mass-produced, it is relatively worthless over time. A Bells Whiskey Decanter for Charles and Diana’s wedding is now making £500 MIB (mint in box) and kitchenalia made by high street names such as Marmite, PG Tips, Colman’s, Lurpak, Horlicks and Bovril are all collected in their own right
- Modern Antiques? It doesn’t necessarily need to be old to be collectable today. Modern computers are a great example. A humble Sinclair ZX80 in a good box cost £99 originally – today the best go for £750+.
- Iconic items that have been changed via limited edition design partnerships e.g. Matthew Williamson’s Coca Cola bottles or Paul Smith’s HP Sauce bottle. It also certainly helps if something is limited by design. I have handled a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling several times now. There were only 300 trade editions published in the first edition print run in the mid 90s. I know one dealer asking for £27,500 for a sparkling example. With numbered editions, it is great to have the lowest number possible, to keep any certificate of authenticity and all packaging. Prototypes being one-offs are always desirable.
- Is it linked to a celebrity from the movies or music or a special occasion such as a wedding or popular sporting event? An item signed by a personality can add real value down the line. A book by Tolkien can be worth thousands more if it bears his signature. A bloodied costume worn by James Gandolfini in The Sopranos sold for a mighty $43,750 in 2008. A credit card owned by Elvis can sell for several thousand and a single hair from Monroe can swap hands for a few hundred!
- Authenticity is everything – do you have a photo of Lewis Hamilton signing your book at one of the official launches? Can you prove your uncle worked on the first Star Wars movie and was given a prop by the director?
- Could you have an antique of the future? It’s important to remember that prices can change and sometimes in big amounts quite quickly. Is your lucky find connected to an upcoming Hollywood Movie perhaps? Items that are iconic now might remain so or have a nostalgia value for collectors in years to come. The 1980s and 90s are quite popular now for example. I love early mobile phones – who has kept the first ones from the late 80s in great condition? One to watch for sure. Even items linked to commercial flops or events which didn’t quite hit the mark as planned can have appeal: trinkets and memorabilia connected to the millennium Dome might be worth ‘stockpiling’ for the future rather than selling now.
- Lastly, is it good design? There are many examples of well-known designers or artists who have created a special issue for high street retailers or manufacturers. These clearly have an advantage if you are looking to make a mint in years to come. Anything which Banksy turns his hand to right now could be gold.
Always remember to store and keep them in original condition and unspoilt packaging to reach their full value.
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