How to Become a Collector

How do you become a collector? Well, first identify what sorts of things you find interesting. What captures your imagination? What feeds your mind? Is it insects? Cards? Comics? Wine? It can be as common as a shot glass from every hotel you've ever stayed in to the more sophisticated collecting of stamps or coins. Whatever it is, if there is more than one of that item that can be mass-produced, marketed, or printed then you can collect it.

Many people start out collecting stamps. It's the easiest thing to get into. Usually there are starter kits available either at specialty stores or on-line. You can even just begin collecting them by buying up the different books printed out by the USPS or cut them right off the envelopes you get in the mail. The starter kits are fun because they provide stamps from many different countries, an album to put them in, and a little guide to get you started on the right path if you wish to continue collecting stamps.

Another popular collector's hobby is cards. These can be sports cards; the most popular being baseball. When collecting baseball cards you must do your research. You have to follow the game, the players' career records, and keep up with all the latest information on them. Cards tend to either increase or decrease in value depending upon how that particular player is doing. It's a good starter collection for young boys who look up to their favorite sports heroes and try to follow their examples. Another type of card collection is gaming cards. The widely popular card game Magic: The Gathering set a trend over a decade ago by being one of the first trading card games to sweep the comic book fan's aisles.

It is a card game still popular today with many teenagers and the older the game decks and cards the higher value the individual card. A Magic: The Gathering rare card can sell for up to $30 or more. This type of card game has paved the way for other games such as Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and Dual Masters. Comic book stores are the most likely place to buy such game decks. Comic book conventions would be the place to go to find rare decks, special cards, or limited edition cards.

Comics is another collection that many people spend their lives and money on. If this is where your passion lies then go browse through your local comic book store and see what the comic book industry is putting out there. At the top of the list are still Marvel and DC Comics. Marvel has produced the spectacular Spiderman, X-Men, and Ghostrider. DC Comics has Batman. This particular hobby, however, can be quite expensive especially for people really eager to get into this type of collection. As an example Action Comics #1, June 1938, introduced the world to Superman.

Fewer than a hundred copies are known to exist and of those it is unlikely that it would be in mint condition. The good condition copies that do exist are valued at $350,000. Should a mint-condition Action Comics #1, June 1938, with the first appearance of Superman ever be discovered it would be worth today over one million dollars. Comics dating from that era would be found only in rare, book-deal shops, at auction houses, and by doing extensive searches on the Internet from private collectors.

Wine is another collection that can get quite expensive. Yet if you're a true connoisseur then you are willing to pay whatever it takes to acquire that one rare bottle. For this type of collection you need a thorough knowledge of wine in order to know what you are buying, a wine cellar or other proper wine storage cabinet, and the space in your home for it. Wine is a nice collection to have but all the money in the world won't save wine from Turing to vinegar if it is not stored properly.

For the truly eclectic collector there are Tarot decks to be collected available from every culture, every price range, and from well-known artists. The earliest known deck to exist dates back to the 15th century. However, because this deck is so rare and valuable it is only housed in a museum. But there are many decks to choose from and a true collector will slowly, over the years, build up a collection choosing from art work, to themes, to the history behind the deck. Tarot decks, with their 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards, comprise a soul journey.

Many famous artists have painted their versions of the deck. Salvador Dali painted one and the decks made from his artwork cost at least $100. DC Comics released a limited edition deck based on popular characters from their Vertigo line. This deck has also risen in value throughout the years because of it's limited quantiles and the characters within in them since many of those comics have finished their runs. There are many websites you can go to in order to find whatever deck you want. Whether you want to use them professionally or just for fun, collecting Tarot decks is also another hobby you can choose.

There are many things people can choose from in order to start a collection. It simply takes a little passion, a dedication to find the things you want, and the patience to collect those things over time. Collections can be handed down through the families, left as legacies for future generations, or donated to local museums, libraries, or heritage societies. Whatever the case may be starting a collection is an adventure of a lifetime.