Information About Antiques and Collectibles

It is important to know that the U.S. Customs Service describes an antique as an item with at least 100 years of age in existence - See How old is Old Enough to be an Antique…at www.antiques.about.com. Collectibles, on the other hand, are usually viewed as objects of value that the general public normally collects for personal or professional use. But Understanding Antiques 1987 by Lucilla Watson (with Introduction by Judith Miller on page 6) is a good general guide that will give you an overview of the whole subject. You will learn something of the history and development of all aspects of antiques, come to differentiate between the various periods and recognize factory marks and hallmarks, all of which are essential information to assist you in your quest for real antiques.

Generally, the value of any antique is based on a number of variables including condition, rarity, demand, quality and others. For Collectibles, coin collection is the oldest of the numismatic fields and the sheer range of type available can seem daunting to a new collector. Therefore, it is generally advisable to concentrate on one area such as ancient world, commemoratives, or simply examples form one specific period and place. Since coin collection is very popular, it is essential to know that coins should be handled as little as possible as condition is very important. You should invest in quality album and mounts to display and store your collection. Get more on this and a wide variety of collectibles from the Collectibles Price Guide 2005 by Judith Miller, page 213.

Since antiques are considered more valuable and expensive than collectibles, before buying any antiques, consider if they are authentic pieces or only reproductions. While some reproductions have what the experts call intrinsic value of there own, for example furniture, real antiques are much better. When considering to purchase an antique, if possible, remember to ask the sales person or proprietor (who has knowledge about your prospective antique) about the history of the item. And if you are sure of the authenticity thereafter, look for other signs of aging or original manufacturing dates. See What Should I Consider When Buying Antiques at www.wisegeek.com. Rarity in the antique business is very important. Mass reproduction for commercial purpose is very common today. So when you are deciding on your item, remember to consider if the antique says something interesting about the period in which it was made or created. An antique may be a one of a kind but if it is not possible to connect it in some significant way to design elements, for example, of its time, if may be more difficult to be sell or be re-sell. See Value of Antiques: What's it Worth…at www.canequest.com.

Then another essential characteristic to consider when buying antiques is condition. We are informed that many antique experts advise collectors not to clean certain pieces because the signs of age are part of the value. Some antiques are sometimes cleaned or restored before display and sale, such as paintings, but it is important to get information and be knowledgeable about whether or not an antique can be restored safely. An antique sale price may or may not include restoration or cleaning costs. Remember that any item in poor condition has poor resale value. The professional experts will usually correctly inform a prospective buyer that a normal amount of wear on an antique is perfectly acceptable. Wear patterns lend the legitimacy of the piece and "bespeak" its age.

Yet another feature when buying and collecting antiques is provenance. This is basically the actual history of the antique ownership. Knowing the item original owner and how they received or ended up with the antique can be very valuable when re-sale is being considered. So if the seller can provide ownership papers or photographs of the antiques with recognizable ancestors history this will be good. Antiques with provenance almost always retain their value better than those with unknown origin or ownership. Henceforth, it is easier to authenticate such antiques if the original owner can be identified or a bill of sale still exist. So proof, in order to achieve the premium value of for an item, is necessary. The essential advise here is that before purchasing any antique, we must ask for documentation, traceable descent of some sort, letters, contemporary reference, or even pictures. Remember that there are dishonest individuals willing to pay for forge and then resell that to true prospective antique buyers or collectors - www.canquest.com/value_antiques.asp.

Value System - Appraisal and Certification of a collector's antique are therefore also essential. Here the fair market value of an item is emphasized. Fair Market Value refers to the "IRS" in America, for example, terminology of an item and is the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any complusion to buy or to sell. Such prices in most case are often derived from public auctions or a free and open marketplace. Remember also that trade certification or accreditation is reassuring. Not all auction-house specialists are members of a professional organization. So to make sure you get references as you attempt and prepare to purchase your antiques and collectibles is essential. It is good to be sure that you are dealing with an experienced person who will appraise your special items correctly. See Value System - Kinds of Appraisal and What to Look For at www.artandantiques.net.

We are therefore aware of some of the essential characteristics for consider when purchasing an antique or collectible. Genuine antiques with current and known and traceable history will make a difference in the current value and possible resale potential value of the item. It is important to beware of fraudulent reproduced items and to get professional information or advice from certified antique and collectible experts. This will help to ensure or reduce the possibility of making an expensive purchase mistake.