Collectors Corner

COLLECTORS CORNER

by Jim Olson

What Makes a Collectable?

“I’m not sure if this is collectible or not, but I guess it is—because I collect them.” Someone recently made this remark and it got me to thinking, “What makes something a collectible?”

While there are a few variations of the definition from source to source, all of them pretty much say, “A collectable is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector.”

So technically, by definition, anything can be collectible if someone collects it. Perhaps a better way to put it would be, it is at least collectible to that person. But this does not necessarily mean it is valuable. Does it? One thing we also need to realize is the difference between being valuable and being collectible — because not all collectibles are valuable and not all valuables are necessarily collectible. Or are they…

If the definition of a collectible is any object regarded as being of value to a collector, and we are to assume that pretty much anything can be collectible, then anything of value is also collectible.

But how do we determine if something is truly valuable in the collectibles world. And who determines value? The short answer is — the marketplace determines monetary value. However value is also subjective. There is sentimental value, regional value, functional value, social value, collectible value and so forth. And different types of value are not equally important to all consumers.

But when talking about “collectibles” in the traditional sense of the word, 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. Meaning it is worth more than its original value or that it goes up in value over time. This effect generally happens due to rarity and popularity (among other factors, including the passing of time). In other words, the item also has some monetary value in order to be considered desirable to most collectors — at least to some degree.

ANIMAL & RANGE animal & range SCIENCES sCienCes

The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences The Department of Animal & Range Sciences is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Four on-campus animal facilities house: beeF CaTTle/horses/swine/sheep Students can major in Animal or Rangeland Resources and are provided with the very best of “hands on” academic instruction by our faculty. Fully equipped labs allow students access to cutting-edge research in:

LIVESTOCKNUTRITION / GENETICS / PHYSIOLOGY / ENDOCRINOLOGY / MEAT SCIENCE / WOOL / TOXICOLOGY / WATERSHED & RANGELANDECOLOGY / WEED & BRUSHCONTROL / PLANTSYSTEMATICS / GRAZINGMANAGEMENT

The Department also offers pre-veterinary studies –our graduates have a high acceptance rate into veterinary medicine programs. We offer graduate degrees at the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy levels. The M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal Science can emphasize nutrition or physiology, and offers a Ph.D. in Range Science to study range management, range ecology and watershed management. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO OPERATES

• The Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland

Research Center (The College Ranch) – 64,000 acre ranch just outside of

Las Cruces • The Corona Range & Livestock Research

Center – 28,000 acre ranch & facilities in

Corona, NM • Student organizations, including a

Block & Bridle Club, Pre-Vet Club,

Range Club, Horsemen’s Association,

Therapeutic Riding Club, &

Judging Teams • Clayton Research Center hosts research on shipping protocols, particularly evaluating the health and performance of newly received cattle, and nutrition and management from feedlot to slaughter

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When talking about “collectible value” in the marketplace, we tend to place more value on items which are rare in nature, yet remain popular.

An example of this would be the Honus Wagner baseball card produced by the American Tobacco Company in 1909. These were originally given away with a pack of cigarettes! However, in modern times, one of these cards can sell for over 1 million dollars! The reason the card is so valuable is very few have survived the test of time and there are many collectors out there for sports memorabilia. So this item qualifies on two main points — it is rare, yet remains popular to a large audience in the marketplace.

Another thing which often gets confused with being valuable or collectible, is age. Folks often use the terms collectible and antique interchangeably. But it’s important to realize there is a distinct difference between them. While all antiques technically could be collectibles, not all collectibles are necessarily antiques (modern art is an example of this). Some antiques can be worth a lot of money — others not worth much at all (other than sentimental or historical value). So be careful and research which antiques are truly “collectible” by also being valuable. They should be considered as such because they are still desirable in the marketplace — otherwise you are just getting a piece of old decor or “yard art” — and not a collectible.

Something else worth mentioning is this: things that were made to be “collectible” — rarely are. This includes pretty much all kinds of commemorative or mass produced products. As a general rule, if the “collectible” says “Made in China” or “Made in Taiwan” on it — it’s not a collectible. It is a decor item, or possibly a cheap knock-off. And these types of “collectibles” are rarely a wise investment. At least if you are hoping for appreciation in the future. They are decorative items at best, and mass produced decor is rarely “collectible” or valuable later on. But people still collect things like these don’t they? You might ask. So doesn’t this make them a collectible? Hmmm…

Technically — yes. As mentioned, anything of value to a collector could be considered a collectible. But when adding in the additional stress test regarding value, items mass produced as “collectibles” rarely qualify. But as mentioned above, there are several other reasons to collect besides monetary value.

“Collect the things you love, that are