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For older items, as one can expect, you will have to frequent thrift stores. Unfortunately, more valuable items can be hard to get, as collectors grab them up. So the best bet is to simply explore thirst stores, garage sales, and other, similar venues in the hope of securing a great deal. It’s more possible than you might think.
#23 Here Is My Collection Of Smoll Pencils. The 4 On The Right Are Too Big And Currently In Use Until They Fit
Obviously, the value of a Barbie doll comes from the fact that there are collectors who are interested in it. This is still, for better or worse, a small market. Items with more clear resale value are, naturally, harder to buy. For example, the largest jewelry collection in the world, at least by value, belonged to Austrian philanthropist and art collector Heidi Horten. Around the time of her passing, it was valued at around $150 million.
This is perhaps why so many collectors focus on more niche items. First and foremost, it’s more accessible than, say, jewelry. At the same time, this also allows someone to create an actually unique collection that stands out. Plus, if you are the world leader in, say, misprinted stop signs, it does ascribe a certain kind of expertise.
That being said, people really will collect anything, up to the point where it starts to seem like something else. For example, the world’s largest toilet paper collection is held by Flo and Richard Newman of Boston. While this could be just a collection, a passion project of sorts, it does also feel like they are stocking up for the apocalypse. Any seasoned collector knows that, ultimately, it can be pretty hard to actually store one’s things. At a certain point, you have to start sacrificing space and eventually rooms in your home. Depending on the value, you might even want to purchase insurance or additional security. Although most burglars don’t have the capacity to lift thousands of bottles of hot sauce.