[Green314]

Some friends recently came back from local fairs, a big comics and pop culture convention, with bags full of action figures, trading cards, statues, special editions, and other collectibles. They buy them because they enjoy them, but also because they hope some might become sought-after and increase in value over the next 10 or 20 years.

It’s easy to understand wanting something featuring a favourite character. I’m less sure about collectibles that end up in a drawer and rarely get looked at. What makes that worthwhile: the enjoyment of collecting, the connection to a particular fandom, the rarity, or the chance of selling at a profit later?

I tend to prefer owning fewer things: objects that are useful, well designed, or enjoyable to look at every day. I’m interested in art, sculpture, and design, and I’d like to find something that could sit on a desk or at home, be beautiful and perhaps useful, have some history and an active resale market, and hold its value, or possibly appreciate.

I’ve seen the other side of collecting, too. A family collection of stamps, phone cards, and banknotes was eventually researched and sold, but it brought back very little compared with what had been spent over the years.

What kinds of collectibles would you suggest looking into? Is there anything that combines good design, usefulness, the pleasure of owning it, and a reasonable chance of being resold later?

[Oni]

I've collected graded comics/cards. Mostly stuff I enjoyed owning. But over time, tastes change, and I've gradually sold some of what I once enjoyed owning.

I always say collect what you love. At worst, it becomes worthless and you enjoy having it. At best, other people like it too and it will appreciate in value. Usually works for me.