5 Reasons Collectibles Sell for Big Money
Recently, experts on the PBS series Antique Roadshow estimated that a Tiffany lamp purchased in the 1960s for $125 could be worth up to $300,000. Makes you want to investigate some dusty boxes, doesn’t it?
Before you do, a warning: Even cherished items often disappoint. “You will get nothing for 19th-century porcelain dinnerware,” says Terry Kovel, publisher of Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2017. “A complete set is worth only about $150.”
But some junk really is treasure. These five factors, experts say, can create value in your collectibles.
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PHOTO BY: COURTESY OF HERITAGE AUCTIONS, HA.COM
2. Rarity
A 1964 GI Joe prototype brought $200,001 in 2003.
Why? Memorabilia from your youth probably isn’t worth much, unless it is extremely rare. For example, prototypes — that is, initial designs made in small quantities — can bring in huge sums.
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PHOTO BY: COURTESY OF HERITAGE AUCTIONS, HA.COM
3. Condition
A 1969 Fritz the Cat comic book in nearly pristine condition went for a whopping $717,000 in 2017.
Why? Even holy grail pieces bring little interest if tattered or moldy from years of storage, says Courtney Wilson of the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.
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PHOTO BY: COURTESY OF SOTHEBY'S
4. Age
A Chinese bowl bought for about $3 at a yard sale in 2007 was sold for more than $2.2 million in 2013.
Why? It turned out to be a 1,000-year-old relic from the Northern Song Dynasty, prompting a bidding war.
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PHOTO BY: COURTESY OF HERITAGE AUCTIONS, HA.COM
5. Authenticity
A Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card from 1952 fetched $1,135,250 at auction in 2016.
Why? “The world is full of people selling fakes,” says Terry Kovel, publisher of Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2017. Being able to prove the authenticity of your object through period documents or other specific evidence can be crucial.
Source: Realtor.com