How to Preserve Your Collectibles

If you collect coins, stamps, sports cards, or any other type of memorabilia, then you know that storing it and displaying it is a big part of the hobby. Preserving your collectibles will help them to retain their value, stay in mint condition, and showing it off to all of your family and friends! Conserving your collectibles does not have to be complicated or even expensive. The following tips will help you preserve whatever collectibles you have.

The most important part of storing collectibles is making sure they stay out of light, as it can damage and harm all sorts of collectibles, especially if they are made of wood, paper, or textiles. The colors in fabrics, such as shirts, can fade, and materials can be dried out. Old film, for example, degrades over time, and if exposed to light, the chemical reaction is sped up and can damage it sooner than expected.

Humidity is another factor that can affect your collectibles. Antique acoustic guitars, for example, should be kept in particular temperatures, and the dryness of the air can play a factor in storage. For most things, however, it is important to keep a good balance. Room temperature is always a good as most things will be preserved in a moderate climate. Paintings, for example, can become brittle and destroyed if you leave it in an area that is too dry, but if it is too humid, then metals and other objects can spawn rust and mold.

Cleaning your collectibles can be a hassle and potentially damaging if you do not know what you are doing. A reputable collectibles dealer, such as the Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay, can give you expert advice and equipment on cleaning your valuable collectibles so they will be worth something for years to come!

Collector trends, whats popular now

Although trends in collecting come and go, the same staples remain. Trading cards, stamps, and coins remain most popular things to collect, with more niche markets such as sports memorabilia, comics, and video games gaining more and more popularity.

Coins have been collected since the dawn of civilization, and have been continuously collected throughout history for as long as they have been minted. Collecting error coins is one of the most popular categories of coin collecting, and they will always retain their value and worth. Collecting coins from other countries or time periods also remains popular, and hobbyists are able to amass a large collection this way.

Stamp collecting is another popular trend at the moment, and will most likely continue due to limited editions being printed on a yearly basis and keeping collectors in tune. People collect stamps for a multitude of reasons, and as with any type of collection, interest and the laws of supply and demand will keep your collection retain value.

Sports memorabilia is a booming business, and along with trading cards, has a large following and can have a wide range of collectors. Baseball cards have been popular with kids since the nineteenth century, and ripping open a pack of cards either as a casual hobbyist or high-stakes roller will always provide a great thrill.

Comic books are certainly a more niche market, along with video games, but with iconic superheroes and gaming characters becoming more accepted in the mainstream, the cult status is disappearing. A 1938 Superman #1 comic sold for 3.2 million dollars, and prices in both markets for retro and original editions have skyrocketed. You never know what is laying around in your grandma’s attic!

Come down to the Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay to find your niche! We see all sorts of treasures every day, and can give you a great, competitive price for whatever you have found. From coins, to sports memorabilia, we have everything you need to get on what's popular in collecting today!