Collecting

Think you know everything about how Barbie came to be?

Why do people collect stuff? What are psychological motivations and joys of collecting? What are some tips and ideas for creating, organizing, and displaying a collection?

If you like history, vintage paper items, & learning about people's lives, try collecting antique diaries. Here are guidelines for selling these or restoring them to a relative of the journal writer.

Thimbles are such a neat item to collect since they are small and readily available worldwide in souvenir shops. I hope you enjoy reading about them, and maybe start your own collection!

Estimating a coin's value can be tricky for a novice, but most of us have happened across an interesting old coin and wondered about its worth. Here's a guide that will take you step by step to understanding how much your coin is worth.

Collecting commemorative stamps can provide a great introduction to history. In 1936 and 1937, the United States Post Office issued a series of ten Army and Navy commemorative stamps honoring heroes from the Revolutionary War through the Spanish-American War. The four-cent Navy commemorative honors Admirals William T. Sampson, George Dewey, and Winfield Scott Schley, naval heroes of the Spanish-American War. This stamp showcases the best of the turn-of-the-century Navy.

No action base? No problem! Here's a guide to posing your action figures without spending a lot of money on an expensive platform.

Billy Blazes, Rocky Canyon, Wendy Waters. Big clunky feet, equipment packs. The animated TV show, the direct to video movie. These are the basics, but there's a few weird facts you missed.

In the late 1950s to 1970s, Lucky Products Inc. produced a 100 piece toy soldier set that came with a storage footlocker. These comic book mail-in toys were a remarkable mix of toy Army, Navy, and Air Force figurines.

Radio-controlled model cars; how to change from original equipment brushed motor to new low-maintenance brushless motor. With parts illustrations.

This article covers Beswick/Royal Albert Figurines in the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit series. Models I own, something about Beatrix Potter, the Beswick factory, designers & significance of Backstamps

The wheat penny was an American coin designed by the U.S. Mint from 1909 to 1958. Some wheat pennies can be worth over $1,000! Now that's a pretty penny!

Two decades ago, Fisher-Price introduced a line of toddler-friendly action figures that eventually outgrew their target audience and became one of Mattel's hottest properties, before it fizzled out.

Blue Ridge Pottery dishes made in the Appalachian mountains are very popular with collectors. History and information on Blue Ridge Pottery Show and Sale yearly in Erwin, Tennessee

Jewelry reflects the taste and attitude of every period in history. There are clues that can be used in deciphering how old your jewelry is. The older and rarer, the more valuable it will be.

Repair and rebuild shock absorbers on your radio-controlled (RC) cars. A step-by-step guide with photos.

Some people paint, some people read, but there are lots of people collecting things as a hobby. If you wish you had more nifty things to display, consider starting a collection. I have some suggestions for you.

Here's a look at the 12 original Star Wars action figures from Kenner that launched a vintage collecting frenzy that continues today.

Learn history by collecting stamps. In 1936 and 1937, the U.S. Post Office issued a series of ten commemorative postage stamps honoring military heroes from the Revolutionary War through the Spanish-American War. The one-cent Army stamp honors Revolutionary War Generals George Washington and Nathanael Greene, and also includes a vignette of Mount Vernon. The stamps provide a window into early U.S. military history.

There is a difference between antiques and collectibles and a difference between price guides and actual value which is influenced by consumer demand, availability, and condition of the item.

Learn about collecting egg cups!

Find out about weird rocks to add to your mineral collection. Family friendly rocks, fossils, gemstones and minerals for kids and adults to collect!

This list includes the original 16 hot wheels cars first released in 1968, plus fun facts about the die-cast toys.

Flow Blue is a highly collectible, antique blue-and-white china popular during the Victorian era, known for hazy blue floral, pastoral, or Asian patterns on bright white china.

Collectible buttons; vintage buttons; decorative buttons; who would have thought of buttons as being valuable collectibles? Buttons used in craft projects. Sewing buttons. How to store buttons.

This spectacular ruby-colored, early-American pattern glass can add beauty and interest to your decor, and it is fun and affordable to find and collect.

With a long running mintage, Washington quarter values have always remained promising. Discover Washington quarter values.

If you collect teddy bears, or just think they are sweet, you will want to read article this about Boyds Bears, which are no longer being produced.

State quarter errors are a great way to add value to your collection. Learn the history of the Statehood Quarters find a list of mistakes you can find.

The Barbie Dream House has come a long way since its inception in 1960. Here, read about the numerous changes in style, look, and colors of dream houses for this dream doll.

With 32 different buildings, the Lego Architecture Series has been growing in qauntity and popularity since 2008. Continue reading to see ALL of the buildings in both the Landmark and Architect Series

Before trying to learn the value of Depression Glass learn how to identify the pattern of your early 20th century collectible.

Vintage Lego minifigures from the classic sets of the 1970s and 1980s were the predecessors of modern minifigs like Batman, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

An article exploring the history of wheat pennies, wherein I clear up some misconceptions about their value, and explain simple appraisal for those interested in coin collecting (or, "numismatics").

Collecting decks of playing cards and be a fun and rewarding hobby. Learn the pros and cons of collecting playing cards, and ways to display your collection.

The 10 most beautiful designs for American coins.

This article covers everything from preprinted albums and loose leaf binders to archival quality stock books for valuable philatelic items.

Look over any collection of early naval postcards, and you'll find one or more from Enrique Muller. He was a photographer and postcard publisher in New York City until about 1920. Well, I say "he" ...

Tips on cleaning plush stuffed toys, both vintage and new, from an experienced collector, seller, and restorer.

Learn how to identify pottery and porcelain hallmarks and marks.

Sooner or later there will be a buyer for just about any item you care to name, but what makes an antique or collectible desirable? What does rarity, condition and provenance actually mean?

Are you a 90s kid with old toys kicking around in your attic? Some of them might be worth a lot of money today. Check out this list of toys from the 90s worth a fortune today, and see if you're sitting on a gold mine.

This vintage button guide contains valuable information about different types of vintage buttons including how to test them to see what they are made from. Also, learn how to safely clean and care for vintage and antique buttons.

Outfits, separates, accessories, costumes ... they are all in Barbie Doll's closet. 1964 was a fashionable year for Barbie Doll!

A search through my handkerchief treasure box reveals many happy memories and interesting information about the development of the kerchief.

Most often delicately colored or clear, Depression glass has its own unique look.

Antique samplers are delicate and fragile. They must be cared for by someone who knows how to care for old textiles. Here is the story of an old sampler and how I came to learn about its history.

Almost anything can be collectible and collected. If you're looking to get into collecting for a hobby then look no further than this article for some good collecting ideas.

A brief history of how postage stamps came to be, along with an introduction to stamp collecting. Once described as "The World's Greatest Hobby," stamp collecting flourished until the rise of technology in the 1980s. After three decades of decline, the hobby is now enjoying a rebirth.

The Roosevelt Dime Collection is a unique piece of U.S. Coinage history. In this guide, discover the history, key date values and dime errors contained within the Roosevelt Mintage.

Vintage teacups have an elegance all their own. There are an infinite amount of cup shapes and patterns. So very delicate and beautiful.

Vintage textiles are valuable, collectible, and need special treatment for laundering or storage. Cutting whole pieces for home craft projects destroys their value.

Whether you inherited it from your great-grandmother or picked it up at an estate sale, your old mirror may be worth more than you realize. It's time to put on your detective hat and look for clues!

The hobby of collecting sea shells has been done for thousands of years. Whether you live by the seashore or are an occasional visitor of a beach site, a shell advertises nature's art.

Learn history by collecting stamps. From 1936 to 1937, the U.S. Post Office issued a series of ten commemorative postage stamps featuring military heroes from the Revolutionary War through the Spanish-American War. The five-cent Army stamp pays tribute to the United States Military Academy at West Point, the nation's oldest service academy. The stamps provide a great introduction to early U.S. military history.

Collecting stamps provides a wonderful and fun way to learn history. In 1936 and 1937, the U.S. Post Office issued a series of ten Army and Navy commemorative stamps honoring heroes from the Revolutionary War through the Spanish-American War. The three-cent Navy stamp honors Admirals David Farragut and David Porter, naval heroes of the Civil War and adoptive brothers. The stamp provides a nice introduction to the naval history of the Civil War.

Regardless of why you decide to sell your vintage toys -- you want to get top dollar for them. Here are a few ways to help you get what they are worth.

Do you want to know more about that old picture? Is it a valuable watercolour or oil painting? What is that antique picture actually worth, and how can you research it for free?

Seashell collecting is a popular hobby. There is nothing better than bringing home some of nature's best jewels as a memory of your Florida vacation. Learn the best places to shell in Florida.

Thousands of so-called "authentic" autographed photos of famous people/celebrities are sold on eBay and Amazon every week. Lots of scammers get rich selling forged autographs and fakes. If you're wondering whether yours is really signed or just a clever reproduction or forgery, keep reading.

Collecting autographs can be for fun or profit. Some autographs can be worth a lot of money, and there have been some famous autograph collectors over the years. Here are some autographs tips and trivia!

If you are looking for tips on how to collect Steiff animals, then look no further. You'll find places to purchase the toys and tips on keeping your collection in top shape.

Here's gemstone treasure that you can work yourself. The Oceanview Mine, Temecula, California gives chances to separate tailings of aquamarine, tourmaline, citrine, morganite, amethyst, and more.

So you have this old picture, and you're not sure who it's by. The right name could make all the difference at auction, but just how do you find out who painted your item—and were they famous?

Rescue your fashion dolls. Make them as good as new.

From gears to wheels, Lego Technic sets are challengingly fun for builders of all ages. Check out all of the 1,000+ piece Technic sets right here for inspiration as you admire their fine detail!

Be sure to check your pockets! You might have a valuable penny in your possession. Find out which pennies you should look out for when counting your change.

Some basic history and examples of modest mid-century American pottery by Spaulding/Royal Copley, McCoy, Hall, Shawnee, and Haeger.

The correct term for the study of coins is numismatic. Collecting coins from the U.S. and foreign countries over a few years can yield a small fortune with returns ranging from 20% to 30%.

Although stamp collecting has never been a primary passion of mine, I have faithfully preserved my mother's and grandmother's collections.

When your collection of postcards (or photos) reaches a certain size you need to think about how to store, protect, and display safely and creatively.

Why stop with just the Statehood Quarters, when you could be collecting the America The Beautiful Quarters Program? Come learn more about National Park Quarter errors and values!

Sterling silver and silver plate is attractive and collectible. Sterling is valuable for craftsmanship, rarity, and for melting as a commodity.

He-Man once blazed a new path for action figures. With tons of great characters and a world of fantasy behind it He-Man figures still are prized possessions for collectors, but which pieces are worth the investment?

In this guide, I cover seven valuable pennies that are still found in circulation today. These rarities pop up more often than you think! In addition to these seven coins, I reveal some of the rarest and most expensive pennies out there and discuss some of the nuances of numismatics.

A look at the Legends of Hollywood, a commemorative stamp series created to feature legendary actors, actresses and directors who have made a positive and undeniable impact on American film.

The famous White Star Liner Titanic will always hold a special place in our hearts. Just the name of that magnificent ship immediately conjures up unforgettable and moving scenes from romantic and tragic movies about this great human disaster. ...

How did Barbie come to be? Learn about how the lovely doll's controversial beginnings led to a worldwide phenomenon.

In this special entry marking my 75th hub, I would like to share with you the fruits of my favorite hobby.

Love rocks? It's easy to become addicted to rock collecting when you spend time surrounded by rocks in the great outdoors.

This is a description of how I repaired my GI Joe Mobile Support Vehicle (MSV). This is a classic and collectible toy from the 12” GI Joe Adventure Team series of the early 1970s. It is approximately 21” long! It is equipped with a moving...

If you have an old stuffed animal that you are unsure about, you just might have a Steiff animal. Prized by collectors around the world, Steiffs are fairly easy to identify. Using the 3 identifiers described in this article will help you determine if you have a Steiff animal.

Error Lincoln cents are interesting and fun to collect. Type of errors include: clipped planchet, blank planchet, defective die, off-center strike, and broadstrike.

More of my adventures in collecting and learning about midcentury American pottery, as well as a discussion of my experiments with some minor repairs.

I first "discovered" Fiestaware several years ago, when I wanted brightly colored china for my kitchen. Fiestaware is retro but is becoming popular again. It is well made and has lovely shapes.

The Peace silver dollar came into being through the vocal requests of coin collectors to commemorate the end of World War I. It was the last dollar coin to be made of silver for general circulation.

If you collect vintage postcards, you may like to know roughly how old the card is. It isn't always easy to establish its age. Most cards have some clues you can follow.

Thornton Utz, a masterwork artist for Hamilton Collection Limited Edition Plates. Utz has artistic talent as an illustrator, portraitist, and as a collector plate artist, and a fine art painter.

A review of the Lillie Nendoroid figurine from Good Smile and the Pokémon Center.

In 1974, the United States Postal Service issued a beautiful set of commemorative stamps in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Universal Postal Union. Each of the eight stamps in the set features a famous work of art by an internationally renowned artist that reflects the theme of reading and writing letters. These stamps are a miniature art gallery, with masterpieces by Raphael, Hokusai, Peto, Liotard, ter Borch, Chardin, Gainsborough, and Goya.

Collecting vintage Melmac and melamine dinnerware can be a fun hobby. This article will tell you a bit more about this fantastic plastic of our past!

A guide for finding sharks' teeth, along with information about fossilized sharks' teeth and sharks' teeth for sale.

The Lego company didn't always manufacture little plastic bricks - the first interlocking bricks were made in 1947! In the 1960's, Lego became wildly successful with a series of motorized trains, which are prized by collectors. Learn how to identify vintage Legos, and buy cheap Lego sets online through eBay.

Antique and vintage plates and their modern reproductions are popular and collectible. A general overview of china dishware, its history, and how to identify patterns and designs.

Nanking Cargo is the name given to a hoard of porcelain recovered from the South China Sea in 1985. This is the story of that porcelain and the ship that carried it to the ocean's floor.

Airmail stamps are not just stamps. They are pieces of aviation and postal history going back some 1 1/2 centuries! "Airmail Stamps..." takes a look at the history and examples of these stamps.

I saw this once in a Dengeki Hobby issue. I will be trying this to one of my Gunpla.

Learn history by collecting stamps. From 1936 to 1937, the United States Post Office issued a series of ten commemorative postage stamps featuring Army and Navy heroes from American wars in the 18th and 19th centuries. The four-cent Army stamp honors Civil War Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson of the Confederate Army, and also includes a view of Robert E. Lee's birthplace, Stratford Hall. These stamps make American military history come alive.