Collecting

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.

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?

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.

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

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!

Transferware is a traditional ironstone china made by printing an often intricate image on a white background. Learn how to identify and value old china by pattern, backstamps, and style.

Travel back in time through these Vintage 1970's Photographs.

This article goes over the basics of UFC trading cards. If you can't wait to get started on this hobby, this is the place for you.

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

Beautiful porcelain pieces are ageless. But somehow, the older pieces speak to me. The patterns and styles are varied and endless. Enjoy a look at my collection.

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

The 10 most beautiful designs for American coins.

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.

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

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

Learn about collecting egg cups!

Save yourself some aggravation with these suggestions for building Metal Earth models. Tips and tricks for the beginner.

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 do rarity, condition, and provenance actually mean?

Before trying to learn the value of Depression glass, learn how to identify the pattern of your early-20th-century collectables.

United Cutlery's Kit Rae, Black Legion Battle Axe looks pretty, feels heavy, and is backed by nothing but lies and shifty marketing schemes. It is the most beautifully designed hunk of junk I have ever purchased, and it is getting returned as soon as possible. A "Do not buy," from me.

This article includes a review of the LEGO CMF Series 71024 or The LEGO Disney Minifigures Series 2.

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!

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 U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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

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

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.

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.

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

In this article, I will show you how to easily remove the old hair from your vintage troll doll and replace it with new Icelandic sheepskin hair.

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.

The British mark their silver in symbols. Learn how to read them to properly identify your silver and find treasures overlooked by others who don't know what the symbols mean.

Treasures can be found amongst the family crockery. Check the manufacturing mark on the back. Examples include Japanese post-war imports, Chinese Fine China, Fireking USA, Aynsley, and Towerbrite.

Rescue your Barbie fashion dolls and make them as good as new.

This article covers Beswick/Royal Albert figurines in the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit series, including the models I personally own. It also features information about Beatrix Potter, the Beswick factory, designers and the significance of backstamps.

Sure, they're collectible, vintage, and decorative, but who would have thought of buttons as being valuable? This article discusses the collecting, history, storage, reuse, and value of old buttons.

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

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!

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

Before I moved to the United States with my husband, we used to travel to different places. As we share the same interest, we love collecting Starbucks coffee mugs as part of our travel memorabilia.

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

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

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

Review of "The LEGO Movie 2" LEGO Rex's Plantimal Ambush Polybag 30460.

The American Silver Eagle one-Troy-ounce silver coin is a very popular coin with silver collectors and investors. Tables list quantities minted by year and likely eBay prices.

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.

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.

Bandai must have been drunk when they designed this.

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, but most cards have some clues you can follow.

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!

I have come to regret ever agreeing to buy L.O.L Surprise! dolls for my daughter. From their extremely contagious cases of Glitter Pox to their environmentally unfriendly packaging, these dolls may be the worst choice I've ever made.

She began her “Barbie Doll Style” in 1959; by 1974, Barbie Doll celebrated her sweet 16th birthday. Mattel’s teenage fashion model had new looks, new clothes and... a special Sweet 16 Barbie promotional doll.

Counterfeit coins have always been a problem for coin collectors. This article has some basic tips to help you avoid getting ripped off by purchasing fake coins.

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

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 the condition of the item.

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

A review of the LEGO Star Wars Rebel A-Wing Pilot 5004408 Polybag

Let's have a look at some of the oldest spinning tops from around the world and learn a little about their history, background, characteristics, and more.

A Review of the BR LEGO Minifigure Promotional Polybag 5001121

Learn about Olympic pin trading and its history. See the pins we collected in 1992 during the Barcelona games. Pin trading, while it can be profitable, is most of all fun!

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

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.

eBay is not the only online auction source for vintage toys. This article examines five vibrant auction sites that have a large selection of high-quality vintage toys for sale.

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?

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.

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.

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

Are you looking to get into the hobby of metal detecting? Check out my recommendations, as well as my tips on how to choose the best starter metal detector with the right features for your needs.

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.

Almost anything can be collected, so if you're looking to get into collecting as a hobby, then look no further than this article for some good collecting ideas.

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!

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.

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%.

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.

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.

There is no right or wrong way to collect baseball cards, but a look at the resources available to help you build a collection can give you an idea of how to get started today! Learn the basics of buying, selling, and trading baseball cards to make your collection great!

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

If you like history, vintage paper items, and learning about people's lives, try collecting antique diaries. Here are guidelines for collecting, restoring, and selling them.

Collecting Bicentennial Vintage Patriots Series Decanters by McCormick is a fun way to learn about the year 1776 when the United States of America began its struggle of becoming its own republic.

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").

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.

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

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.

The Lego company didn't always manufacture little plastic bricks—the first interlocking bricks were made in 1947! In the 60s, they became wildly successful with a series of motorized trains, still prized by collectors. Learn how to identify vintage Legos and buy cheap sets online through eBay.

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

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.

State quarter errors are a great way to add value to your collection. Learn the history of the statehood quarters and examine a list of mistakes you can find.

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.

Due to the quarter's long-running mintage, Washington quarter values have always remained promising. Discover which of these coins are the most valuable.

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

Here are some tips for collecting antique & vintage chintz teacups along with some pottery histories and lovely pictures!

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.

He-Man revolutionized the action figure industry and gave us a line of toys that to this day remains one of the world's favorites, but which are worth the money?

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.

This article includes a review of the LEGO Dimensions Green Arrow Minifigure Poybag Promotional Set 71342.

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

Count down the ten largest LEGO models of all time!

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

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.

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