There may not be collecting clubs representing virtually every area of collecting, but there certainly are not many areas lacking this type of organized collector support. Depending upon how you want to count them or qualify them, there probably are well over 40,000 collecting groups supporting collectors in the antiques, art and collectibles industry. Some of these clubs may have 50 members...some may have 50,000.

Although these clubs may take different forms and may vary greatly in size and structure, for the most part they all have at least three things in common. They are dedicated to serving collectors. They are committed to providing education and knowledge about collecting. And, they offer a form of communications networking among their membership.

While collecting clubs often begin with the friendship and fraternal theme being the basic premise for the group, many clubs evolve into much more. Most clubs truly become the authority...or one of the authorities...for their given collecting area within the industry.

Many of our price guides and references on collecting are produced by clubs or club members. As clubs mature, they often establish thorough archives and sometimes even museums or libraries. Some clubs are the watchdogs and monitor for reproductions in their collecting areas. They seem to know where the good collections are located and where the more rare and unique items of the hobby can be found. Some clubs offer seminars or retreats, internships and project grants. Most clubs offer publications or newsletters about their activities and the collecting area they serve. And, as each year goes by, the websites of hundreds of these collecting groups are getting better and better - what wonderful resources these sites are providing to the entire world.

Although antique shows, galleries, auction houses, appraisers and periodicals serving the industry can offer much information and services of their own to the collecting community, collectively there is no single source that can equal the knowledge base of the collecting clubs and their members in the antiques and collectibles industry.

The Association of Collecting Clubs has a singular goal of supporting and strengthening collecting clubs by working with their leadership and membership. To encourage networking between clubs is a continuing goal.

As the antiques, art and collectibles industry is confronted by various issues, the collecting clubs, and the Association of Collecting Clubs, stand ready to support the industry in positive ways.