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Reference Archive

• Coin Collectors World Apart. Editorial
• How One Organization Assists New Collectors
• 200 Million Collectors in America. Part 1 of a series.
• 200 Million Collectors in America. Part 2 of a series.
• Kennedy Collecting and the Aging Process
• Getting Younger People to Collect
• Memories Made in Adolescence Fuel Collecting

200 Million Collectors in America. Part 1 of a series.

Collecting in America is at an all time high. I hear projections that range from 25 million collectors in the US to 100 million. My guess - maybe 200 million is more accurate. Impossible, you say, with only 280 million people in the latest census. Maybe not. Here's why.

First, collecting is "in." It's a status symbol to have "collectibles" strategically situated around your home or apartment as conversation pieces. This is particularly true of the 25-40 year old affluent professional age group. Nostalgia is in, particularly 1950s-1970s; for many, this means collecting childhood memories. Having had an extended period without war, depression or recession during the 1990s allowed us the luxury and gratification to buy beyond necessity; instant credit allowed us to buy beyond budget!

Major media `hype' with collecting - prized possessions of celebrities are going to auction in record number - items that belonged to sports celebrities, Hollywood stars and from the entertainment industry, politicians, authors...all with items bringing astronomical prices. Conversation pieces..."this belonged to..." fill in the blank. The popularity of "The Antique Roadshow" and other shows are expanding the awareness of collecting...and the awareness of potential values. Check out the collecting magazines at your local book store if you haven't done so lately. You'll find dozens and dozens. New ones practically every week. Naturally, the Internet is also playing a role in the expansion of the collecting world.

Watch the young families stream into McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, and the other fast food establishments buying food and drink, yes, but also buying the collectible toys -- by the millions. These youngsters are `budding' collectors.

Major new movie productions include lucrative contracts and licensing fees for the franchise industry of "collectibles" to support the movie's theme and characters, be it Disney, Star Wars, Titanic or horror films.

Sports collectibles, after going through a recessed period a few years ago, seem to be strong once again, with collecting growing steadily in some new areas like golf and hockey.

Former U.S. Mint Director Jay Johnson, at the American Numismatic Association convention in Salt Lake City a year ago, estimated that there were 125 million Americans collecting the 50 state quarters. New issues of commemorative stamps are also seeing a robust business from the U.S. Postal Service.

Yes, we think 200 million collectors in America may be as valid as any other figure. The more important question is whether the antiques and collectibles industry can retain this momentum and capitalize on it...or even has the desire or interest to do so. (by Larry Krug, National Association of Collectors)

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