Why Collect Rare Collectibles?

As their name suggests, all rare collectibles arerare collectibles exist throughout the world.  Certain
scarce, hard to find items. The common denominatorcoins and postage stamps, books and manuscripts,
of all rare collectibles, no matter what their type orpottery, weapons and other militaria, antique tools,
age, is rarity.  Frequently, because of their scarcityoriginal artwork, antique furniture, and paper
and their appeal, rare collectibles are also valuable.ephemera can all be rare collectibles.  "Paper
The Nature of Rare Collectibles. As their nameephemera" consists of written or printed material
suggests, all rare collectibles are scarce, hard to findthat has survived to the present despite the fact
items.  They can be antiques that are desirablethat the pieces were originally produced as disposable
because of their age, type of craftsmanship or someitems, intended to be quickly discarded or
other unique feature that represents the past. Somedestroyed.  Examples of ephemera that can be rare
rare collectibles are so old that they are consideredcollectibles include certain postcards, posters, trade
to be antiquities - artifacts of an ancient civilizationcards, leaflets, exposition programs and advertising
such as ancient Greek or ancient Chinese society. flyers, all common enough at the time, but mostly
Alternatively, rare collectibles can be of very recentthrown away almost immediately.  Some
origin, sometimes being only a few years old. Theautographs, travel souvenirs and collectible
common denominator of all rare collectibles, nomemorabilia are also rare collectibles. Rare collectibles
matter what their type or age, is rarity.  Frequently,can be from anywhere in the world and from any
because of their scarcity and their appeal, rareculture.  Rare Oriental collectibles include small items
collectibles are also valuable.  But whether they aresuch as Chinese Dynastic pottery or temple objects,
valuable or inexpensive, rare collectibles are alwaysas well as large items such as articles of traditional
important pieces in a collection. Rare is ... Theclothing or armor from the Japanese feudal period. 
definition of "rare" or "rarity" changes with the typeEuropean rare collectibles are equally varied, and
of object, and accordingly, the definition of "rarerange from ancient Greek statuary to the beautifully
collectibles" is somewhat imprecise - there is no strictilluminated (illustrated) maps that were drawn by
line of demarcation between what is "rare" and whatearly cartographers during the Age of Exploration in
is "not rare."  In some instances an item isthe 16th Century.  Collectible, rare objects from the
considered to be a rare collectible because only oneAmericas include certain pieces of Native American
or two examples of that object are known to exist(Indian) pottery, blankets or beadwork, original
in the entire world.  In other cases, hundreds orhistorical documents from Colonial or Revolutionary
even thousands of a particular object may havetimes, and ancient Inca, Aztec or Maya amulets,
survived to the present, but because their existencepottery and carvings. Why Collect Rare Collectibles?
has not yet been discovered (such as very oldMany people seek out rare collectibles because of
porcelain dolls that were kept in a trunk that is nowtheir inherent value.  For these people, rare
buried in an attic) or they are fragile and easilycollectibles are a form of investment. But the primary
damaged (such as pottery, an early postage stampmotivation for many other collectors is the "thrill of
or a 200 year-old piece of paper ephemera), highthe hunt" - that certain sense of satisfaction that is
quality examples are considered to be scarce. Almostfelt when a very hard to find piece is tracked down
Any Type of Object Can Become a Rare Collectible,and finally located somewhere in the world.
if Scarce Enough. Thousands of different types of