As a collector, it is important to maintain your collection no different than a maintenance schedule on a car. Whether you collect fine art, Star Wars, comic books, pottery, or furniture, there are certain steps you should take when investing time and energy into a tangible property that you love.
Outside of physical maintenance like oiling a flame mahogany desk or dusting your action figures, every collection requires good bookkeeping like a business. Keeping track of your provenance is crucial when collecting antiques and collectibles. Now I am not referring to keeping every Walmart receipt for your Black Series Star Wars figures, though that would be rather interesting. But if you spend $500.00 on a painting in a local Newport, Rhode Island art gallery keep the receipt. You could not imagine how many homes we go in were there is a beautiful painting on the wall, but the owner can’t remember who the artist is nor who they bought it from. The signature even looks like a squiggly line to boot. Luckily guy’s like me exist but it can be frustrating if you just want to remember for personal reasons twenty-five years down the road. The best thing to do is grab a simple folder or three ring binder with plastic sleeves, that’s a lot better actually. Develop a habit of putting the receipt away after every time you buy something, and you’ll be golden twenty-five years down the road. Provenance does not end with fine art. Furniture both antique and contemporary you should be keeping track of. Obviously not necessarily something from a big box store but if you buy a nice crafted piece from an art fair or high-end designer it won’t hurt. You even see provenance play a factor with comics and toys. Grading companies such as CGC and CBCS will establish a “Pedigree” for collections of a high quality when every book is graded. Comics and toy’s can be just as finicky as antiques and fine art, bringing us to our next tip of this article for my fellow nerds out there.
Comics, toys, video games, and trading cards can be some of the hardest collectibles to maintain. Their condition can change naturally over time if not stored properly, and sometimes rapidly when stored in poor conditions. The first thing unless you want to collect loose toys or poor grade comics were there isn’t a high dollar amount you must get things graded. Sealed Star Wars figures (1978-1985), key issue comics like Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1st. app. Punisher) and Incredible Hulk #181 (1st full app. Wolverine), 1st edition Pokemon Charizard, or factory sealed Gameboy should be graded. But regardless of grading, these types of items should be stored out of direct sunlight, in a cool but not to moist or humid room. If you have a finished basement that is great but still run a dehumidifier to be safe. I’ve seen it happen to friends where they have a sealed box on the shelf for five years then one day they look, and the tape is on the ground. Do not let that happen to you.
The list goes on and on, and there are numerous areas of collecting that haven’t been mentioned but the point is be smart. Don’t leave a white action figure in the sun, don’t leave an oil on canvas painting in your smoker’ lounge where you burn three cigars every day, or don’t let a beautiful piece of mahogany veneer furniture stay in the garage. Take a second or two to think and you’ll have a happy life as a collector.
