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Collectible markets are unpredictable at best. If you are driven to collect and turn a buck, here are some rules to guide you.
First, get smart. There is no substitute for knowledge. You must learn about the field, the artists or manufacturers, history, what is in heavy demand, what's in ready supply, what's fake, and what's priced right. So read books, magazines and newsletters. Attend classes, visit galleries.
Avoid instant collectibles. A collectibles' value is determined by such factors as its quality, condition, intrinsic value, rarity, demand and provenance (or history of ownership or whose mystique has rubbed off on it).
Many collectibles grow in value because the rest of us wear them out or call them junk and toss them out. But what buyer of a Christmas ornament manufactured and marketed as a collectible would do anything but stash it away, preferably untouched? Odds are the stock will remain stable, keeping prices in check. So do not base your decisions about what to buy on what is stamped on the box or advertisement. Instead, buy what you love and be prepared to live with it forever.
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