A collectible (or
collectable) is typically a manufactured item
designed for people to collect. In this respect, they are
distinguishable from other subjects of collections, which may also
include natural objects (e.g.,
butterflies) and objects manufactured for purposes other than
collecting (e.g.,
stamps). Some objects designed for other purposes, such as
toys, become so popular among collectors that they are later
marketed specifically to that audience. The high price for certain
older
Star Wars
action figures is a good example of this phenomenon since the
figures were originally intended to be purchased as toys rather than
collectibles.
History
The earliest
collectibles were included as incentives with other products, such
as
cigarette cards in packs of
cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and
sometimes became the subject of "collectible crazes". Eventually
many collectible items came to be sold separately, instead of
being used as marketing tools to increase the appeal of other
products.
To encourage
collecting, manufacturers often create an entire series of a given
collectible, with each item differentiated in some fashion.
Examples include
sports cards depicting individual players, or different
designs of
Beanie Baby. Enthusiasts will often try to assemble a complete
set of the available variations.
The early versions of a
product, manufactured in smaller quantities before its popularity
as a collectible developed, sometimes command exorbitant premiums
on the secondary market. In a mature market, collectibles rarely
prove to be a spectacular investment.
Collectors items
Occasionally, a series
of circumstances will take place that result in an item from a
collectible series becoming exceptionally valuable. These objects
are referred to as
collector's items due to their rarity, and these objects have
occasionally been valuable enough to be sold for substantial
amounts of money. Some even later destroy remainders of such items
to cause forced scarcity
Popular types of
collectibles, this is only a few of the hundreds of collectible
items.
