Articles

The Collector's Creed

THE COLLECTOR'S CREED. The dos and do-nots.

  1. Before you start, know your subject. Buy the reference books; attend auctions, Swap-meets and Shows.
  2. Develop a gut feeling on your subject. It will come with experience.
  3. If it's scarce or considered rare, don't hesitate. Pass it up and you may have a long wait for another.We have all been there and done this.
  4. Rarities only come along once or twice in a lifetime; you think about it.
  5. If it is a rarity, you will always be able to turn it over.
  6. Always buy the best condition possible. Avoid pits, cracks, or chips.
  7. Do not buy junk. It will always be junk!
  8. A very small collection of excellent pieces will always be respected and admired. A large collection of junk will always be just that - junk.
  9. Always do a fair deal; it may open other doors to you. Burn your bridges and word will get around; the doors will be shut.
  10. You will get burnt on a deal at some time; we all have. Treat it as part of the learning curve

PS: BE WARNED: Collecting can become an obsession.

  • Collecting has been called another form of mental illness.
  • There is no organisation similar to AA for collectors. You are on your own.
  • If in doubt stay single.

Signed: Denu [after the first 40 years]