Welcome to Part 2 in a series focusing on collecting-the art of gathering things together. Fanboys is a great place to start a collection or refine the one you have. In that spirit we’d like to start offering some quick and easy tips to take with you while working on adding to your own collection. If you’re seeing this Beginner’s Guide Part 2-you may want to check out the first part I wrote a few blogs back: check out Part 1 here.
In part one I wrote about deciding on what specifically you want to collect. The logical next step is to get out and get collecting.
Consider your collection.
This seems like an obvious statement, but with websites like Ebay right at your fingertips you might be tempted to start your search online. Several experts will advise you not to. Let’s unpack why.
Where you start your search depends on what it is you’re collecting. There’s an unlimited number of ways one can go about this task. Let’s say you want to collect autographs. Simple enough right? Who’s autographs? Why? If it’s autographs of celebrities you love, you may be able to find them at certain conventions, movie premiers, and that sort. What if it’s autographs of 40’s film stars, most of them may have passed and your search will be regulated to black and white glossy photos found in rarity shops or antique malls. Let’s say you decided on autographs of Disney characters, then a trip to Disney World or Disneyland may be in the future. What I’m saying is, the specificity of your collection will inform where you start.
Get Out!
Still, you’ll want to start in person. So-get out! Get out of the house and start looking around. Shopping in person allows you to see things up close. In person shopping means you can ask questions to the seller. This lets you both: gain experience and knowledge for what you’re collecting as well as guarantee the quality of the thing. New collectors shopping on Ebay, Etsy, or other websites may not know the right questions to ask or what things to look for to insure they’re not bringing home a fake, knockoff, or reproduction.
In person shopping helps to sharpen your collector’s eye. Sellers too are there to help guide and advise you as well. Ask where they get their inventory from. How they were able to procure the object? Ask how they can tell it’s an original, or rare, or unique.
Where to look?
I’m not sure I definitively answered the question directly though: “Where to look?” Visit local antique stores, flea markets, vintage shops, and even conventions. There’s more cons out there than just comic cons. Sometimes they’re called festivals: Retro Fest for instance, Tattoo festivals come through town, Pens, Games, Anime and book festivals are all great places to start shopping. Also consider estate and garage sales. You’d be surprise by what you’re able to find when people are purging their own collections.
Find a community. This you can do online via Facebook super easy. Send a direct message or an email and ask when and where the next meeting is. Attend those meet-ups, make friends, ask questions, figure out the ins and outs of the local marketplace.
Another quick tip is to start slow. Building your collection takes time, often years, so don’t get into a hurry. This hobby can last you a lifetime and it should.
Need more tips and trick when it comes to starting your collection? Fanboys has an entire series. Visit them all: Collecting Part I, Part III, Part IV, and Part V.
Power Rangers in Space
On November 19th and 20th Fanboys Marketplace is hosting a Power Rangers in Space Reunion Event. VIP passes and photo tickets are available now for purchase ahead of time. Click the link here, and we’ll see you in November!
