What is it you collect? I like certain toys, and other things.

[Archae]

Link to tweet

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Up until this year, I collected rolling pins, tea pots, Victorian china

and silver pieces, Depression glass, and Shawnee pottery.

Sold 97% of everything in 2020.

[orleans]

43. why did you sell it? nt

[sinkingfeeling]

63. Sold my Victorian house and personal belongings in order

to leave the country. But Covid has messed up my plans.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Cats

Statues, figurines art work all kinds of felines.

Kingdom of the claw action figures and egyptian gods.

Had a great collection of She Ra and He Man figures, and beast war transformers,kept them in perfect condition.lost them when I moved. Cried when I figured out how much they were worth.

[LakeArenal]

3. Disney Pluto figurines....He's NOT Goofy people.

Also photos of every concert I attended.

Also Christmas ornaments. Lots of Radko’s before he went Chinese.

[NNadir]

4. Books. It's becoming something of a problem. n/t.

[Grasswire2]

21. I resemble that remark. nt

[ShazzieB]

41. So do I!

[electric_blue68]

55. My cousin's husband (since they have a house & yard) had a ...

book shed built for the overflow! 😄

[multigraincracker]

5. I buy and sell collectables, but

not for me. It's all just stuff. I find it interesting and love to learn about it. Everything I own is for sale, the stuff I really like is just more expensive.
We just changed the living room around and it's now time to sell my favorite chest. I bought it from a lady that had me come over to look at her china and glass. I asked if there was anything in the barn. She said no, but we could go out and look. I saw this old chest and asked about it. She said they keep their alfalfa seeds in it and she would sell it for $25. I bought it and took it to a friend that was an expert in old furniture. He said it was made in Germany between 1740 and 1760. In it's ruff condition, he thought it could bring $500. I'll ask about half of that.
You could say I'm a treasure hunter. I sell the treasure and keep the money to look for more treasure.

[Scrivener7]

6. Nothing!

[GP6971]

7. I kind of collect Lionel trains

and accessories from the 50's.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

12. Have you been to the California State Rail Road Museum in Sacramento?

It is an amazing museum. Talk about model trains as well up on the 3rd floor. Lionel in various scales and amazing diaramas too.

[GP6971]

17. I haven't.

It's on the to do list, but we haven't done anything because of Covid. We are driving to AZ in the spring and Sacramento is a planned overnight stop. So I hope to get there.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

74. There is also an AMAZING Automobile Museum as well.

I hope you get to experience both places. Old Sacramento is near the Rail Road Museum. Neat shops, original buildings from the 1850's and beyond. There is a Parking Ramp across from the RR Museum for easier access than using the meters.

[srose58089]

25. I collect Lionel Trains and US Stamps

If anyone is near to Greeley Colorado there is the Colorado Model Railroad Museum. They have one of the best HO scale train layouts I have ever seen. You can check them out at
https://www.cmrm.org/

[electric_blue68]

57. Do you have a layout?

I love looking at layouts.

[Bayard]

8. Native American and wildlife art

And books.

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. Dust

[quaint]

73. I'll bet my collection is waaay more vast than yours.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

10. Darth Vaders and Dragons.

What's Star Wars without Darth Vader?

Dragons? I am one. Born in the Year of the Dragon

[Archae]

13. I love dragons too.

I have all those Spyro figures, a couple other figures, just got "Sisu" from the newer Disney movie.

I like Darth Vader too, he had the coolest outfit in Star Wars.

[Aristus]

11. Autographed first editions.

Mostly of the late, world-renowned fantasist Harlan Ellison.

I also have a first edition of "Lost Moon" (the inspiration for the movie 'Apollo 13' ) signed by Fred Haise.

[panader0]

65. I have a few autographed first editions of William Saroyan's books.

Actually, they're dedicated to my mom, To Miss Elizabeth Kingston.
She was an English teacher in the Bay area in the late 30's.

[mopinko]

67. i lucked into a signed david baldacci at a charity thrift store.

absolute power, his 1st book. funny thing- i was reading the book, but left it at home.
killed some time at the hospital thrift shot, and there was a hard copy. grabbed just to read.
then saw the sticker that it was from a b-n signing. 1st edition.

have al gore's book, signed.
and have michelle's obama's book on gardening, signed by that skinny hubs of hers. long story.

[2naSalit]

14. Used to collect lots of things...

Antiques mostly, a small collection. Now I only have old cookbooks and dictionaries left. But my new thing is...











ROCKS!! Seriously, I go rockhounding for fun and exercise, sometimes I find some really cool stuff.

[LoisB]

19. Yay for rocks

[electric_blue68]

56. We used to do that on a few family vacations...

My mom and I. My dad did it for her but I think he might have enjoyed it, and sis might have been bored.

We got florescent rocks from Franklin Mine in NJ.
Herkimer "diamonds" (double pointed clear quartz) from Herkimer, NY.

[alittlelark]

15. Simple pendants.

Simple stones - they can also make beautiful tree ornaments. 😎

[Retired Engineer Bob]

16. VHS porn tapes and magazines

I need to find a discreet method of proper disposal. I prefer the next of kin not to have to deal with it, LOL.

[DoBotherMe]

33. LOL!

[UTUSN]

53. An end-of-life trainer said they always asked for their porn to be disposed of.

[LoisB]

18. Books, rocks, and baskets.

[vanlassie]

20. Vintage sewing machines

[FB47243]

22. Tupperware

[Archae]

30. What do you think of my collection of Trek ships?

[Grasswire2]

29. yee haw! nt

[localroger]

27. I have about 400 electronic vacuum tubes

Some years ago I actually used one of the oldest ones, a type 30, to build a radio from a set of plans that was published in the early 1930's (about the same age as the tube itself). The radio works. I find tubes to be incredibly beautiful vintage artifacts of technology, both functional and beautifully intricate.

[hydrolastic]

64. First stereos 1957-1960

Vacuum tubes are the coolest things we ever made. Fascinating technology. last week a 1959 Magnavox Concert Grand found its way here.

[Grasswire2]

28. mid century linens, books books, ephemera, vintage collectible sheet music...

I was a part time picker and eBay seller for a number of years, but haven't done so lately.

I loved estate sales and rummage and so on. Turning something for a good profit was great fun.

I once paid $10 for a particular piece of sheet music, had it framed on my wall for ten more years, and then sold it off eBay for $1200. That was cool.

Now I am left with a lot of stuff and will probably give the rest away eventually.

[bamagal62]

31. I love old linens!

Always search for them in antique shops and estate sales. I also have a bit of a vase problem.

[Grasswire2]

38. Lordy, I have about thirty different white damask tablecloths...

...but that is not my real interest. I just couldn't see them being snapped up by someone who wants to cut them up and tie dye them or something.

I was buying mid-century tablecloths before the rage hit, and before reproductions flooded everywhere. I still have most of those.

I have a problem resisting things that I can buy for a buck and know I can sell for $75, reliably. And it happens often when there are still rummage sales and no pandemic. A little Majolica figurine. Paid 75 cents, sold on eBay for $75. I pick up vases, too, but usually only things I like. A beautiful handpainted artists vase, embossed with sunflower images. I paid 25 CENTS for it at rummage. (I wish it was easier to post photos on DU) I adore that one, and I had a hand-embroidered vintage tablecloth covered with sunflowers too, but I gave that to a family member (and regretted doing so..LOL)

[bamagal62]

49. I also scout for bad paintings that are in awesome frames!

Everyone forgets that the frames might be worth more than the painting!

[UTUSN]

54. *Disposing* of stuff is the thing, now that I'm getting ready to kick-it!1

[TygrBright]

32. I collect space. I've gotten to the "getting rid of stuff" stage. n/t

[UTUSN]

35. Now you went and did it

I guess I'd say "bells" since I've got 75-100 (who knows), from flea markets, 2nd hand "antique" stores, and the vast flea market called the internet. But I've grokked that once you become a collector of *one* category, you prolly will collect other things.

So it's BELLS. The origin story for me is the misguided nostalgia for the Navy - like, military or whatever can be a horse's ass while it's happening but ten years later the fun love parts seem to blot out the other parts. So one of the noble reminiscences was about the BELL on my first ship. How bells used to be necessary for time keeping, with a big ship's bell on every ship.

So like 15 years after the Navy in a flea market there was a hand bell with a deer's dead and antlers on it for $7 and I snapped it up. Then kept finding others. All kinds of figurine handles. Plus the outside, common ones like for ranch or gates. And I've refurbished - nuts and bolts and craft painting some.

However, as for other categories, after fracturing a fibula with two operations and needing a cane for awhile, I ditched the industrial medical cane and kept using a GENTLEMAN's cane and now have about a half dozen of those - a plain curved top, a bull's head, a ram's, head, a pewter fancy one.

[Grasswire2]

39. oh, very cool!

I have a couple of sleigh bells from great grandmother's string of them used in Connecticut winters on a real sleigh. I also had the bear skin rug that kept their laps warm, but it began to go bald eventually and I discarded it.

[UTUSN]

52. How best to have a grandmother's thing! - luvya!

[Fiendish Thingy]

36. Beatles, animation art from 30's-60's, some toys, Star Wars, Disneyland items from 50's & 60's

The Beatles collection is by far the biggest category.

[Hamlette]

37. Automata (mechanical toys), Polish posters, salt and pepper shakers

these toys are not safe for children. And are hard to find. Matt Smith's site is here: https://www.fourteenballstoy.co.uk/index.htm

Poland has 2 world famous graphic art colleges so there is some good stuff coming out of there.

[hydrolastic]

66. Super cool, love this

[nevergiveup]

40. Old tin advertising signs (American)

[Mr.Bill]

42. I collect Martini glasses.

nothing valuable, just stuff I find at yard sales and thrift stores. I have about 90 or 100 of them. They are all different. Since we downsized our living space, I don't really have room to display them so they have been packed away in boxes for about five years. My wife never liked them anyway.

[cayugafalls]

44. I collect toys, vintage calculators, micro rc race cars/tanks, pokemon cards...etc.

I recently started selling off my Pokémon collection. It seems the pandemic sparked an very large increase in prices.

I've done quite well this year as I had amassed over 35,000 cards, full sets and specialty Pokémon toys since I began collecting in the 90's.

I recently sold 1 card for over $800...

[orleans]

45. used to collect records

nothing these days

[Scrivener7]

69. Me too. This is interesting. I used to have hundreds of books, now I use the library. I used

to have hundreds of records, then tapes, then CDs. Now it's all online.

[Grasswire2]

78. If I had any space, I would collect records. And cylinders.

78s. A real hot collectors item. Vinyl is hot, too, but my interest lies in 78s.

And I always wanted a player piano, but if I had one now, I would have to sleep on top of it.

I have friends who are deeply into 78s. Lots to learn in that niche.

[homegirl]

46. Art

by local unknown artists. And Bjorn Wiinblad posters.

[ShazzieB]

47. Cat figurines.

That's my main collection. Everything from a few china pieces to things that would be considered toys. Hello Kitty is represented, as well as Garfield, Sylvester, and the Cat in the Hat. I also have a lot of cat themed Christmas ornaments, along with Star Trek, Harry Potter, and all kinds of other crazy stuff. It makes for an interesting tree.

Then there is my cat jewelry (I don't even know how many pairs of cat earrings I have).

My husband collects 50s and 60s glassware in every color of the rainbow. (He has lots of Blenko, Viking, and Fenton, among other things.) Our living room looks like a booth in an antique mall, lol.

[usonian]

48. Social Security

That is all!!

Been downsizing.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

58. Me too.

[littlemissmartypants]

50. A few things...

I started with stamps at eight years old. They range from individuals countries all over the world, to first editions full sheet stamped. I also have some commemoratives framed with other memorabilia that pertain to the stamp. For example, an official US Navy photo of the
USS Yorktown and the matching stamp.

When I started earning my own money I started buying myself a new ring every birthday.

When I started modeling I started a hat collection which I keep in a steamer trunk and some of the special ones have their own hat boxes.

When I got married I started a peach carnival glass collection but as it got harder to find pieces that weren't reproductions, I quit looking.

I started, for no reason I can remember, a heart shaped box collection but I have packed them up because I got tired of dusting and cleaning them. Someday, when I'm dead, I hope someone who appreciates them, will have a nice surprise unwrapping them all.

~~~~~♡~~~~~♡~~~~~♡~~~~~

Fun and interesting OP, Archae. Thanks.

❤pants

[Backseat Driver]

51. DH collected and painted military miniatures aka vintage lead soldiers (mostly William Britains Ltd)

I contribute pieces to my daughter's collection of vintage vaseline glass. When themed PT Cruisers were a thing, I dressed up the package tray in the back with silly Wizard of Oz decor items for car Meet & Greets. Today, Dorothy, Tinman, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow nutcrackers dress up the holidays on the mantle.

[electric_blue68]

59. Modest collections through the years ...

Last edited Mon Dec 13, 2021, 12:19 AM - Edit history (1)

Most gone because of a move to a small room w roommates about 20 yrs ago.

Rocks & minerals, sea shells, vinyl records (bands I liked, loved) ?200, SF Books ?150.
(I still have some of those SF Books, and a few newer ones, vinyl, cassettes, now CDs - just not the big collections I once had)

Later, one I got a bigger room, then a solo apt I more resumed (eventually stuff gets used over time) I buy semi-precious gens, water pearls - I make jewelry.

Because drawing is my 1st Creative Outlet, jewelry making my 2nd; one could say I collect Yarn...
but that's just because I take so long to make stuff!
I get nice plain acrylics in mostly saturated colors, a bunch of fancier stuff - varied colored, a few hand dyed, varied thickness, textured, some silk ones, a bit of fluffy ones. Love them! 💖

Some magazines - hand crafted jewelry & clothes, architecture.

Almost forgot(!)-
a tin full of political buttons from my semi active campaigning for Mayor Lindsey, Humphrey, McGovern,
some Clinton (both!), Obama.
And my uncle gave me a small Kennedy Johnson button.

Fun topic! ❤️👍

[Sherman A1]

60. Gaming Miniatures

25/28mm and 6mm (1/300 scale)

[no_hypocrisy]

61. I collect people.

Honestly.

i have a wide circle of acquaintances, friends, co-workers, schoolmates.

[Ziggysmom]

62. Cat or Halloween post cards, vintage valentines, Liddle Kiddles dolls, vintage & Steiff teddy bears,

Bakelite jewelry and Victorian Majolica. Love your Little Ponies and Star Trek ships. Oh wow, the Yellow Submarine, I had one when I was a kid. Is yours the old die cast one?

My daughter is an antique dealer, she inherited my junking gene

[Archae]

75. The Yellow Submarine is a Lego set.

Oh yeah.

"All you need is love..."

[mopinko]

68. vintage little people toys.

have a basement full.
none of those modern ones that require no imagination.

[sanatanadharma]

70. Over time the collected and the rejected change

I had to close out my deceased parents home. They had SO MANY things. I had to triage the possibly valuable from the rest.
I suspect I did not do my best. My brother has been the better collector.

One's desires and the paraphernalia thereof change over time.
My interests and collections have come and gone; books about ?, WW1 aviation, buses, rockets, space exploration, Indian Deities...

My 'must have' items have later become others' objects of desire at my garage sales.
eBay taught me others will pay (too much) to buy what I do not want. eBay has also fulfilled my desires.

Still when the time came to go expat, I faced rejecting ALL except what I could carry in 3 suitcases and some carry-on.
I learned how hard it is to let go of one's collections.
Harder yet it is to give up the desire to be a collector.

[Vinca]

71. Duck decoys and paperweights.

[bif]

72. Old cameras

I started painting a friend's cameras. Then I started buying them on eBay for cheap and ended up with about 40 of them.

[Ocelot II]

76. Mostly just dust and cat hair these days. I am trying to uncollect stuff

because I have too much junk and clutter. It used to be books but they were overtaking me so now I get mostly e-books. I also used to collect Japanese cloisonné and I've kept what I have but I've stopped acquiring more. Too much stuff and not enough room for it.

[Mad_Dem_X]

77. Barbie dolls.

I have a room that's almost entirely filled with them.

[LuckyCharms]

79. Coins, old currency, silver bullion. Nice collection you have, Archae...

I'm glad it brings you joy.

[Philosophizing Fool]

80. Great collection

I tend to horde/collect books, board games, and mistakes.