Insofar as my new cyber buddy Chet and I have been getting along pretty well of late, I thought I would pepper him with a few more questions. He hasn't tried to kill me yet, so that's good, right? Anyway, it has always seemed to me that some collectible categories have long been undervalued while others require a cushy investment portfolio to collect. It's certainly not related to intrinsic value; after all, a rare trading card selling for thousands of dollars has about as much intrinsic value as a stick of gum. With that in mind, I asked Chet for his opinion on the five most undervalued collectibles in today's market. Here they are below, along with my own spin on the subject.
Chet's number one pick is exactly in line with my own: so-called
"brown" furniture from the Victorian era. Admittedly, these are often heavy lumbering pieces that can dominate a room with an air of darkness and formality. All the same, most are made from solid pre-plantation wood (not veneer) and reflect a degree of craftsmanship largely absent in modern household furnishings. Cabinetry-quality furniture will survive a dozen cross-country moves and last almost forever. I know it's not in keeping with today's lighter-than-air lifestyle, but these days you can often buy it for peanuts and those are the pieces your kids will someday fight over.
Chet's second-place winner in the undervalued collectibles category was niche trading cards, i.e., those from players occupying second tier positions or sports, or perhaps brief runs of cards from the early to middle 20th century. Frankly, I'm hard-pressed to describe any trading card as undervalued, largely because almost anyone can print a new one that's just like the old one. Still, we've had some interesting cards pass through our gallery over the years, many with at least the appeal of old-time postcards and at similar price points. Are they undervalued? Maybe, but the upside in this category strikes me as pretty limited.
Third on Chet's list was another ephemera category: mid-market comic books. There's no question that early numbered comics in exceptional condition can sell for a ton of money, but the market has fragmented into hundreds of characters and thousands of story lines. Chronic over-production in this category hasn't helped values either. On the other hand, comics have been cultural icons for generations, and the market even for new issues remains remarkably dynamic. I think Chet's onto something here. You have to study the market to know what to buy, but a cagey collector with a little patience might have a chance of being rewarded here.
Numbers four and five are equally debatable but not unrealistic. Chet seems to think that niche recordings on vinyl have some upside, and that thought has the backing of an overall resurgence in record-buying. There might also be some opportunities in later audio media like eight-track, cassette tapes and even CDs. All of those items have utility, assuming you have the right equipment, and there's a certain appeal to the snap, crackle, and pop that comes with hearing your favorite track play out on vinyl records. Here too, diligent research and judicious buying might not result in a windfall, but then again you might be pleasantly surprised down the road.
Mike Rivkin is the former proprietor of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His new venture will open later this fall. Contact him at scmcorp@sbcglobal.net.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Are some collectibles under-valued?
