Show A i Roger W. W DABSON'S S AUTHENTIC REPORT i The rhe Collecting Craze raze I I doubt that there has ever been such a craze for collecting collecting collecting collect collect- ing things as there is throughout through through- out the country today Coins old furniture stamps glassware glassware glassware glass glass- ware paintings books and many other articles are being bought and hoarded on an almost almost almost al al- al- al most scale WHAT IS behind this scramble scramble scramble scram scram- ble for collectors' collectors items items- why has it reached such a fever pitch INFLATION N FEARS It is my opinion that people have always loved collecting material things that h have a v e caught their fancy History indicates indicates indicates in in- this especially through archaeological studies But to today today today to- to day there seems to be an extra incentive and I believe that it itis itis itis is a conscious or sometimes unconscious fear of or inflation WHEN YOU stop to think of it inflation has been going on for longer than statistics have been available It is punctuated ed by only temporary periods of deflation then it resumes So the assumption by most people people people peo peo- that more inflation will come seems reasonable enough Even the most casual economic economic economic eco eco- observer knows that money itself becomes less valuable valuable val val- intrinsically as the cost of the goods it will buy es Therefore many seem to feel that if they start hoarding hoarding hoarding hoard hoard- ing some articles these are going goting go- go ting ing to be worth more in terms of or dollars in days to come corne and they will vill be better off than if they hoarded the dollars themselves YOU PROBABLY wonder whether I believe in such col col- collecting letting as a type of or hedge against possible further declines declines de de- de- de clines dines in the purchasing power of the dollar The answer is Yes IF your collecting is done with intelligence e restraint and know WHAT ARE SAFEST BETS Antiques always make a n good investment but you must mufit know S what nT you arc are doing doing- Avoid I stuffed furniture for example books that may be old but otherwise otherwise oth oth- undistinguished most of the ancient prints that adorned living room living room walls in earlier years stamps of foreign nations nations na- na na-j na that have been turned out pretty much for the collecting trade and so on FOR A Sf START ART in antique furniture it is still a good idea to check up on things that may have come down to you as family family family fam fam- ily heirlooms Sift the things in n your attic or on your family I farm Keep an eye out for fine mahogany mahogany mahogany ma ma- furniture c h glass pieces early costume jewelry articles of gold or silver silver silver sil sil- sil- sil ver old coins and US U.S. stamps Even a down broken-down article of furniture is often oCten valuable after after after af af- af- af ter it is restored particularly if the wood is fine and the piece is of the right period Restorers Restorers Restorers Re Re- of antiques can usually replace missing parts TAKE ANY doubtful glassware glassware glassware glass glass- ware to an expert it may be only a copy but it could be Sandwich glassware and that thatis is always valuable BE SELECTIVE Amateur coin collectors now number in the millions and they will often buy up freshly I minted coins at a foolish prem prem- ium A perfect example of this is the recent withdrawal of Kennedy half-dollars half by hoard hoard- ers So many have been issued that they will never be any anymore anymore anymore more valuable unless the price of silver is allowed to go so high that it would be wort worth worthwhile worthwhile h while to melt down any silver silver silver sil sil- ver coins something the government government government gov gov- will vill certainly try to avoid KEEP a few contemporary coins in mint condition if it yo you u have a scale large-scale collection but pay greatest attention t to historic coins that can never neve r again be minted Foreign stamps are not usually usually usually us us- worth very much the exceptions exceptions exceptions ex ex- ex- ex are rare But US U.S. stamps in good condition an and d of sought after issues should always be worth money IF YOU have some interesting Interesting Interesting Inter inter- esting early US U.S. stamps youcan you youcan youcan can get an idea of their value by consulting a stamp catalog- catalog at your library Or you could seek seck professional advice but be sure your man is responsible ble and honest CONCENTRATE ON IRREPLACEABLE THINGS There is one basic rule to remember remember remember re re- member when b 1 ling i f n g things to hold as inflation hedges Concentrate on items which can never be increased in supply An astute collector or dealer recognizes that there will never be any more old US U.S. coins Sandwich glass genuine furniture or for that matter waterfront property or underground natural al resources |