There is frequent misuse of the terms antique, vintage, and collectibles by people who post things for sale on the internet or display things in antique malls and fairs. A large percentage of what we see are truly just second hand merchandise. I thought I would share some facts about collectibles and antiques and help clarify the differences.
Question: Why do people collect things?
Answer: There are many reasons a person desires to collect something and why they choose the items they collect. The most common reason is the type of item triggers emotions from a time or place, which is often from childhood. The items they desire to collect could remind them of the past and provides an avenue to relive that cherished time. Others may collect out of a need to have nice things to covet. There may have been a tragic event that triggers the need and having these newly acquired items comforts them. Collectors have an appreciation for craftsmanship, quality, and historical significance. Many collectors learned the art of collecting and the thrill of the hunt from a friend or family member. In any case, collectors appreciate the process and are always keeping an eye out for that prized piece to help complete their collection.
Question: What qualifies as a collectible?
Answer: A collectible can be anything one desires to collect. They do not have to be old or vintage, but just a group of items a person acquires because they love them.
Question: What is a true antique?
Answer: The North American government considers a “duty free” antique as items before 1830, carpets before 1700, string instruments before 1800, etc. These were periods before the machine age and made from hand craftsmanship. Other experts use the 100 year rule to classify an article as an antique. If an item has been restored, at least 60% of the item must be original to still be considered an antique. There are also three key factors that compose an antique, which are (1) Beauty, (2) Rarity, and (3) Historical Significance.
Question: What is the difference between vintage and antique?
Answer: The term vintage refers to post Victorian era items and can be desired collectibles. Most experts consider items up to 99 years old as “vintage” and antiques as 100+ years old.
There are so many categories of collectibles. You can name just about anything and someone or a group of people collect it! It is way more than just furniture, coins, stamps, and art. Some of the types of items that are expected to become more popular as a collectible in the near future are items related to photography, telephones, radios, and other “electronics”. The technology has changed so much over the decades that the older forms are becoming more extinct.
In photography, for example, when film became obsolete in the last 
couple of decades, the cameras of old became more desirable. A collector will want those early forms of cameras and photos to show the progress of the media and its equipment. Old cameras and photos of interesting subjects, especially if historically significant, will become increasingly more valuable in the future. Prices for these items are fairly attainable for beginning collectors, so now may be a good time to get one started. This same school of thought can apply to some of those other items, too.
Then there is the opposite side of collecting, which is knowing the value of items you have before you sell them. Dealers are going to garage sales and estate sales, as well as, watching listings for sale on the internet through Ebay and Craigs List. They are looking for items that people are selling that they can resell for a nice profit. Why should they be the only ones making money? If you have something that you are unsure about what it is or whether it has any value, it may be worth your time and trouble to do a little research. You can, of course, always contact someone like me who can appraise your items, but just a little research on the internet may give you enough information to know if something is of value.
For appraisal questions, you can ask a question in our Advice Column or contact me at seasonedlifetransitions@gmail.com .
