The End of the Collector Mindset

[belfastboy]

I purchased my first home in 1974, a small prewar built house. I purchased it from the original owner. The basement was filled with about 30 years of 'Look' and "Life' magazines. Surprisingly they were worth nothing. Recycling had yet to become a 'thing' so I ended up putting them out in small batches for the trash collectors.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^
And now, 50 years on, they’d bring some money.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I saved all my pre-1940s patterns and the newer ones I MIGHT make or if I REALLY liked it lol. I went from 4 huge plastic bins to one small one. Cleared up and ENTIRE CORNER in my basement. I also had my 1940s buffet STUFFED with them. Once unstuffed, I had room to put all the family photos I had.

My "rockabilly drawer" was a time capsule from 2013 when I was heavily into that scene. Once I got rid of all that, I was able to shuffle around my clothes that were squished in drawers lol. The dresses are slowly but surely moving. Some of the nappier ones I gave to goodwill. I will keep some of them. The ones I made are starting to become fabric for crafts.

I know my magazines aren't worth anything. I don't know....maybe if I sold them off all at the same time they'd bring in something, but I don't see that happening (like my dresses). I don't want to get rid of them anyway. I will pull a random one out and read it cover to cover before bed. Better than staring at a bright screen and I get to either re-live MY nostalgia (1990s SPIN) or imagine a nostalgia I never lived (1920s Photoplay). They are in three really long, heavy bins under my bed so they aren't in the way.

 

[belfastboy]

^^^^
And now, 50 years on, they’d bring some money.

But I would have been paying storage for 50 years so aside from the lost history I would be about break even.

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^^
Which is why I have few regrets over tossing out all those magazines 25 years ago. And why I don’t begrudge a person for charging whatever that person might get for selling them today. It’s a real PITA, I’d imagine.

 

[LostInTyme]

Well, here I am, 9 plus years into this thread, and 78 years into life. I didn't really start collecting until I reached 50. Then just bought stuff I liked, and lots of it. Nothing exotic, nothing really expensive, just a lot of stuff. Sure, I have given some away, sold off some of my stuff, but there is still WAY MORE than anyone needs to deal with. And, sure, the stuff I treasured and collected has gone out of fashion, and no-one seems to be interested. So, it'll probably be donated or trashed. So be it. I enjoyed the hunt, I enjoyed the collections, and, for the most part, I have enjoyed my life with a few notable exceptions. The car wreck wasn't any fun, the Army wasn't any fun, and a few more that will go with me to the grave. So, if anyone is interested in Murano Glass Clowns, Mid Century Modern Art Glass, Wooden Nutcrackers, or electric trains, let me know, and I can probably get you started on your own collection(s).

Happy hunting........................

 

[belfastboy]

Well, here I am, 9 plus years into this thread, and 78 years into life. I didn't really start collecting until I reached 50. Then just bought stuff I liked, and lots of it. Nothing exotic, nothing really expensive, just a lot of stuff. Sure, I have given some away, sold off some of my stuff, but there is still WAY MORE than anyone needs to deal with. And, sure, the stuff I treasured and collected has gone out of fashion, and no-one seems to be interested. So, it'll probably be donated or trashed. So be it. I enjoyed the hunt, I enjoyed the collections, and, for the most part, I have enjoyed my life with a few notable exceptions. The car wreck wasn't any fun, the Army wasn't any fun, and a few more that will go with me to the grave. So, if anyone is interested in Murano Glass Clowns, Mid Century Modern Art Glass, Wooden Nutcrackers, or electric trains, let me know, and I can probably get you started on your own collection(s).

Happy hunting........................

Oh crap, I never even knew Murano glass clowns existed let alone thought of collecting them................until this moment!!!

 

[belfastboy]

Well, here I am, 9 plus years into this thread, and 78 years into life. I didn't really start collecting until I reached 50. Then just bought stuff I liked, and lots of it. Nothing exotic, nothing really expensive, just a lot of stuff. Sure, I have given some away, sold off some of my stuff, but there is still WAY MORE than anyone needs to deal with. And, sure, the stuff I treasured and collected has gone out of fashion, and no-one seems to be interested. So, it'll probably be donated or trashed. So be it. I enjoyed the hunt, I enjoyed the collections, and, for the most part, I have enjoyed my life with a few notable exceptions. The car wreck wasn't any fun, the Army wasn't any fun, and a few more that will go with me to the grave. So, if anyone is interested in Murano Glass Clowns, Mid Century Modern Art Glass, Wooden Nutcrackers, or electric trains, let me know, and I can probably get you started on your own collection(s).

Happy hunting........................

I have collected little glass animals for over 50 years now. The collection is over 200 of them. They make for awesome souveniers as they take up so little room both while travelling and when home on display. And at least for now I can recall the where and when they were each purchased. In a tip of my hat to Tennessee Williams it is my own modest glass menagerie.

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

In a tip of my hat to Tennessee Williams it is my own modest glass menagerie.

A moving tribute. His play always reads a dagger thrust inside heart and mind.

 

[belfastboy]

A moving tribute. His play always reads a dagger thrust inside heart and mind.

I have seen it live 3 times times over a 45 year time span. I still wake my wife up from time to time with a "Rise and shine, rise and shine!". It still bothers her!

 

[Bugguy]

I did a search of the FL and didn't really see a thread that addressed the postage stamps (and first-day covers) I collected in my youth. Now 60+ years later I have stock albums loaded with old and newer unused US stamps. No self-sticks and they're in great condition.... and essentially valueless.

We've discussed in several threads 'our stuff' that we've inherited or collected over the years. Now as we downsize, we can'r find a home for our valuable possessions. Stamp collections are probably one of the clearest examples of this. Unless the stamp has an image of an upside-down airplane or a misprint, common wisdom is that they're worth their face value. For most, that won't even cover 1st class postage.

I'm at a loss for what to do with them. My grown kids have no interest and grandkids hardly know what a stamp is (like a rotary telephone). Honestly, I'm a little emotional about them. There was excitement in collecting them and the fantasy that they would grow in value. They are really attractive and the older ones are encased in plastic holders. And then there are the first-day covers... not too many, but they have some historic value. Again, of little or no value.

I'm sure among our members there are others in similar straits. What do we do with them? Hold them and dump them on our kids - the easy way out. They don't take up much space.

Thoughts?