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For Vincent Zurzolo, investing in comics is his livelihood! This successful comic book dealer has bought and sold some of the most expensive comic books in the world. We had the pleasure of chatting with Vincent about what he does for a living, and today we are bringing you his advice for those looking to get into the business of investing in comic books.

Why did you choose to invest in comics?

VINCENT: One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was to invest in what you know. I think it’s a great piece of advice. I think you can learn more, though. The more I learned about comic books as an investor, a dealer, and as someone helping affluent clients invest in collectibles, the more I saw a pattern of appreciation in value. It’s one of the safest places for me to put money.

Yes, some parts have gone down, but any advisor that tells you there is no risk or downside – you should run from that person. To mitigate those losses, stick with blue-chip type pieces. You get to know the popular characters, and you track that market day to day. It’s a very transparent market because of online pricing and sales history.

How did you become knowledgeable about comics?

VINCENT: I’ve been buying and selling them for over 35 years since I was a little kid, so I’ve gained knowledge about the comic book market through real-life experience. You can utilize people like myself to gain knowledge without putting in 35 years. Talk to experts, go to conventions, and watch auctions. You can also check to see what things have sold for over time. An Overstreet price guide is a very valuable tool.

How do you ensure that your collection retains its value (storage, maintenance, etc.)?

VINCENT: If your comic books are in CGC holders, you may want to change them every 2-3 years. It’s best to use Mylars with backboards. Make sure that both are acid-free and stored in a cool, dark place. You can use a safe or a safety deposit box [to keep them secure]. Make sure that you are getting a good safe that doesn’t damage books from humidity. And finally, get insurance from a reputable company like Collectibles Insurance Services.

When do/will you sell your collectibles? How do you determine the best time to sell?

VINCENT: Nobody has a crystal ball, but the best you can do is gauge the market, see what the trends are, and think about what you believe. If you believe that the comic will continue to appreciate, keep it. If you think it’s going downhill fast, sell it. Think about your needs and your likes. For me, when I’m looking to sell something, I look for opportunities. If I notice people are going crazy for a certain book, I bring it to market.

Do you have any advice for someone who is ready to sell their collection?

VINCENT: Um, yes! Call me! When looking to sell, something that is helpful before making your first phone call is making a list [of what you have] and taking pictures of them inside and outside of the bag. Having a working knowledge of what you own is very valuable. Find a reputable person to sell your collection to. You may want to sell it outright or consign it for auction. My company has both of those options available.

In your opinion, can investing in comics be relied upon as a primary source of investment income, or do you recommend that collectors have other investments in their portfolio?

VINCENT: I believe in the old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Even though I’m very bullish about collectibles and comic books, I diversify my portfolio because I model myself after successful people. I watch what they do and emulate it. It’s good to keep a varied portfolio, so you don’t get hurt by something like a drop in the market value. But in my opinion, we’ve seen worse happen to real estate and stocks than comic books.

Buy, sell, or learn more at ComicConnect.com and MetropolisComics.com.
 
 

You may recall that we’ve featured this incredible Funko POP! collector before. Steve has used his savvy to turn his hobby into a full-blown business, buying and selling Funko POPS! on the Whatnot app or his website, www.collectorsdna.com.

We had the pleasure (for the second time) of chatting with Steve to learn his thoughts on investing in this fun collectible toy, plus his tips for newbie Funko investors.

Why did you choose to invest in Funko POPS?

STEVE: It started with a passion for POPS! As someone who was business-minded, I started selling some of the lower ones as a side hustle. I never took it too seriously because I wasn’t sure if this would be like Beanie Babies or if it would really take off. It wasn’t until I quit my job, couldn’t work, and was trading higher-end pops that I realized it was a solid investment.

How did you become knowledgeable about Funko POPS?

STEVE: When I started trading, I joined Facebook groups. Eventually, I created my own group, Funko Pop Grails Only, which focused only on high-end POPS! I started this group a year ago with 50 people and it grew to 9,000. Then, instead of trading, I just started buying stuff I knew I could sell right away for 20-30% more. I saw it as real estate flipping without such a high barrier to entry. I started looking on eBay and Facebook groups and found people who wanted to sell multiple items at a time for a discount. I got myself in a place where I was known to be a premium toy broker. I help people who don’t want to deal with fake pops or scammers. I cash them out and buy at an agreed upon discount. Today, many of the POPS! I obtain are already sold because I have people waiting on specific pops.

How do you ensure that your collection retains its value (storage, maintenance, etc.)?

STEVE: Keep the original packaging! The boxes must be in great condition, with no creases, rips, or stains. You can put a POP! into a hardstacks – an acrylic case like a fish tank – or a protector. Avoid direct sunlight, water damage, and dust.

When do/will you sell your collectibles? How do you determine the best time to sell?

STEVE: I never sell my collectibles because I have to; not everyone has the luxury of doing that. I would say if you really want to run this as a business, you can’t be a collector because collectors that are devoted tend to value those items too much or be afraid to let something go. The way I think about collectibles is that most of the stuff I find now, I sell right away. I never overpay. I’m a collector, but I’m opportunistic. Not everyone is like me.

[When it comes to selling], I have an idea of the popularity of each item and the value. It depends on the category, the rarity, and the box condition. It’s hard to move something with box issues since serious collectors tend to spend a bit more to buy one with a good box. Don’t invest in high-value pops with box issues!

Do you have any advice for someone who is ready to sell their collection?

STEVE: When you sell a collection, there are a few people that buy them. The stores will give you 50% value. Then you have collectors like me who will still undercut you because they need to make money from it. So selling is a tricky question. How much time are you willing to invest in getting your money’s worth? The best way to do it is to sell in a Facebook group. If it’s low-end stuff, you can offer bundle discounts. That’s how to get the maximum expected value.

Ultimately, one-by-one selling is the best way [to maximize your earnings], if you have the time. [Choosing the right selling platform is also key.] Selling in a Facebook group avoids the fees you would have from platforms like PayPal, Mercari, or eBay. If you get bigger and more well-known, you can also apply to Whatnot to do live streaming.

You have to be interested because it’s not easy. You have to have that passion!

In your opinion, can investing in Funko POPS be relied upon as a primary source of investment income, or do you recommend that collectors have other investments in their portfolio?

STEVE: It’s pretty safe unless we get into a real depression. Any investment or asset fluctuates, and collectibles can be a riskier asset because they’re not a necessity. However, this also means the rewards can be very high. So, I would classify them as an asset you can invest in. If you tell me that you’re spending all your life savings on Funko POPS!, I would caution against that. But if you want to quit your job someday and start a collectibles business, I would say there’s merit. Just make sure you plan and have money put aside. Build a reputation and understand the market and risks.

Millennials are now getting to the age where their childhood toys are becoming collectible, and this has generated a whole new phenomenon: vintage factory-sealed video games are selling for top dollar. Eric Naierman started as a sports card collector, and the knowledge he built from that hobby served him well when he formed a group called the Vintage Video Game Club to invest in the video games together.

We had the pleasure of chatting with this New York Times-featured collector for a second time to learn more about his investment – and his advice for others looking to join him.

Why did you choose to invest in collectibles?

ERIC: I saw it as a fun way to invest my money. Also, I saw it as a lucrative way to invest and I felt that it was under-appreciated as an asset class. Wealthy people are willing to spend a lot on an art piece that means something to them. I felt that my culture – the 80s and 90s culture – has more of an appreciation for art in the form of tangible nostalgia. I didn’t grow up appreciating Picasso as much as other folks may, but I enjoyed certain things that took me back to my childhood and can be preserved as pieces of art. As a culture, it is amazing to see our shared passions come together to form a market and asset class that acts as a store of value.

How did you become knowledgeable about video games?

ERIC: I used to collect sports cards, and I always followed my hunches about the sports card market. I was buying high-end sports cards online, and by chance, I clicked on a vintage video game auction site. They were offering them for sale, and everything hit me at that moment. I felt that sealed video games checked all the boxes for a premium up-and-coming nostalgic collectible. They were naturally scarce because keeping them sealed didn’t make much sense back then – especially the expensive, popular games. So much time and emotion was poured into playing these games back in the day, which lends to a strong nostalgic connection – and hence, a strong demand for the games in present day. Finally, the cultural significance is very strong because of all the modern-day aspects of our life that were influenced by the gameplay and game characters.

But to answer the question, the knowledge came slowly and steadily. If you are passionate about something, it is easier to put all your time and energy into learning about something. I literally spent most of my free time – when I wasn’t with my wife and children – learning about this market. I was studying population data, learning all the variations, and connecting and starting relationships with the most avid collectors. This was all part of a long but fulfilling process of mastering the space so I can collect well for myself as well as help others on their collecting journey in the future.

How do you ensure that your collection retains its value (storage, maintenance, etc.)?

ERIC: Well, for me, it’s about having it in a very safe and temperature-controlled environment. [They need to be kept] very safe because they become very valuable. They are kept in a secure room. I also keep them in different places, [rather than all together]. If something were to happen to them, it’s good to spread the risk. But they need to be kept secure!

When do/will you sell your collectibles? How do you determine the best time to sell?

ERIC: Truthfully, I am learning as I go regarding when to sell my items and when to keep them. I can say that I am naturally a skilled “buyer,” but selling has been very hard for me. This is because I truly build a connection and appreciation for the items and for the prospect of keeping them together in one collection. I mostly have been selling to help fund and further build the collection, but I have no plans of selling just to sell in the near future (although I am always open to attractive offers and trade ideas).

Do you have any advice for someone who is ready to sell their collection?

ERIC: I’ve learned that if you have an asset that’s truly rare and timeless, there is no good time to sell. That said, items such as sports collectibles are time-sensitive due to the player’s persona or performance. Mark McGuire collectibles were expensive when he was hitting home runs, but the steroid accusations ruined the value immensely. Be sensitive to basing value on personas. With anything that’s based on a living thing with a reputation, you need to be more in-tune with the twists and turns that their lives can take. It’s a speculative bet at the end of the day. We just found something fun to use as a betting medium!

In your opinion, can investing in vintage video games be relied upon as a primary source of investment income, or do you recommend that collectors have other investments in their portfolio?

ERIC: I don’t think it should be a primary investment. It should just be a small part of your investment portfolio, based on personal risk tolerance. I invest about one-third of my investable income in video games and other pop culture collectibles. It also helps to be passionate about collecting if you want to invest in it. Passion really helps a lot. You just do better when you are passionate about something. You at least enjoy the process and learn from it, even if you don’t make any money from it.

You can learn more about Eric and his collection by following VVGClub on Instagram.
 
 
 

Dan Walker started collecting during his childhood but gave it up for a time and then returned to it as an adult. His years of knowledge and diligent stamp collecting have won him some prestigious awards. Philatelic activities take up most of his time, as he is the treasurer of a stamp organization and often travels to appear as a judge in international shows.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Dan to gather his expertise on the subject of stamp collecting and whether or not it is a suitable investment.

Why did you choose to invest in stamps?

DAN: I haven’t really invested in stamps. It’s a hobby; I enjoy it. I like history, and I have a tendency to like mysteries. There’s a lot you can determine from collecting stamps and envelopes that have stamps on them. It’s not so much of an investment as it is a hobby. I’ve sold some of my stamps, but I sell them to buy new stamps.

How did you become knowledgeable about stamps?

DAN: I was a collector as a child, but I gave it up in high school and college/graduate school. Then one day, I went on a vacation to Jamaica. I went to the post office and bought some stamps for my postcards to send back to friends. In the hotel room, I noticed how pretty the stamps were, so I went back and bought all the stamps they had.

When I got back to New York City, I remember walking around one evening looking for a magazine called Stamp Collector Magazine, which I remembered from childhood. Around midnight in Grand Central Station, I finally found a copy of this magazine. I joined a group called the British Empire Study Group and they got me involved with the Collectors Club of New York. So, I decided to start collecting as an adult.

I exhibited in 1979 at a stamp show in New Jersey, where I received a Large Silver Award. At the banquet where they announced the awards, there was a Miss Stilwell who also received a Large Silver Award. I ended up marrying her. My wife is also a stamp collector.

[Over the years,] I built up a major Grenada collection. About ten years ago I decided I had accumulated enough Grenada stamps, and won the largest award I could in collecting. So I sold that collection in an auction for $546,000 and focused on other collections. I now concentrate on two areas: all the Indian states and the first US revenue stamps that helped finance the Civil War.

How do you ensure that your collection retains its value?

DAN: At one time, I had most of my collection in bank vaults, but now I keep my collection at my home in albums, sorted out. Stamps and the envelopes they are on are pretty sturdy after the 1890s. My house is air-conditioned, so there’s no humidity to bother the stamps. I keep track of the value as I always look at auction catalogs. I study the stamps and write articles about them, and the value is enhanced if I discover new things about the stamps.

When do/will you sell your collectibles? How do you determine the best time to sell?

DAN: There’s really not an objective good time to sell. Most advanced collectors sell when they cannot buy new material to enhance their collection easily. You can always buy something, but sooner or later, you’ll end up stuck. Collectors want something to play with all the time. [When they sell], they usually use the money to go out and buy something else.

Do you have any advice for someone who is ready to sell their collection?

DAN: Talk to people that are not in the dealer or auction business and get some advice on how to go about it. During the pandemic, many people call and ask how to get their stamps appraised. I can normally tell from getting a small sample of the stamps if people have a collection with real value. In only one case during the last ten years, I felt that the person had a great deal of value. If someone has been collecting for a long time, I’m available to give advice. I have a good feel for which auctions and dealers are trustworthy. You have to be careful about picking an auction or dealer.

In your opinion, can investing in stamps be relied upon as a primary source of investment income, or do you recommend that collectors have other investments in their portfolio?

DAN: I recommended having other investments. Unless you are really dedicated and knowledgeable about the market, it’s not a good place to invest. For example, 30 or 40 years ago, stamps were a reasonable investment. In the 1980s, there was a time when the values climbed, and people made a lot of money. But now, for most stamps, except those that are difficult to find and in reasonable condition, values have declined. You have to be highly knowledgeable now to make a decent living.

Attention, Stamp Collectors!

If you have any questions about buying or selling stamps, Dan Walker can probably answer them! Please reach out to Dan at danforthwalker@comcast.net if you have a stamp collection and are interested in asking a question. If Dan is not familiar with your particular area of stamps, he knows who is and will direct you to that source.

If you haven’t already watched an episode of the hit tv show Pawn Stars, here’s a quick synopsis: a person walks into the pawnshop holding a collectible item. They present their treasure expectantly, hoping that the shop owner will strike a deal with them. An appraiser is often called upon, a value is determined, and the pawnshop owner makes an offer. Sometimes the offer is high! The person selling the treasure happily accepts a large payday for their collectible item. But sometimes, the value is lower than anticipated, and the person leaves disappointed.

Investing in collectible items can be a lot like Pawn Stars. Sometimes, it can be a thrilling ride with a high return on investment. Other times, returns can be disappointing (remember Beanie Babies?). It’s an exciting and extremely profitable investment for some, but it may not be the best choice for everybody.

If you are looking at collecting as a form of investment, be sure to do thorough research, and don’t forget to consider the following:

Make sure you’re knowledgeable about the item you’re collecting.

Do your research, follow the trends on online auction houses, subscribe to the relevant magazines, and take in as much information as you can. Join communities that are based on your collectible item, talk to others who share your interest, and form valuable connections.

Don’t collect just for the money – collect something you’re passionate about.

To accumulate knowledge, you’ll need to invest a lot of time into this collection. So make sure it’s something you love! Most successful collector-investors live and breathe collecting.

Know how to care for your collection to retain its value.

This is different for every collection, but it’s very important. Many collectibles require proper storage or even temperature-controlled environments. Make sure you know the best way to display or store your specific collection.

Make sure you protect your investment by insuring it.

Many homeowner’s policies don’t cover the full value of your collection – coverage is typically based on the actual cash value of the collection (not its current market value). Plus, it can limit coverage of all the contents in your home to a percentage of your home’s total value (usually between 50% and 70%). It may also not cover losses caused by floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes. At Collectibles Insurance, we offer comprehensive coverage designed specifically for collectors, by collectors. You can protect your investment in minutes with no fuss, affordable coverage, and get back to what you enjoy doing most.
We had the pleasure of interviewing four collectors in four different categories to learn more about how they invest in their specific collectible. If you’re interested in investing in Funko POPS!, vintage video games, comic books, or stamps, you’re in luck! Follow the links to learn more about your area of interest.

• Investing in Stamps
• Investing in Vintage Video Games
• Investing in Funko POPS!
• Investing in Comic Books

It all began when Jane Albright was a child. Her household had a shelf of twelve books from L. Frank Baum’s Oz series. Jane was driven to read the entire series. By borrowing from neighbors, she was able to read 35 books and sought to gather all 40 titles from the collection. In order to meet other fans of the series, 13-year-old Jane became a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club in 1971. In college, her focus began to shift from a child reader to an adult collector when her collection won a book collecting contest at Kansas University in 1977. The prize included a year-long display on campus, which introduced her to the fun of sharing Oz with the public. But it was a fellow collector who really helped spark the collecting bug. “I met a friend who collected all of the Oz memorabilia. Seeing his collection of dolls and toys and autographs – that took my collection, [which was at first focused only on books], in a much broader direction. And now I love it all!”

Today, Jane is the owner of an exceptionally varied collection of Oz memorabilia. She has everything from rare books, to merchandise from the 1939 film, to original published art, international materials, and much, much more. The very first non-book item in the collection was actually a peanut butter pail! The pail bears the slogan, “Oz, the delicious peanut butter spread!” This pail was discovered at an antique show that Jane attended with her mother. The lid had been painted, and she ended up picking off the paint with a paring knife to discover the Oz design underneath. Jane also began to collect handmade Christmas ornaments. “I have an upside-down tree, shaped like a tornado, that’s [decorated] with all of my Oz ornaments, nutcrackers, [and more]!”

While she has some incredible figurines, including some made by Goebel (the company that produces Hummel figurines), Jane prefers to collect things that were originally designed for people to use. This includes things such as books, toys, sheet music, record players, a 1921 Oz board game with characters made of pewter, and cookie jars. “It’s a treat to find these things that have survived through the years,” Jane shares. “I have an old doll of my favorite Oz characters, the Patchwork Girl, made from silk quilts. She’s so old but such a beautiful doll that some mother made for her child long ago.”
Another notable item is a life-size Winkie guard. Originally made for a 1989 Oz display at Macy’s Herald Square, the Winkie was purchased at auction then rode across country in the passenger seat of a friend’s car, Jane recalls with a laugh. Behind this Winkie guard stands a wooden cutout of three flying monkeys. A full-size replica of the MGM film’s hourglass rests below his spear.

When asked about her favorite item, Jane can’t narrow it down to one. “I have favorites in different categories.” She treasures a book that L. Frank Baum printed and hand-bound in 1898. Of her international items, it might be the first Russian translation of The Wizard of Oz from 1939, or perhaps the set of dolls from the 1985 Disney film Return to Oz. The Ideal dolls are a stand-out item from the MGM film merchandise collection. Shares Jane, “A piece that’s not precious to others may be [precious] to me because of the story behind it. Many favorites were gifts from dear friends.”

Upon entering Jane’s home, you would never recognize that she is an avid Oz collector. Her collection isn’t on display until the third floor of her home, where it then takes up the entire level of the house. “A lot of people are understandably limited to a curio cabinet,” Jane shares. “They are stopped in their tracks when they see [my collection].” The collection is loosely organized. When Jane first moved into her current space, everything had a place, but as her collection grows, she hasn’t been able to stay true to her original vision of organization. “A lot of it starts to spill everywhere!” she shares. She does keep her rarest books together in one area, making it easier for her daughter to know where the most valuable items are. She’s also taken an extra step to protect things from sunlight by putting UV filtering film over her third-floor windows.

Besides being displayed in her home, Jane’s collection has been featured in countless exhibits in toy museums, doll museums, art museums, history museums, and libraries. Notably, this includes a Christmas room that she set up to be displayed at the Great Overland Station in Topeka, Kansas. She also regularly rotates themed displays through one case in the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. The current theme is “Maps of Oz.” Though many collectors don’t enjoy the risks that come with exhibiting their prized possessions, Jane is always game for an opportunity to share her collection with others. “I am especially motivated to help the general public understand how big the Oz story is in American Pop culture,” she says. “When I can do a big exhibit, I tend to jump at the chance.”

Jane also serves as the president of the International Wizard of Oz Club – the same one that she joined at the age of 13. “The club was founded in 1957,” shares Jane. “At the moment, we have about 700 members. Thanks to social media and Facebook, Oz fans can find one another online and are part of huge Facebook groups. Now that we can do things virtually, we have the opportunity to meet and interact with each other.”

Aaron Case’s interest in collecting Star Trek autographs was sparked in the summer of 1991. At the age of 12, young Aaron was hanging around his house a lot when his parents suggested he find a summertime hobby. An avid fan of Star Trek, Aaron found out that he could write the actors directly at Paramount studios. He shares, “I began an aggressive letter writing campaign to every actor on the various Star Trek TV shows. I handwrote postcards to each actor on the show. Almost immediately, I began getting responses!”

Some of the autographs were genuine, while others were photocopied. Still, it was exciting to hear back from the actors who portrayed the characters that he loved. The very first autograph that he received was from William Shatner. It was a 5×7 image with a photocopied signature. “It was cool, but years later I decided to replace that one with the genuine article,” shares Aaron. “But he always stands out as the first person to send me an autograph.” Today, Aaron’s collection contains over 350 signatures and is still growing. “Some of my all-time favorites include Leonard Nimoy, Peter Weller, Sid Haig, and Whoopi Goldberg.”

Aaron has always had a collector mentality – a desire to complete a whole set of something. “My moment of realization with these pictures was when a friend of mine went to a Star Trek convention in Chicago and got me a signed picture from a guest star named Beverly Washburn.” At first, he was disappointed that it wasn’t one of the main stars, but soon he realized that this opened up the door to the hundreds of guest stars who appear on the show. It was at this point that he started to look for guest star signatures, and his collection really began to take off.

Aaron’s collection stands out for several reasons. First, about 80% of the items are personalized with a greeting to Aaron. The second reason it stands out is the rarity of some of the items he collects. “I’ve got an autograph from Meg Wylie who played one of the Talosians in the unaired pilot episode called ‘The Cage’ from 1965,” shares Aaron. “I actually have three autographs from the unaired, original pilot episode.” Third, the sheer size and scope of the collection is impressive, especially with the coverage of guest stars from the multiple Star Trek movies and TV shows that have aired over the years.

Like many collectors, Aaron finds it difficult to select his favorite item. “I have multiple favorite items!” he explains. “Some of the recognizable ones that stand out are Kirstie Alley, Whoopi Goldberg, and Christopher Lloyd. About two years ago, I finally got ahold of a Peter Weller autograph, the actor who played Robocop. He made a couple of appearances on the show. That just made my day!”

When Aaron first started collecting, he wanted to put the autographs in photo frames and hang them on the wall. However, as the collection grew, he ran out of wall space. Additionally, he realized that photographs tend to fade when left out exposed to the light. Today, he stores the autographs in acid-free archival plastic sheets, and then those all get placed in three-ring binders. “I’ve got them separated by the TV show, and then in each TV show, I’ve got all the main stars at the front, and then the guest stars are organized alphabetically.”

Many of the autographs in Aaron’s collection have appreciated in value since he acquired them. As an example, Aaron recalls a Leonard Nimoy autograph that he purchased directly from Creation Entertainment, the company that runs the annual Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. He paid $50 for the autograph, which today is selling for around $500 on eBay.

Aaron’s collection continues to grow, and his love of Star Trek has remained steady over the past 30 years. He is proud to have a completed set of all the main stars from the first five shows, which include Star Trek, The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and Enterprise. He also has a complete set of the main stars from the JJ Abrams reboot movies. “I’m currently working on the new shows in production,” Aaron shares. “It’s overwhelming for a collector because there are so many new ones I want to get that I cannot find.  I’m always looking out for autographs that I don’t have in my collection!”

Zach Bunn’s interest in Pokémon cards began in the 90s when Pokémon first appeared on the scene. One Christmas, when he was about 9 years old, his mother gifted him and his brother starter sets for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. “It was a whole new world to be introduced to!” shares Zach. “Each card had artwork and information about the Pokémon characters we loved.”

The brothers stayed up all night playing with the cards, and the next day they were begging to buy more packs. Zach’s uncle, who owned an arcade game room and sold baseball and comic book cards, took them out to purchase more packs of cards, and a new passion was born.

Throughout the past 25 years, Zach has played various trading card games, and he protected them and kept them in good condition. Around 2016, he began adding new games to his collection – ones that he had always been interested in, but never had a chance to acquire. This included games like the original Star Wars CCG, the Middle-earth CCG. He even went back to complete early sets from the Pokémon TCG.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, trading card games experienced a surge in popularity, with Pokémon taking center stage. “This affected every collectible card game that’s out there,” shares Zach. “The prices went through the roof. A card that got printed two years ago for a newer card game, The Flesh and Blood TCG, is currently selling for more than $10,000.” Zach had always viewed himself as more of a player than a collector, but as the value of his treasured cards began to rise, he had a realization. “I had spent around $800 buying booster boxes for the Flesh and Blood TCG. There was a moment when the prices of those cards started going crazy. I realized that if I sold just one stack of cards I had for that game, I could make $40,000 or $50,000. I started getting a little uncomfortable with how valuable this stuff was, and I would wonder where my cards were and if they were safe. I decided to get insurance. I realized that I owned some very valuable things!”

One of the most notable items in his collection is his original Charizard card. Charizard had always been his favorite Pokémon, and that card was in high demand when he was a kid, making it hard to come by. “I spent a long time wanting that card,” says Zach. One day, Zach and his brother went to see Star Wars: Episode I with their uncle. Before the movie, he took them out to buy packs of Pokémon cards. His uncle asked if he could open one pack, so Zach handed it to him. After he opened it, he asked, “Is a Char-e-zard any good?” Zach and his brother, who were both sitting in the backseat of the car, were filled with excitement. “We lost our minds! We had been searching for over a year. That card is pretty special because that was a notable experience for me. I still have it to this day. It’s not a first edition version, so it’s not the most valuable, but it means the world to me.”

Another important part of his collection is his Star Wars cards, art, and memorabilia. “In 2015, I went to my first Star Wars Celebration. I started another piece of my collection there, which is getting my trading cards signed by famous people, like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. I have about 100 cards signed by Star Wars actors or voice actors.” The autographed cards are meaningful for many reasons. Besides being very important and valuable cards, the cards have memories associated with them. There are memories of meeting some of his heroes in person, as well as years of memories from actually playing with the cards. Besides the autographed cards, Zach also has an extensive collection of rare Star Wars books and art. At the Star Wars Celebrations, they often have 100 copies available of a limited-edition book or piece of art that won’t become available again.

Overall, Zach has thousands of cards each for more than twenty collectible card games. His card game collection is stored in containers that keep it from gathering dust or being exposed to too much sunlight. Most of his Star Wars books and memorabilia are displayed on a 12-foot-wide bookshelf in his office, and most of the art is framed on a gallery wall.

While he started out as a gamer, Zach has warmed up to the idea of being considered a collector. “In my head, a collector is someone who collects expensive art or stamps or just buys things for the enjoyment of collecting them. For me, it was always more about how I could use what I was collecting, whether it be cards to play with or art to display. But compared to the rest of the world, I have a pretty extensive collection of games that most people probably haven’t even heard of.”

This passion for gaming led Zach to become the founder of a company, Covenant, along with several of his lifelong friends whom he met collecting and playing these games. Covenant is an online and local tabletop gaming retailer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They are on a mission to create the perfect place to play tabletop games. “These card games have created some of the best memories of my life, whether it’s playing in the back of my uncle’s movie rental store in our small town or traveling all over to compete in world championships. There’s really just nothing quite like being in a venue full of thousands of other collectors, players, and fans who share the same love and excitement you have for whatever it is you’re into – and for me, that is tabletop gaming.”

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Jake Holland describes himself as a human cartoon character with a love for geek culture, collectibles, and cinema. His passion is to bring joy to the internet via short-form videos on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. You may know him as Pizza Beard Party, with a big personality and an Instagram account boasting around 59.5K followers who share his interests and sense of humor.

Jake’s personal collection spans many categories. The majority is Funko POPS! and anything else by Funko. He also collects Pokémon Cards, Marvel Legends action figures, vintage action figures, LEGOs, and occasionally – vinyl records. “I love having a variety of stuff that’s fun to look at,” Jake explains. “[I add to my collection] when I watch a show or a movie that has a geeky aspect or character, or it’s retro, such as Stranger Things. I also have a vintage boom box, colorful unopened Mountain Dew cans, cards on display, and a mini working arcade cabinet.” One of his favorite items is Ninja Turtles-themed. “I still have the four original Ninja Turtles. I don’t have their accessories, and they aren’t in the box, but they still look great. I still have my name on the bottom in permanent marker from my mom.”
Jake started collecting in the early 90s, and he recalls having an urge to collect as many as he could of certain toys, like Ninja Turtles, GI Joe, LEGOs, and dinosaur-themed toys. As he got older, Jake shares that, “I fought to keep as much as I could, and I still have many of [my original toys]. [I kept these items] for nostalgia and to pass down to my kids. As a secondary factor, there’s been a boom in the past year or two with vintage collectibles. It proves I was right to keep it!”

When Pokémon cards first came out, that was when it really dawned on Jake that he had caught the collector bug. “It always sparked a joy for me,” he shares. “I could be having a tough week, but I knew I could run to the card shop or go to Pokémon League at Books-A-Million on Saturday. It was something to look forward to!” He developed a good relationship with the owner of a local card shop. “I would save up my allowance for Pokémon cards, and he always made sure I got a couple of packs when they came in.”

Today, there are easily over 1,000 items in Jake’s collection, with about 350 of them being Funko POPS!, most purchased at retail price (about $9 for regular-sized and $30 for jumbo-sized). The most valuable item in the collection is a first edition Pokémon card featuring Mewtwo. This card could be worth between $800 and $22,000. “I’ve been nervous to have it graded because I don’t want it to get lost in the mail,” explains Jake.

Jake keeps most of his Funko POPS! on shelves and in their original packaging, except for a few items he’s not worried about any future spike in value. The more expensive Pokémon cards are in protective cases, and the less expensive ones are in sleeve binders. Everything else is on display in Jake’s home.

You can get to know Jake and get a closer look at his collection by following him on Instagram, where he shares content about the variety of subjects that interest him. “I’ve been an influencer and content creator for the past eight years,” shares Jake. “I have tremendously enjoyed the community and the unreal opportunities that have come my way.”

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Bob Baker has been collecting since childhood. It started with stamp and coin collections, and then evolved into a collection of casino chips, tokens, and other memorabilia. Eventually, Bob decided to concentrate on collecting just a few things, so he focused primarily on slot cards. He later started to collect the entry tickets that are used to get into casinos in Europe. Today, his slot card collection has more coverage than any other collection in the world. He has over 85% of every known slot card issued worldwide, with over 96,000 cards in his main collection. The collection actually has over 100,000 items if you include the entry tickets and other casino memorabilia, and he has over 200,000 doubles. That brings the total count to a staggering 300,000 items.

Bob’s collection has grown so large partly because he has acquired the collections of others who were retiring from the hobby or collectors who have passed away. His goal is to preserve those collections so that they are not lost. “I just finished going through a collection I got over two years ago,” shares Bob. “It took me 26 months to go through everything.”

From one former collector, he picked up something else. “Some time ago, I met with a woman in Colorado who was publishing a slot card guide for collectors. When she decided to retire from collecting, she put her collection up for sale.” He bought her collection in 2010 and took over publishing the guide as part of the deal. Since then, the guide has more than doubled in size and now lists over 23,400 different cards. The guide used to be sold as a printed book, but in 2015 Bob switched over to a free digital format that can be downloaded at slotcardguide.com. By making the book available for free, Bob hopes to generate more interest in the hobby.

Taking ownership of the guide led Bob into another opportunity. Around 2015, the president of the local casino collectibles club in Atlantic City contacted Bob. He was the webmaster for a website called the ChipGuide. The website had started listing slot cards, but it was quickly becoming unmanageable, so they asked for Bob’s help in getting things organized. “It took about two years to get all of the scans uploaded and organized on the website – with the help of several website admins and fellow slot card collectors,” shared Bob. “I eventually became a website admin myself, and I now handle all slot card submissions worldwide.”

Part of the agreement with the ChipGuide was that Bob was allowed to link to all the images from the website in his slot card guide. This was extremely helpful, because including images on the guide would make everything way too large – the book is now over 500 pages long. “Linking these two resources makes them invaluable.” Bob posts information on any new additions to the guide on the SlotCardBBS bulletin board. Plus, he’s created an internet portal at SlotCardExchange.com that lists various resources for collectors.

Bob notes that there are a few stand-out items in his collection. There’s a gold card from the Landmark in Las Vegas. Only three cards are known to exist. One of these cards sold for $1,085 – the highest price ever for a slot card on eBay – before the third card was discovered. Another item is a Chairman card from Harrah’s; this was custom-made for a high-roller who spent a lot of time at a Midwest Harrah’s casino. There was even an article in The Wall Street Journal on December 5, 2009 about that card and the gambler who blew $127 million. Another rare card is an early MVP Club table card from the Cahuilla Casino in Anza, CA. This item took years to find – there are only two known cards in existence. He also has a green card from the Red Garter Casino in Wendover, Nevada. This card is the only copy known to exist. In fact, Bob has quite an assortment of slot cards that are the only known copy.

Slot cards weren’t really a thing until the 1980s, when they were first used in Atlantic City, so most of them don’t date any farther back than that. The entry tickets from Europe date back to the early 1900s or before. “I’ve got one from France that is dated 1914 in a leather binder the size of a business card.” Bob met with a collector in Belgium who was collecting these entry tickets, and the two of them worked together to help each other build their collections.

Bob’s collection is safely stored and organized. Anything worth $10 or more is stored in 3-ring binders. The common cards are stored in baseball card boxes, with custom-made plastic sleeves to protect each card. All the doubles are stored in baseball card monster storage boxes. These are designed to hold 5,000 baseball cards, but they only hold about 2,500 slot cards.
Over the years, Bob estimates that he has invested over $140,000. The catalog value of his collection is over $400,000, but currently, the market prices are down. Bob lists some of his doubles on eBay, but the majority of his listings are on a selling site called Delcampe. “I have almost 13,000 slot cards listed on Delcampe along with over 10,000 other items,” he shares. “It’s become almost a full time job now that I’m retired.”

Bob is a lifetime member of the Casino Collectibles Association and a member of the Atlantic City Casino Collectibles Club. He is scheduled to give a presentation on slot card collecting at this year’s Casino Collectibles Association National Convention in Las Vegas later this summer.