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Baseball Card and Video Game Enthusiast Views Collecting as an Investment

Eric Naierman got his start collecting baseball cards in the early 90s. Like many collectors, he realized that the card companies were overproducing cards at the time, and this made most of the cards that he was collecting almost valueless. They still held a nostalgic value to him, but he stopped collecting after high school.
Around 2015, Eric opened his own dental practice and began making a living. It was around this time that he came across a CNN Money article about the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie card. “It’s his famous rookie card with him jumping in the air, dunking,” says Eric. “It became an iconic card.”
The article was discussing how the value of that card throughout the years had outpaced so many other common investments. Eric had never considered cards as an investment before, and this idea intrigued him. Rather than invest in typical stocks and bonds, he could make an investment in something that actually piqued his interest – something he would actually want to own.
He created a budget for himself, went on eBay, and found cards whose value fell within his range of affordability. He realized that his new investment had lots of utility – it was something he was excited to own, but it could also later be sold or passed on to his kids.
His bug for collecting was reawakened, and he began making regular purchases on eBay of cards that he always wanted during his childhood, along with others that he felt would also be good investments. He spent a few years learning the market and how it fluctuated as well as studying the best time to buy and sell certain cards. He admits that he made many mistakes at the beginning, and he has since learned from these mistakes and honed his skills as a collector. After getting a few years of collecting experience under his belt, it wasn’t long before he became interested in something new.
While making a purchase from Heritage Auctions, Eric was looking at the website and stumbled upon a picture of an unopened Super Mario 3 video game in its original factory seal. He was surprised and intrigued to find something he had loved so much as a kid being auctioned on this site. Now he had set his sights on a new collectible: factory-sealed video games.
The knowledge he had picked up from card collecting served him well in this new arena. The video games brought him even more nostalgia than the baseball cards, mainly because they were games he had grown up playing. He was especially intrigued by the fact that video games came with an original seal, indicating that the game is still in its original condition. This adds a level of intrigue not found with other collectibles such as cards, comics, and coins, which were never individually sealed. He realized that he got particular enjoyment as a collector from owning collectibles that had a huge impact in world and cultural history, still preserved in their original state.
The challenge? Sealed video games were quickly becoming a bigger investment than baseball cards. In fact, some of the games were selling for five figures or higher! His brother-in-law made a recommendation: why don’t you find others who are interested in joining you and purchase the video games together?
Eric took this advice and started asking around. He was taken aback by how many people were interested in getting involved. He put together a partnership and the group began purchasing the games together. Eric was able to gather over $1 million in capital to make these purchases, which was so notable that the New York Times mentioned him in their story about video game collectors. He named his partnership the Vintage Video Game Club.
Eric estimates that there are about 250 games in his collection at this point, with his most valuable games being a sticker-sealed Mario Arcade, followed by a factory-sealed Castlevania in its first print “hang tab” box. He has taken a particular interest in the very earliest prints of these games with their original factory seal still intact. Eric says, “When I realized the cultural significance of these original Nintendo games and their impact on the future of e-sports and gaming, as well as their remarkable rarity, I knew these were the games I wanted to have.”
You can follow Eric’s collecting journey and featured games from his collection on Instagram @vvgclub.

Every little girl has had the phase – the one where she loves horses and has her very own model horse collection. For some people, this is more than a phase – it’s a lifelong passion. Just ask Corina Roberts, who was surprised to discover that the majority of her fellow model horse collectors are over the age of 50.
“I have my older sister’s horses,” shares Corina, “I was pretty much a from-birth collector.” When she turned 18, she figured that she was now an adult who shouldn’t play with horses, so she put them away for a few years. She later realized that that, “Adults just play with more expensive toys,” and she was happy to start collecting again under the influence of her motorcycle-enthusiast husband.
Corina recalls that there was a specific moment when she realized that she was a collector. “I was standing in a feed store looking at some Breyer horses, and I was finally looking to see how well they were painted, how nice the markings were, how good the shading was – the things you look for when you’re showing a horse. And that was my ‘aha’ moment. I realized that I had a collector’s mindset.”
The first horse that Corina spent a significant amount of money on was a limited edition horse for $150. This horse is probably worth $700 or $800 now. Today, Corina will spend in the neighborhood of $200 on an unpainted resin horse that was cast by the artist. She then enjoys customizing the horse by painting it. Some of the most impressive horses in her collection are those made of artist resin – particularly those by artists Sue Sifton, Kitty Cantrell, and Maggy Jenner Bennett.
All of her horses are displayed on shelfs in a 10’ x 10’ bedroom. She tries to avoid storing anything in boxes, believing that if you have to store your collection in boxes, you have too many items! Her collection has an estimated 700 pieces in it – this includes an entire collection that was recently gifted to her by a friend. One of the most interesting aspects of collecting model horses is the social factor. Corina, along with other collectors, enjoys participating in live model horse shows. Somewhere around 1970, people started photographing their model horses and a thing called “model horse photo showing” emerged. This evolved into the live shows that exist today.
“Models in the Mountains is the show we host here [in California],” says Corina. “We are in the heart of the Angeles National Forest.” This show starts on a Friday with an art day and a model horse retreat so that people can relax, socialize, eat food, do artwork, hike, and have a pleasant day. On Saturday, the day of the show, there are up to 19 showers who may bring several hundred horses with them. The day is non-stop! “We are trying to promote the shows and build a sense of community,” says Corina. They also promote art, because, “There are talented equine artists [out there], and with the birth of the internet we’ve been able to connect across the world.”

Andy Denes is a collector of a unique item called the matchbook holder. The matchbook holder is a 20th century version of a match safe (a small, portable box that holds loose stick matches). Rather than containing the loose matches in a box, a matchbook holder wraps around a familiar folding cardboard matchbook.
Andy discovered matchbook holders as a collateral collectible for a matchbook collection. An obscure but inexpensive item, Andy says they are, “Small enough so that I could assemble a large collection in a small space.”
The paper matchbook was invented in the 1890s, and in 1904, the matchbook holder was first patented as a container into which a matchbook could be inserted. After the 20 matches from the paper book were spent, you would toss the empty match cover away, but the holder would remain in your pocket, ready to cover up the ad on the next matchbook.
Matchbook holders became a sideline product for many companies that were manufacturing base metal, leather, and plastic advertising novelties. Silver, gold, and even platinum matchbook holders would be marketed by the likes of Tiffany, Gorham, and Cartier, often with matching cigarette cases. Reaching a high point between the world wars, matchbook holders continued to be manufactured in the 1950s, but their production has since decreased.
The U. S. produced the most matchbook holders, but there were thousands, from base metal to gold, made in England. Besides the United States and England, Andy’s collection also includes examples from Canada, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, South Africa, Germany, France, and Japan.
These matchbook holders are often tapered like a matchbook itself, but a different style of flat matchbook with balsa wood matchsticks was popular in Central Europe. Andy doesn’t collect matchbook holders for this style, but they exist, and they include styles made by Fabergé and other famous European craftsmen.
The collection has grown to over 3,000 matchbook holders, and Andy has had to restrict his acquisitions to only those produced in the United States. Says Andy, “I’ve accumulated quite a lot of information on the history of these obscure collectibles, and I keep telling myself that I will someday write a book. We’ll see.”

Named in honor of the martyred 3rd-century Roman priest and physician Valentinus, Valentine’s Day means sending and receiving Valentine’s Day cards. Legend has it that Valentinus was beheaded for helping Christian couples marry, and that he penned the world’s first Valentine’s card to his jailer’s daughter on the eve of his execution.
Around 500 A.D., Pope Gelasius canonized Valentinus and declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr. Since that fateful time, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a holiday that celebrates love, romance, and friendship.
When Was the First Valentine’s Day Card Made?
While the origins of Valentine’s Day cards are unclear, historians generally credit Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts with publishing the very first American Valentine’s Day card in 1849. She is thought to have launched a homemade card business from her home, growing her Howland’s New England Valentine Co. into a thriving company that’s reported to have generated as much as $100,000 in annual revenue.
Howland’s venture was preceded by John Fairburn of London, England, who is said to have published the world’s first printed Valentine’s Day card on January 12, 1797. The card contained a printed verse complete with hand-colored cupids, doves, and flowers, and Fairburn posted the card to Catherine Mossday, along with a handwritten note asking for a date.
Pre-dating printed Valentine’s Day cards are hand-crafted love notes, including what’s believed to be the oldest surviving Valentine’s greeting on paper. Crafted by the Duke of Orleans, a Frenchman imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415, the note to his wife reads, “I am already sick of love, my very gentle Valentine.” It remains carefully preserved in the British Library, which also holds a 1477 Valentine’s Day letter that is thought to be the first-ever English-language Valentine.
When Did Hallmark Start Printing Valentine’s Day Cards?
Although modern Valentine’s Day cards pre-date the founding of the iconic greeting card company Hallmark, the tradition of exchanging romantic notes on February 14 in the U.S. really took off with the launch of Hallmark’s first Valentine’s Day cards in 1913.
In fact, a 1915 fire completely wiped out the company’s inventory of Valentine’s Day cards, which led to the purchase of the very printing presses which helped transform Hall Bros. into the Hallmark company. As of 1916, commercial production of Valentine’s postcards and cards was thriving, and Valentine’s Day cards quickly became an annual tradition throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, France and Italy.
How Much Could Your Collectible Valentine’s Day Cards Be Worth?
While Valentine’s Day cards rarely retail for more than a few dollars, savvy collectors can transform a box filled with vintage cards into some cold hard cash.
The actual value of a vintage Valentine’s Day card depends on multiple factors such as the condition of the card, its age, and most importantly, if it’s a sought-after item. Handcrafted cards made with lace, ribbons, and parchment always create a buzz, as do Victorian-style three-dimensional cards made with die-cut images. Some Valentine’s Day card collectors focus on postcard Valentines, which were common between the 1920s and 1940s.
Asking prices for collectible Valentine’s Day cards go as high as $1,800 USD for a postcard from 1853, and there are multiple listings of vintage cards from the last century that are in the $200 range. Because there is such a wide range of prices for collectible Valentine’s Day cards, serious collectors should have their cards appraised by a credible auction house or certified appraiser.
Protecting Your Collection
If you’re a Valentine’s Day card collector, or any collector, you already know the importance of protecting your collectibles against damage from moisture, fire, insects, and UV rays.
While due diligence can go a long way towards preserving the value of your collection, the right collectibles insurance policy ensures that your investment won’t be wiped out if disaster strikes. Collectibles Insurance Services specializes in providing protection for all types of collectibles. For more information, contact our collectibles insurance experts today.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/6-surprising-facts-about-st-valentine
https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/valentines-day-ideas/history-of-valentines-day/
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/cards/valentines
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3951-first-valentine-cards.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/L1NM_6mWRymAMKXcRDlXJA
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/love-fleeting-vintage-valentines-worth-keeping 

It was a Lionel train set around his parents’ Christmas tree that sparked Bob Pettitt’s passion for trains at the young age of six or seven years old. Years later, Bob is a collector with a vast model train collection comprised of over 9,000 items and accessories – a collection worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $90,000.
The trains and accessories are displayed on three different train layouts. Bob’s 750-square foot, two-car garage is home to the first one. After running out of room in that first space, he expanded to include two more layouts in two separate buildings. The remainder of the collection is displayed on shelves that circle the perimeter of the rooms. These train layouts include a number of complete passenger train models, such as the City of Los Angeles, the City of San Francisco, the Southern Pacific Daylight, and the Santa Fe El Capitan.
“The whole collection is special to me because it represents my childhood and my memories.” This unique collection is full of accessories that hold a special nostalgia for Bob. His favorite piece is a scratch-built model of the Pomona, CA home where he grew up. He lived in that house from the age of four until age seventeen, and his father scratch-built this model many years ago.
Another piece that holds a special memory is a model of a Greyhound bus. This reminds Bob of a time in 1954, when at the age of seven he attended the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona. Greyhound Bus Lines had just introduced a new bus called the Super Scenicruiser, a double decker bus made by General Motors Corp. They would take one of the cruisers out of regular service, bring it to the fair, and a marketing manager would sit in the front seat and tell people about the bus over the PA system.
Fascinated by the bus, Bob sat inside of it and eventually memorized the marketing director’s spiel. Before long, he asked the marketing director if he could be allowed to deliver the speech over the PA system just one time. “I must’ve done a half way decent job,” says Bob, because the marketing manager asked him to deliver the speech at the fair every day, all day long, for the remainder of its run. With his parents’ permission, Bob accepted the offer and received free tickets to the fair in exchange for his work.
Besides buses and buildings, Bob’s accessories also include airplanes – another vehicle that holds a fascination for him. Bob recalls the unique opportunity he was given to fly in the cockpit of a Lockhead L 1011 on a flight from Portland to Mississippi. “That was one of the thrills of my life,” says Bob, “so I have a model of that plane flying over the layout.”
He also has a model of a United Airlines jet – commemorating a real-life crash in Portland where a plane unfortunately ran out of fuel and crashed just before arriving at the airport. His personal connection to this incident was that the City Manager of United Airlines came to a class he was teaching (as a professor and Business Division Chair at what is now Concordia University) and spoke about the crash.
Because all of the pieces are so closely connected to Bob’s own memories, his layouts and models are unique. He’s proud of the one-of-a-kind pieces that he owns. Just one more example of this? Besides collecting model trains, Bob is also part of running a small TV station, KRHP Channel 14. He is currently working on a model of the station. “I finally found something that I could use for the satellite dishes,” says Bob. “I don’t imagine there’s another person in the country with a model of those studios.”

If you are a fan of collectibles, there is no limit to the things that you can gather. It is thrilling, and you get to keep the items that you deem unique and valuable. The hobby has become unbelievably popular, with a market size of $1.5 billion for online antiques and collectibles in the U.S. alone.
However, collectibles do not all come with the same value. Some are worth more than others. For insight into value, here are some of the top treasured collectibles in the world.
1. Art
The beauty of collecting art is the beauty of the art. Museums throughout the world may have a monopoly on collecting fine art, but there are many fine collections of art by individual art lovers. The hobby is not an inexpensive one, but one that can prove to be—in the long run—a solid investment as well as a way of decorating your home. Art is not limited to paintings or drawings and may include lithographs, sculptures, pottery—even wooden eggs.
2. Comic Books
Many kids discover comic books and—as adults—some discover that they really like collecting comic books. The wide variety of published comic books offers collectors almost unlimited choices on which to focus their collections—from Disney characters, to superheroes, to artists like Jim Lee and Robert Crumb. The super sale of a single comic book still rests with the 1938 Action Comics #1, featuring the debut of Superman. That rare edition sold at auction for more than $3.2 million in 2014.
3. Porcelain Vases
If you are a collector who is a fan of vases, you should think about getting a porcelain one. The value of these vases has massively escalated over the years, although they don’t all have the same value. The more common ones that are used for home decor may be available and a bit less expensive; however, a vase from China’s Yuan Dynasty can be worth around $1.2 million.
4. Unique Stamps
Most enthusiastic collectors love rare stamps for various reasons. They are unique, portable, and require only a little storage space. Research done for Forbes by Richard Lehmann revealed that the value of rare stamps continues to increase as the years go by. The more costly a stamp is, the higher the rate of appreciation.
5. Action Figures
Valuable hand-crafted action figures are fascinating, and collectors fight for them. You can go for hard-to-find old ones or modern ones. If you are planning to sell them, you might get handsome returns. Examples of expensive action figures are L’Oiseleur, which is also known as The Bird Trainer ($6.25 million), Transformers Generation 1 Collection ($40,000), and the Original Superman Action Figure ($25,000).
6. Coins
A classic collection of rare coins is also precious. The more unique the coins are, the more beauty they can add to your collection. You can choose them based on their designs and on the potential of value appreciation in the future. Most coin collectors love the hobby because it represents a significant investment, plus it allows them to preserve history. For instance, a Morgan 90% silver dollar is representative of the late 18th century and early 19th century. They can be worth over $100.
7. Dolls
The most expensive dolls are worth collecting, and collecting them doesn’t necessarily require an interest in toys. There are different dolls that you can acquire that were made during various time periods. Each of them comes with its own price tag. For instance, you can find Cabbage Patch dolls that were made in the 1980s being sold at about $5,500. Another treasured doll that you can collect is Barbie, whose demand continues to increase.
8. Movie Collectibles
There are also some high-priced movie collectibles. Some of them include Indy’s Hat from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Marilyn Monroe’s white dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955), and a racing suit from 1971’s Le Mans. These are just some of the high-value collectibles that you can find on the market today, and there are many more.
If you have precious collectibles, you should consider getting them insured. With this protection, you can ensure that you will not lose your investment if they are stolen or destroyed. Visit Collectibles Insurance Services to learn more about insuring your collectibles properly.
Sources
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/08/22/rare-superman-book-draws-record-2-2-million-bid-the-long-journey-of-a-record-setting-comic
https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/online-antiques-collectibles-sales-united-states
https://moneyversed.com/worlds-most-expensive-collectibles/?bdk=a*undefined&ch=bt
https://blog.cheapism.com/most-expensive-collectibles/#slide=3
https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/g3429/valuable-antiques 

John Belott’s love of jukeboxes dates back to the year 1968—when he was just eight years old. He and his twin brother, Joseph, were born and raised in Telford, Pennsylvania. As far back as he can remember, his father would take them fishing on Saturdays. During those fishing trips, they would go to the bar and order burgers and French fries. While eating his cheeseburger, John would notice the jukebox standing in the corner of the bar. He would ask, “Daddy, can I have a quarter?” His father would reach into his pocket and give him some change to play music.
John was absolutely in awe of that jukebox. All the light, all the glass, and all the chrome—“it just dazzled me,” John shares. A quarter gave you three plays, and the song that he always selected was called, “Rose Garden” by Lynn Anderson. Says John, “Every time I would go into a diner or a bar, I would look for that song. That was the song that wanted me to want jukeboxes.”
John would tell his mother, “Someday, I’m going to have my own jukeboxes when I get older.” Today, he’s the proud owner of a 1952 Seeburg and a 1954 Seeburg. These two Seeburgs have been restored to grade one, which means they’ve been completely torn apart. Everything has been re-chromed, repainted, and refinished. The speakers have been reconed to sound brand new.
The crown jewel of his collection is a 1948 Wurlitzer 1100 that’s currently being restored. This is, John explains, “the holy grail of all jukeboxes. It’s the prettiest, in my opinion, of all jukeboxes ever made.” John plans to commemorate his late wife, Heather, by placing her wedding ring inside of this jukebox.
The restoration process for each jukebox is completed by a man in Roseville, Illinois named Robert Johnson. Robert has been doing professional restoration for around 25 years, and as John puts it, “He is the best in the business!” John met Robert in 2008 at the biggest jukebox show in the country, hosted at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois.
At the time, John could barely contain his excitement about the show—he was in “jukebox heaven!” They had 1950s jukeboxes, slot machines, and pinball machines—“coin-op” machines. After stopping by Robert’s booth, John took his business card and ended up buying the 1952 Seeburg from him later that year. To explain why this particular jukebox is so special, John recalls the TV show Happy Days. “Arthur Fonzarelli would go into Arnold’s Hamburger Shop and take his fist and punch the jukebox and it would start playing.” The machine that was in Happy Days is the same model number that he bought from Robert Johnson.
When not in play, these jukeboxes are stored in custom covers that were handmade by a seamstress. Because of the great care that is put into restoring and protecting this collection, they look brand new—just like they did in the 1950s. Once a jukebox has been restored, it is even better than it was on the day it was built.
Besides his jukeboxes, John collects an assortment of 1950’s memorabilia, such as an ice cream scoop, a 1948 Seeburg large teardrop speaker, small diecast cars, records, and more. Of the decade he says, “Everything in the 1950s was fabulous! I often told my mom that I was born way too late. If I were born in the 50s, I would’ve had one heck of a time.”

When the holidays approach, many parents are frantic to get their hands on the hottest toys of the season before they are all gone, in an effort to make their child’s experience happy and memorable. But others have a different goal in mind when seeking to snatch up this holiday season’s popular offerings: collectible value.
That’s because many hot holiday toys of the past have become some of the biggest and most valuable collectible toys in the years to come. It’s no secret that the old line of Star Wars action figures is highly collectible, as are many other action figures.
Some of the hard-to-find Beanie Babies also command respectable value, and various discontinued American Girl dolls are also quite valuable. Furbys, the Nintendo Game Boy, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Teddy Ruxpin are also hot collectibles. And who would have thought that the unwholesome Garbage Pail Kids cards would be fetching thousands of dollars today?
Top 2019 Holiday Toys
Will any of the holiday toys of 2019 also become collectibles in the future? Some of the toys on the hot list for boys and girls this year include Blume Dolls, Linkimals, Artie 3000 The Coding Robot, Hatching Toothless, Hatchimals, and SNAPSTAR Dolls. Among other toys attracting attention are Nintendo Switch, Baby Shark, JoJo Siwa, Funko Pop, and Paw Patrol. Will any of these end up being collectible, and how can you tell?
What Makes a Toy Collectible?
A toy that is fetching high prices soon after it is released is not necessarily a collectible—it is simply generating prices to coincide with the high demand. However, a toy that becomes rare over time, but is still in high demand, becomes collectible. A toy can become collectible for quite a few reasons—people covet them because they invoke memories of childhood or feelings of nostalgia. Or sometimes, they become collectible simply because they are hard to find, and it becomes a bragging right to have one.
On a side note, it is probably a good idea not to fall for the hype of toys marketed as collectible right from the start—these rarely retain any value after the initial excitement of the release dies down.
What to Get This Holiday Shopping Season?
Wondering which toys to get this holiday season to add to your collectibles? If you’re an experienced collector, you may already have a good idea of which 2019 toys are likely to increase in value in the future. Maybe it’s a line of action figures that aren’t even on the hot list. Regardless of what you’ve got your eye on, you likely also know the importance of keeping any new toys, as well as toys already in your collection, in good condition.
After all, the toy isn’t likely to retain its value if it’s been beat up, worn, moldy, or in shoddy condition after being tossed in a corner of the attic for 10 years. (All those busted and discarded toys is what makes the existing ones so collectible anyway!)
But even when you take all precautions to keep your toys, action figures, and other collectibles in good condition and storage, accidents still occur. Fires, floods, or other incidents can unfortunately reduce your valuable collection to worthless remnants. That’s why so many collectors utilize Collectibles Insurance Services to provide coverage for their rare treasures.
For peace of mind this holiday season, don’t let the Grinch find a way to ruin your holidays—or your collection. Get proper insurance coverage for your toys, action figures, comic books, stamps, knife and gun collections, and many other collectibles, by contacting Collectibles Insurance Services for a free quote.
References
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/childrens-products/toy-reviews/g3302/most-valuable-toys-from-childhood/?slide=22
https://toys4minds.com

Nowadays, lots of movies are coming out that are based on comic books. We may think we have a deep understanding of the stories and the characters in these and other comics. Compared to Bob Bretall, though, we don’t.
Bretall is no ordinary comic book collector. He holds the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Comic Book Collection (verified by Guinness in 2016), with a whopping 101,822 unique comics (no duplicates). His collection now tops 105,000, and is growing every month.
Bretall started collecting comic books at the ripe age of 8 years old in Southern California. Once he started, he instantly jumped into it, collecting new comics every month. He has two older brothers, so comic books such as Richie Rich and Uncle Scrooge were a part of his childhood. However, it wasn’t until he laid his hands on one comic book that his passion was ignited.
Which one was it? The Amazing Spider-Man #88, by Stan Lee and John Romita, Sr., was his first purchase. In fact, that issue is still his favorite comic to this day. As an 8-year old, he flipped through that comic countless times and cut out lots of pictures, demolishing that original issue. Fortunately, he later bought a replacement copy and even had it autographed by Lee and Romita, Sr.
That was in July of 1970, and Bretall has been buying comics every month since. While he still lives in southern California, he has traveled the world collecting comics. He has bought comics in such far-off countries as China, the Netherlands, Germany, Korea, and Japan.
Interestingly, Bretall does not collect comic booksas a money-making venture. .He cherishes the plotlines and the characters and finds the value of his collection is in the stories themselves. He does plan on leaving his entire collection to his children for their inheritance, and he hopes they’ll “keep at least a few of them as a remembrance” of him.
Bretall’s favorite comic character remains Spider-Man to this day. He credits the character for inspiring his collecting passion. Not all of his comics are superhero stories, though. His favorite current comic book changes every few months these days, but is rarely a super-hero comic. He gravitates to genres like crime, sci-fi, and fantasy, with many coming from Image Comics, his current favorite publisher from whom he gets about 40 titles per month.
All of his comics are inputted into ComicBase, database software that stores every title in his collection. This has come in handy, as the folks at Guinness would randomly ask him to verify that he owned certain titles. He would punch in a few search terms and – poof! – he would know in which of his more than 400 alphabetized boxes to search for that comic.
The majority of his comic book collection is stored in his garage. He does, however, have an entire room in his house dedicated to displaying his collection: his “comic room.”
Besides comic books, there are vast amounts of other memorabilia in this room, such as Marvel statues and busts. Bretall has many other comic-related items in his possession, including original comic book art, sketches, and toys. He is still actively collecting comics to the tune of more than 100 new and older comics per month. One thing is certain. Spider-Man may have been bitten by a radioactive spider, but Bob Bretall has been bitten by the comic-book collecting bug.
For more details, including pictures, about Bob Bretall and his amazing comic collection, check out his site: https://comicspectrum.com/guinness-record

Now that the holiday season is upon us, many adults will be looking back fondly on childhood memories of model trains running under the Christmas tree. Of course, there is no need for these memories to be restricted to childhood, as many adults continue their passion for train collecting throughout their lives.
Collectors of trains are in for a treat this winter as large and small train-oriented events take place around the country. These events have a lot to offer to train collectors who want to see some of the most iconic models in an immersive seasonal environment. You may find local train events in your area by visiting Nextdoor.com. Here are a couple of very popular train shows you might want to consider visiting.
Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden
This winter, model trains will take center stage at the New York Botanical Garden. From November 23 to January 26, G-scale locomotives are set to trundle between miniature replicas of New York’s most celebrated landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, and the Brooklyn Bridge. All landmarks are made from natural materials that capture the spirit of the season, including cinnamon sticks, acorns, lotus pods, and birch bark. This year, collectors can enjoy watching locomotives pass famous Central Park features, including the Dairy and Belvedere Castle. Designer Paul Busse has created this magical landscape to delight train lovers and New York families alike. Find the exhibition in a special immersive space next to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Holiday Garden Railway Display at the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia
This event has been a holiday favorite at the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum since 1998. The Morris Arboretum is dedicated to research, teaching and outreach programs to nurture the earth’s forests, fields and landscapes. But, in the holiday season, the Garden Railway Display is the most popular event. There is a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels to accommodate fifteen different rail lines and two cable cars. Set in the lovely winter garden of the Morris Arboretum, the model train tracks run past decorated buildings and through beautiful landscapes. The Garden Railway Display is open the day after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve. Click here for ticket information.
Keeping Your Train Collection Safe
As any collector knows, keeping cherished collectibles safe is a high priority. Model trains can be extremely valuable, both in financial terms and for their emotional value. To protect your investment in model train collectibles, it is vitally important to have adequate insurance.
Collectors must ensure that they choose an insurance product that is suitable for covering this kind of item. Homeowners insurance does not always provide coverage for a collection of valuable model trains. It is much better to work with a specialist collectibles insurance agency such as Collectibles Insurance Services. Before you start to plan your holiday train show schedule, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance Services today to make sure you have the right insurance coverage for your collection.
Sources
https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show
https://www.morrisarboretum.org/gardens_railway.shtml