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The Crank from the Tank
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Post by Avatar on May 9, 2007 23:21:47 GMT -5
There was a point a few years ago where I began to say "Unless I get two of these I'm not opening it. No matter what." *shrug* While I sorta understand that point of view, I don't share it. What do you collect things for? To leave some sort of legacy to your children or grandchildren who will probably just sell all the stuff when you die anyway? Or to enjoy them? Me, I collect two things, knives and books. But I collect them for me. I'll buy my series piecemeal over years as I find them, so they're almost always lots of mixed up editions, hard-covers, soft-covers, I've even got ones with no covers. Because I don't need the complete series to be immaculate for my collection, I just need to be able to read them. I was given a beautifully engraved Pakistani tribal knife a couple years ago. Like almost all antique knives / swords sold, it had either never been sharpened or had the edge ground flat. To keep it in mint condition, it should have been left that way. But as far as I'm concerned, a knife should be sharp. So I sharpened it. I don't care what it's worth to anybody else, it's what it's worth to me. Anyway, that went on a bit longer than I expected. ;D And I do understand that, commercially speaking, if you want them to retain their value, they have to be unopened. But it's sorta sad don't you think? --A
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Post by thomasallencummins on May 10, 2007 5:18:54 GMT -5
I completely understand your point of view, AV. Of course I'd prefer to just enjoy my collectibles and in most cases that's what I do. None of my comic books have been CGC'd so outside of the fact that they are wrapped in a plastic bag and have a backing board, I can open the bag and read the book any time I like. To have something like a book permanently sealed in a mylar case seems foolish to me. Sure you can enjoy the cover but forget about reading it. So why is it valuable? The only reason I would gather action figures and leave them in the package is only to preserve the value in the eyes of others. Not mine. I don't play with action figures much anymore but to really enjoy the detail and craftsmanship of the piece you have to be able to see it from all sides. Its basically a 3 dimensional statue so it needs to be appreciated that way. Sealed in its original packaging makes that nearly impossible. But as long as at least part of my collection is set aside for building value one is forced to fight off the urge to open one's speculative toys. Its still kinda neat to have them just the way they were manufactured and sold, especially the older ones which give me a little kick of nostalgia, the exhilaration you feel when you found these things in the store when you were a kid.
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The Crank from the Tank
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Post by Avatar on May 10, 2007 5:36:27 GMT -5
Great post. ;D Yeah, I understand yors as well. If you want to realise some sort ofvalue, (as in commercial), then you have to leave 'em be. Like I said, it all depends on what you're collecting for. At least you have some that you collect for yourself to enjoy. --A
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The Crank from the Tank
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Post by Avatar on May 10, 2007 5:37:13 GMT -5
Haha, the ad's on this page for me are now for antiques and knives. Very clever robot buggers. --A
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Post by dANdeLION on May 10, 2007 9:32:03 GMT -5
I leave my Hotwheels sealed, because I know if I open them, I'd stay home and play with them, instead of coming to work.
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Post by dANdeLION on May 10, 2007 9:33:52 GMT -5
I leave my Hotwheels sealed, because I know if I open them, I'd stay home and play with them, instead of coming to work.
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The Crank from the Tank
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Post by Avatar on May 10, 2007 22:53:32 GMT -5
Are you subtly making fun of my double post there dYNomite? LOL
--A
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