Building a collection of items is a popular hobby the world over, although some categories are more popular than others. Here is a quick rundown of the biggest hitters in the world of collecting.
Stamps
The added benefit of choosing to collect stamps rather than anything else is that they take up very little space, so there's no need to dedicate entire rooms to storing them.
Video Games
While hit titles sell in their millions, the move to digital downloads has made physical copies less commonplace. Extremely rare games can be worth over $40,000, with obscure examples like Bandai's Stadium Events managing to attain an almost mythic status.
Military Memorabilia
In many cases the most hardcore members of this community will also open up their vast collections for public viewing, effectively creating private museums which are a testament to the many manifestations of the art of war throughout human history.
Vinyl Records
In many cases the records which are the most valuable to collectors are rare by design; limited pressings, unique sleeve designs and different vinyl colours are all used to coax customers into buying the same album multiple times.
Comic Books
It is not unusual for comic books which feature the first appearance of a particularly famous hero to sell for several million dollars. This was the case for Action Comics #1 in which Superman made his debut; it made $3.2 million at auction in 2014 and is likely worth even more today.
Coins
Whether pulled from a hidden Viking hoard that has lurked beneath farmland for centuries, or minted for a special occasion in a more recent era, coins can tell us a lot about our own past. Collecting them makes this past accessible and sustainable for future generations to enjoy.