Better than bank, save your money by buying Art ?!

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Skydive Outlaw

And I would rather frame and look at bank account and investment statements than a picture in a frame.

oooh! I just got a "welcome to town" framing coupon.
Not sure I want folks seeing the balances though...

[mathjak107]

as the owner of some pricey art work i can tell you the commissions to sell require that piece to have lots and lots of appreciation.

its very hard to sell on your own.

[harry chickpea]

Fine art is spotty in appreciation. Other collectibles go through cycles depending on the figure of the moment, the fads, and the bubble factor where everyone wants in. Marketability is an issue, since finding the right buyer can be a real task. Storage, as mentioned, can be a big problem.

I've paid bucks for an historical book that had factual information unavailable elsewhere. Will the internet and Google books affect that market? To some extent, but not completely.

I've seen one market coming for years, and I'm fairly confident that it is on a leading cusp. The market? ORIGINAL one-sheets (movie posters) from the films popular during the teen and young adult years of the boomer population. The Star Wars posters are an example, but there are others as well. Right now, the stock available is a mixed bag, with about 90% being worth little, and the other 10% being real good candidates for appreciation.

Like any collector market, you have to know your stuff, or you can get swindled. However... movie theatres are dying out and the nostalgia factor will only grow. As people decorate their home theatres, original posters will be in demand.

Other possible collectibles are WORKING original early video games and toys. Storage is more of a problem though.