The popularity of collecting has given rise to a multitude of niche collectibles that are attracting the media's attention and raising the eyebrows of longtime enthusiasts. It should be noted that some of these niche markets are currently experiencing their own speculative bubbles while others have enough staying power that they may just become the next big thing. This article looks at some of these newest obsessions and offers my analysis as to which of these collectibles are bound to become tomorrow's sought after antiques or fresh bargain bin fodder.
Anyone who was alive in the early 1990s should remember the frenzy and controversy surrounding the release of the original Nike Air Jordan line of sneakers. These incredible high tops retailed for several hundred dollars a pair and immediately sold out across the country, leading to shortages, the rise of resellers, and horrid stories of our nation's youths being robbed solely for their shoes. At the time, few people could have predicted that a sneaker would become the next big collectible craze, but leave it to several young sneaker enthusiasts, along with the rise of eBay, and the next big collectible craze is indeed upon us. CNBC even did a story on alternative investing and collectible vintage sneakers were covered as one of the topics. Today an original pair of Nike Air Jordan sneakers from the first release can easily fetch several thousand dollars if in near mint condition. If found brand new in their original box the price rises dramatically, as very few enthusiasts purchased these shoes back in the 1990s solely for collecting.
Ironically, those who did and who continued to collect these shoes well into the new millennium now have a collection well worth six figures or more. Some enterprising entrepreneurs have even opened brick and mortar stores in prime retail locations with services that include buying, selling, and even pawning collectible sneakers of yesteryear. This brings us to question whether this is a passing fad or if sneaker collecting will become a viable collecting field along the same lines as coins, comic books, and toys. Ironically, the continued success of the Nike Air line has caused me to recognize this hobby as definitely being a niche market, but one that is here to stay. After all, as a collector in my mid-30s, my preferred shoe just happens to be the coveted Nike Air sneaker. Call me biased, but I would never pay several thousand dollars for a pair of sneakers.
Around the same time period in which Nike Air sneakers were experiencing a new found frenzy, an enterprising young man created a unique collectible card-based role-playing game that abruptly went mainstream. Magic the Gathering (also known simply as MTG) became so popular in the 1990s that the property was eventually sold to the Hasbro toy company, which now handles complete distribution of the game. If you were lucky enough to hold onto some of the original cards from the earlier Alpha and Beta series, you may have something worth tens of thousands of dollars. It is estimated that there are well over 11 million players and enthusiasts of Magic the Gathering in North America alone. Thanks in part to a creative no reprint policy for some of the most sought after cards, the earlier series are extremely coveted by collectors and investors alike. This has even caused respected third party grading companies to start catering to this growing collectibles market, even though they typically only grade and encapsulate sports cards. The coveted holy grail in Magic the Gathering collecting is by far the rare Black Lotus game card. Mint examples of this card have been seen selling for tens of thousands of dollars, which has led to mass media attention being paid to this decades old card game that many enthusiasts like me had thought would be long forgotten by now.
It is unfortunate but the Magic the Gathering card game is experiencing a bit of a speculative market at present time. Due to the fact that new series are still being created and hoarded, the secondary values of this card game cannot be properly analyzed. Even the coveted Alpha and Beta series that is by far the most sought after are being hyped beyond belief by entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who only see dollar signs instead of a longterm collectible. Still, one cannot deny the fact that Magic the Gathering is still quite popular and continues to grow. Even as a diehard enthusiast, I have no plans on dropping the necessary cash needed to obtain some of the most sought after cards. That being said I do collect rare third party graded cards and see no signs of this trend dying any time soon.
Mention the word Nintendo to any adult under 40 and their eyes may light up with a warm glow. With mass media attention being paid to several high profile auctions that raised questions as to their validity and subsequent payment, vintage video game collecting is still all the rage. Unfortunately, the rise of reproductions and fakes has given the game collecting public pause. But one cannot discount vintage video games as a legitimate collecting field. With the advent of companies that cater to third party grading and encapsulation of factory sealed games and the rise of awareness from the general public as well, vintage video games should enjoy a bright future even with some periods of speculation. Back in the late 1990s and through the early millennium vintage Atari games and related systems enjoyed a mass speculative bubble that led to a major price correction by 2005. Today common Atari games can be found selling for a few dollars each, with only rare and boxed titles commanding a premium. Whether the gaming public tires of the vintage Nintendo scene only time will tell, but for a hobby that has been around since the late 1970s a collector like me is thrilled at the attention being paid to the electronic games of my youth.
Thanks in part to the rise in reality based television shows a lot of niche items from yesteryear are enjoying mass media attention. This has given birth to a plethora of newfound collectibles that few would have thought of just several decades ago. Are these newfound treasures destined to become tomorrow's sought after antique or will they become long forgotten much like Beanie Babies? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, I wouldn't bet against today's hardcore collector.