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OF THE PLACES TO GO! FREE CLASSIFIEDS
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OF THE PLACES TO GO! FREE CLASSIFIEDS
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 "We Deal In Quality And Trust!" A Comprehensive Site For Boyds Bear BearstonesTMReference / Value Guide & Secondary Market Resource
In My Bear OpinionArticles & Editorial CommentsJuly 2001The Intelligent CollectorPart II A Further Look At The Basics & The "Casual Collector" Do you remember the "Intelligent Collector"? This is a collector who is informed enough about a collectible to make an intelligent assessment of the collectibles' value versus it's cost. In Part I we provided an illustration of an uninformed collector, so you would understand the nature of an Intelligent Collector. Simply stated, one needs to be informed to the level of competency at which they are collecting. This is necessary to make wise decisions about purchases and to protect your assets. Who is a "Casual Collector"? Anyone who has purchased a collectible! A Bearstone "Casual Collector" is one who has purchased one Bearstone. That's all it takes and you are a collector. The "Casual Collector" needs information that is basic. For the Bearstone Collector, this information should minimally include an understanding of Style#'s, all types of editions, the various exclusives and the Understamp. "Oh, I buy them because they're cute! It doesn't matter about all of that stuff." Have you heard this before? Maybe it is similar to a statement you made yourself. When our collection was beginning we said this very thing. But it wasn't long before we learned about editions. They were important! The more we learned, the more excited we became about collecting Bearstones. What a turnabout! Cute? Yes. Yet, how much more enjoyable it was to know (even minimally) what we were buying. During our "Early Period" of collecting we were "Casual Collectors." We were relatively uninformed and not making the best decisions about what we purchased. We just didn't have the information to be "Intelligent Collectors." And did we make some big "oopsies!" One wonders what we passed by unwittingly. Even if you have one or three Bearstones in your collection do yourself a favor - learn the basics. If you buy for a family member, friend, etc. who is a collector, make them really smile with your next gift. Learn the basics and give them an "informed gift." You will not believe the added thrill in giving with knowledge. The following is a personal story that will illustrate where knowledge becomes important even for the "Casual Collector." Within the past year Spouse's Mother was seriously ill. Spouse began searching for a simple cross for display at home. (It was in this way that Spouse sought solace as well as a place to light a candle for Mother.) The search was for something simple, yet of such a quality to evoke meaning through appearance. During Spouse's travels no shop was left unvisited. Finally, a prospective purchase was found. The cross was a simple wood with, a natural wave shape (as opposed to straight), stained in a rich color and finished. The top of the cross arm was adorned with some small dried petite flowers of various accenting colors. Hanging around the stem of the cross was a ring of barbed wire preserved with a sealant. It seemed a very good choice. We inquired of the shop owner the price of this cross. We were stunned by the price! "Why so much?" The shop owner was gracious and politely directed us to the hang tag that accompanied the cross. It seems that the cross was handmade by a lady, "out-of-state", who was a very knowledgeable collector of barbed wire. The piece of barbed wire that hung on the cross was from the 1860's. The wire was 140 years old! Trust me, we are not barbed wire collectors. The only thing we knew about barbed wire was that it was not advisable to cross a barbed wire fence unless one took extreme caution. The hang tag had enlightened us somewhat as to why the cross was so pricey. We left the shop, but without the cross. We didn't know if the barbed wire was authentic. We didn't have any idea of its value as a collectible. Truly, the cross was what Spouse desired, but we couldn't match that desire with the cost without more information. During the next week we searched for information about barbed wire. We looked for pictures, descriptions, values and identifying characters of barbed wire. This investigation informed us enough to be "Casual Collectors" of barbed wire. We returned to the shop. After applying our limited knowledge of barbed wire we were convinced it was authentic and valued in an appropriate range. The cross now adorns the wall in our home in memory of Spouse's Mother. And how much more special it is knowing the "Valued Aspects" of this collectible. Basic information is necessary to make informed decisions about purchases and the minimal information necessary to determine relative value. Information about a collectible, be it barbed wire or Bearstones, is paramount even to the "Casual Collector." And, it may come to pass, that even the "Casual Collector" may at sometime have necessity to delve into the realm of the "Serious Collector." We will discuss this aspect of the Intelligent Collector in Part III. ADDENDUM At TheBearCollector.com we have endeavored to bring all of this basic information to you with the Bearstone Basics - A Learning Center. The "Casual Collector" should be able to get most of the information they need to begin in this section of the site. Part I of The Intelligent Collector Part II of The Intelligent Collector Part III of The Intelligent Collector Part IV of The Intelligent Collector Part V of The Intelligent Collector What Are "Bearstone Basics"? Bearstone Basics is a series of informative articles concerned with the essential information a collector of Boyds Bearstones should have at their ready disposal. The subject matter pertains to basic things, such as Editions, Understamps, General Definitions and many others. Whether you are a "New" or "Old" collector the review of these subjects will provide you with an informed view of Bearstones and the necessary tools to be an informed collector and wise purchaser. CHOOSE A TOPIC (Just Click On Your Choice)
EDITIONS collecting Boyds Bearstones! The Bear Collector.com is a reference site for Boyds Bearstones. This means you can find the information you need (and you always need it) to be an Intelligent Collector of Bearstones. Did you miss Part I of The Intelligent Collector? You can read it HERE
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