Crossover Collectibles Collector Inspector : Episode CTI-105 -- More Projects »
Multifaceted collectibles are great because there's potential for more than one buyer in a single object. Take this exercise kit (figure A), endorsed by Micky Mantle and 1950s fitness guru Bonnie Pruden. It was originally purchased using S&H Green Stamps. It's of value to exercise collectors, baseball collectors (especially New York Yankees), and Green Stamps collectors. It's complete, in great shape and worth different amounts to different collectors. For instance, a baseball collector might pay $50 to $75 for it, while other collectors might pay as much as $100 to $125. The value potential rises with crossover collectibles.
Here's another example—a Dukes of Hazzard lunchbox (figure B). It's a lithograph lunch kit, consisting of the lunchbox and a Thermos. Now, how many buyers can you see for this? Well, there are the lunch-kit collectors, Aladdin Thermos bottle collectors, Aladdin lunchbox collectors, but most importantly, there are Dukes of Hazzard collectors. Then there are TV collectors, personality collectors, etc., and so again with this lunch kit, a whole variety of collectors. The value—anywhere from $25 to $50 and rising.
Here's a popcorn popper endorsed by Joe Namath (figure C). It might be coveted as a football collectible, popcorn collectible or a Hamilton Beach collectible. What does it mean in terms of value? Well, if you're buying this just as a popcorn collectible, maybe $15 to $20. If you're buying it as a Joe Namath New York Jets collectible, probably $35 to $50.
Here's a quiz: How many varieties of collectors might be interested in this 1947 calendar (figure D)? It features cartoon cats and was distributed by C&O Railroad, which ran largely in Maryland. Someone born in this year might be interested in this calendar. Obviously the calendar collector, railroad collector (C&O Railroad collector specifically) and perhaps even Maryland collectors would be interested, too. Don't forget the cat collectors. They love this kind of stuff, and this is a special type of cat. This is Chessie the Cat, so you can include Chessie collectors as well. In addition, there are advertising collectors, cartoon-character collectors and toy train collectors. So, what does all this mean in terms of value? This calendar could go from $40 all the way up to $225. Which collector is likely to pay the most? Probably the C&O railroad collector who doesn't have this particular calendar in his collection.
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