Maybe it's the thrill of the hunt. Maybe it's to satisfy our inner
pack rat. For whatever reason, collecting is a big hobby and even bigger
business. (Can we say "Beanie Babies"?) Not surprisingly, the Web offers a
wealth of information on just about any collectible -- even license plates
and rubber band balls.
Clubbing
Whether you're a seasoned collector or just getting
started, the best place for accurate, up-to-date information is probably
a professional club. For example, the
American Matchcover Collecting Club offers matchcover
history, links and Rematch -- the online matchcover auction. For stamp collectors there's
The
American Philatelic Foundation ,
which can help you appraise your stamp collection, and the
American Stamp Dealers Association ,
where you'll find club news, an events calendar and a collectors' message board.
And who could miss the International
Correspondence of Corkscrew Addicts , the exclusive club (membership
is fixed at 50, and there's a waiting list) for corkscrew lovers.
Old Standbys
Here's a sampling of can't-miss sites for more common collectibles.
- Beanie Babies
Despite all the pages devoted to these plush toys,
Ty's official web site is still the best
bet for accurate beanie info.
- Coins
CoinClub.com contains tons of
numismatic resources, including directories, dealers, news and events.
The American Numismatic Society also offers great
educational reference materials.
- Comic Books
Mile High Comics offers more than 64,000 titles.
- Dolls
If you specialize in Barbie or
American Girl dolls, each company offers online
catalogs and purchasing information.
Oddities
These collectibles were too interesting to omit. A fan of air sickness bags has
posted his collection on the Internet at
The Air Sickness Bag Virtual Museum.
And if you have a sweet tooth, check out the
U.K. Sucrologists Club ,
an organization for people who collect sugar packets.
Bidding Wars
Thanks to online auction sites, collectors can buy and
sell from the comfort of their own home. The best-known auction site is
ebay , but it doesn't have a monopoly on the market.
Yahoo!
operates an auction site, as does Amazon.com.
A more specialized site it
Amy's Auctions for sports cards. If you
prefer to see what you're buying in person -- not on a screen -- check out the auction
listings at The Auction Guide.
--- R. May
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