Collecting Tips

2. Keep all items in a controlled temperature and in a humid controlled environment. Temperatures above 80 and below 50 degrees are potential hazards for paint cracking and high humidity will accelerate the effect of acid in paper products.

3. Be aware that the paper items in a collection absorb all the chemicals in the air and no smoking around the collection.

4. Handle all items with special care and always wash hands with oil free soap before touching any item. The use of cotton gloves is recommended especially for sensitive absorbing materials like paper and cloth.

5. Store your item in a dust free container whenever possible. Mylar sleeves and plastic containers are made special for long term collecting and also acid free.

6. Clean your items with special care and at most a simple dusting will do the trick. Compressed air or a feather duster is often used for most items. Glass, ceramic and porcelain items can be washed in warm water and a mild soap.

7. Store and display items in a way that one item never comes in contact with another. Items should have space that separates them or between proper non acidic cardboard. Never stack items on top of one another.

8. Have your collection insured in case of theft, fire, flood or destruction. Keep an up to date listing of your collection with original receipts photos and certificates of authenticity in a safe place.

Books - When it comes to collecting books, First Edition hardback books with dust covers and also the First Edition soft back books are highly collectible. One of the keys to book collecting is to verify that the book is at least a First Edition printing. Many books state on the copyright page that a book is First Edition, First Printing, First Published, Published or First Impression, but this can be misleading. A simple number line on the copyright page often found and indicates the printing edition, with the lowest number being the printing. A simple number line "9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" or "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 is also used. The number "1" in the line represents first printing, for the second printing the "1" is removed. If you see "1 2 3 4 5 78 77 76 75 74", this indicates a first printing, and in 1974. Or the line will look like 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 80 81 82 83 84 indicating a third printing in 1984 and originally published in 1980. If the date on the title page and the copyright page match, this is more than likely a First Edition copy. Also, check the back of the book for possible info on printing history. Sometimes the only history of the printing will be in future printed copies. For the books that only list the 10 digit ISBN number, those are going to need more investigation. Information help can be found at www.isbn.org

Bottles - Bottles should have full contents with original caps and always remain upright.

Cans - Get the soda out of the can before it eats through the can and slowly drips out. Most collectors will not pop the tab on top of the can, instead a small hole in the bottom of the can will never be seen. Keep in mind when u poke the hole in the bottom the cola may spew out very fast so try to work next to sink area and then turn can upright in sink to drain out.