Antique and Flea Market Information

By Samantha Kay

Soccer jerseys may well surpass all other team sport uniform
items in wear ability and collect ability. A serious fan may
have no greater earthly possession than their favorite team’s
jersey, and if they were able to get an autographed one, all the
better. An article of clothing, made for durability and comfort
on the soccer field can quickly become an artistic focal point
in the fan’s home. Many fans display their beloved jerseys in
cases especially designed for the purpose.

There are currently over 5000 soccer jerseys available for
bidding on at EBay, which is known as the world’s auction house.
A current jersey from the Brazilian National team, signed by all
the players, is listed at 300.00, plus shipping. It seems
doubtful that once purchased this jersey will be wore by its
proud owner, rather it will probably be more of decorative item,
and perhaps kept as an investment.

Looking further, I discovered an incredible piece of football
history. A jersey worn during the Brazil-Austria match on July
11, 1971. A Brazilian home jersey from a match just months after
Brazil had won the World Cup. But wait, there’s more! Pele,
instrumental in Brazil winning the World Cup, was the wearer of
this shirt! He scored the only goal in the match that day
against Austria, and signed the shirt, which has never been
laundered. It was to be Pele’s last game with Brazil, also. The
next lucky owner of this remarkably collectible jersey will also
have a letter of authenticity signed by Pele. The going price is
$27,445.00!

The historic Pele jersey may be out of many a fan’s financial
reach, however authentic replica shirts are available for modest
costs, and it won’t be sacrilege to wear them. Today’s stars
also represent a way to get into collecting signed jerseys, at
prices within the reach of many more fans than the vintage
jerseys are bringing. David Beckman and Mia Hamm are examples of
current and recent stars who’s signed jerseys are worth
considering investing in before they increase too much more in
value.

Whether you are a player, or fanatical armchair coach, wearing
and collecting jerseys is a great way to connect with your
favorite players and team, and if they happen to go up in value,
all the better. Owning a piece of sports history has its own
value, that a non-fan may never be able to appreciate.

From a parent’s stand point, their child’s soccer jerseys are a
wonderful way to mark the years, and chart the growth of their
own little Pele. Hanging each seasons jersey around your child’s
room will be an inspiration to them, as it shows how you value
their efforts. Your young player may not have been the star
striker, or the glorified ‘do or die’ goalie, but they did their
best, and enjoyed the battle field. Some day when you’re your
soccer player has gone off to college, these jerseys may prove
as valuable to you as a signed jersey from a star player.

About the Author: Get all the latest in Soccer know how from
the one and only true source at www.SoccerDetails.com. Be
sure to check our soccer jersey page.

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Kirsten Hawkins

Buying collectibles is one of the most enjoyable things to do
on eBay, simply because you can find so many things that you
just can’t get anywhere else. Here are a few tips to help you on
your way.

Find your Category.

You’ll probably find that all the items you’re after are listed
in a single category. Add this category to your browser’s
Favorites, and keep coming back.

Look for Mistakes.

If you collect something, the chances are you know a lot about
it. This can be your opportunity to make a mint from a seller’s
mistake. They might not realise that they have a rare version of
an item, or they might have left off the key information that
makes it valuable. If you’re willing to email the seller and ask
them a few questions about the item to confirm that it is what
you think it is, then you should be able to buy items like
these. You can then resell them at a big profit, if that’s what
you want to do.

Don’t Always Believe Descriptions.

If you find something you haven’t heard of, and the description
calls it ‘rare’, don’t assume that it actually is. Far too many
sellers just put ‘rare’ into all of their descriptions – the
chances are that the item is common and has just been described
wrongly. Don’t bid unless you know what you’re buying.

Stalk Other Users.

When you collect something, you’ll probably notice that there
are four or five sellers who seem to come up with consistently
good items – and the same buyers buying them. Add their user
pages to your Favorites, and check back often to see what
they’ve got – or what they’re bidding on – that you might be
interested in.

Don’t Get Too Attached to an Auction.

There are millions of items being listed every day on eBay –
whatever you want, it’ll come around again, and if you don’t get
it there are plenty more things to buy. This is similar to the
golden rule of negotiating: always be prepared to walk away. If
you can’t walk away, then expect to pay over the odds. There are
few things so rare that another seller won’t have one to sell.
Go and bid in a lower-priced auction, instead of getting into a
bidding war in one that is already expensive.

Beware of the Postage.

If you collect lots of small things with a relatively low
value, you might end up paying as much for postage as you do for
each item. You should take these costs into consideration when
you make your bid. Another good strategy is to always buy a few
things at once from the same buyer, as they will almost always
offer you a discount on the postage.

When you’re bidding, you might notice that some auctions go
more slowly than others, going days at a time without any new
bids. The next email tells you how to take advantage of these
‘slow’ auctions.

About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet
auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit
www.auctionseller411.com/ for more great tips on how to
make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Veronica Scott

One of the joys of childhood is collecting things. Maybe you
remember having a collection or two when you were young. A rock
collection may have started with one or two pretty pieces of
stone, or a shell collection may have begun with the annual
family trip to the beach. You may have liked dogs or cats and
collected pictures and books.

As a parent, you may not understand why children collect the
things they do, but one thing is certain: Children learn about
the world around them through these collections. At first that
shell or stone is just another pretty item, but from there, the
child will want to know what that pink stone is, or what kind of
animal lived in the tiny shell.

The urge to collect usually begins around age six or seven.
While you might not understand the reasons why your child
chooses to collect a particular item, the important thing is to
let them do it. At this stage, your child hasn’t grasped the
concept of a true collectible having greater value in the
future.

How many times have you said to yourself “I wish I still had
those model airplanes Mom threw out. They’d be worth a lot
today”? Your child is going to want to play with his or her
collection and won’t be interested in keeping items in pristine
condition.

Many collectors have learned to buy two of each item, one for
display or play and the other remaining in the original
packaging for later. Of course, this can get expensive because
you have no way of knowing if the object will increase in value
later down the road or if your child will have a long-term
interest in collecting it.

Whether your child collects rocks or Barbie dolls, collecting
has some very important developmental bonuses. Call these the
hidden value of collectibles:

Knowledge

The greatest benefit your child gets from collecting is
knowledge of the world around them. One piece of knowledge leads
to another, which in turn might lead to a life-long career. That
seemingly insignificant stone or shell could provide the
springboard for the next great archaeologist or marine
biologist.

Social Skills

Socializing with other children may not come easy to some kids.
Collections give your child a chance to connect with other
children who have the same interests. It can serve as a way to
open up venues of communication and help your child to form
lasting friendships.

Family Bonding

Maybe you have one of your collections from your childhood
you’ve been able to share with your child. When you pass these
collections on to the next generation, you’re not just sharing
an object, you’re sharing memories. You saved each piece in your
collection for a reason. Often, the sentimental value far
outweighs the monetary value of the object.

Expanding the Imagination

Your child will spend hours arranging his or her collection,
but this is more than the simple act of organizing. To your
child, this is playing. They might have a collection of Barbie
dolls and while your little girl changes Barbie’s clothes and
hair, she starts to learn about fashion or imagines herself
doing all the things Barbie does.

For a child, collections aren’t meant to sit on the shelf
gathering dust. Their collections are meant to be functional.
After all, what good is a toy if you can’t play with it? There
is nothing wrong with having a few items meant to sit on the
shelf, but for the most part, let your child decide what they
see as valuable and let them play. Who knows where it will lead?

About the Author: Learn more about the fascinating world of
miniatures. Visit www.themagicaldollhouse.com today for a
great selection of wooden doll houses and dollhouse accessories
from top miniature companies.

Source: www.isnare.com

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By Kuersten Steizer

Were you ever one of those who were inspired by the awesome
success of the underdogs in the Mighty Ducks movie?  Remember
the famed “flying V” move that helped the team win the game?
Remember how Charlie and his teammates came out as victors
because of the sheer grit and determination they displayed
during training so they could be recognized as the best despite
being known as no good at first?

That movie and even its sequel got a lot of people hooked to
the hockey game not only in countries where there are hockey
rinks, but even in those where the sun is too hot no artificial
ice rink could ever last long.  Because of the attention that
hockey is now getting, it is not hard to imagine that there are
lots of hockey fans out there who might want some collectibles
that would remind them of their favorite team or even their
favorite player.

Luckily, they really need not look that hard because there are
a lot of hockey collector’s items out in the market that one
could buy either to add to a collection or to give as a gift.

Even the real Anaheim Mighty Ducks team have their own share of
the stuff that you could get for your own.  There is the Anaheim
Mighty Ducks game hero sports CD where you could be the hero of
your own hockey game and experience the thrill and exhilaration
of the cheers that greet a win for $19.95 and a customized
locker room black framed photo that is also available for
$74.95.  You could have your name digitally put on the jersey
alongside 3 team stars in the photo.  It is just like rubbing
shoulders with your favorite hockey stars.  These items under
the Mighty Ducks team are almost always also available for other
hockey teams.

But, of course, there are also other collectible items that you
might like to have such as a wool pennant to get the feel of a
team’s winning streak.  The pennant, which is made of genuine
wool with detailed embroidery and vibrantly colored felt
applique, is sold at $34.95.  If you want something bigger to
remember that victory by, you could also get a genuine wool
banner for $69.95.

There are also limited edition artist prints of hockey rinks or
of facades of game arenas that are sold for over a hundred
dollars.  You could also get a photomint of your favorite hockey
player in action sold at more than 50 dollars.

If you are one of those who would want to preserve your ticket
of a best remembered hockey game, there are also ticket frames
of your favorite teams you could buy at $129.99 for the junior
size and $169.99 for the regular size.  You could hang the frame
on the memorabilia wall of your room or office.  Just imagine
the amazing stories you could dish out to your friends while
gazing fondly at that well-loved ticket.

About the Author: Kuersten Steizer writes about
www.nhlgearshop.com/

Source: www.isnare.com

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