Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="gsalexan, post: 2260498, member: 24274"]The short answer is yes. I've seen stocks and bonds sell at auction in the hundreds even thousands of dollars. Most high end items have some historical significance or the autograph of a well-known individual -- say Cornelius Vanderbilt. Then there are the common certificates that can be bought for a buck or two. The more elaborate designs, particularly railroads, tend to be the most highly valued by collectors. The bonds in this article probably retail individually in the $20-$30 range. But I think the real question you are asking is "are they worth collecting because I can get more than what I paid for them when I sell?" To that I can only answer "who knows?" Buy interesting pieces that other collectors find attractive and the answer is probably yes. It's no different than collecting coins, paper money, art, fossils, wine, etc. However, it's important to draw a line between collecting and investing. Most collectors who've been at it a while understand that the real value of their hobby comes from what they learn and share. I've learned a great deal about history, geography, and art just from my various collecting pursuits. The monetary value of what I collect is almost an afterthought, although the years have taught me to recognize a good deal from a bad one. With investing, you should work rationally, from your head. With collecting, you engage your heart.[/QUOTE]