How To Start Collecting Sports Memorabilia

Author: Suzanne Greenfield

Many sport fanatics collect sports memorabilia, but how do they get started. Firstly it is important to understand the differences between the following terms: memorabilia and collectibles. By and large, all photos, cards, shirts or related sports equipment that have been signed by an athlete are considered memorable. However, it is important that the signature has been certified by a reputable distributor before it is considered authentic. All other replica and authentic sports products that are unsigned, or are signed but have not been authenticated, are considered collectibles.

Before starting up a sports memorabilia collection it is important to first get an idea of how much you are willing to spend on your new hobby. If you have a set budget before you start buying then this will help prevent you from making any expensive and impulsive buys. Your budget will also help you determine what type of sports memorabilia you are going to include in your collection. Don\'t be afraid of starting small as your collection will undoubtedly grow over time.

It is always best to be in the know when starting out and sports memorabilia collecting is no different. If you do your research and find out about some sports memorabilia retailers and familiarise yourself with which companies have signing deals with which athletes then you will make the task of searching for sports memorabilia a whole lot easier. It will also help reduce the risk of buying fraudulent merchandise as you should become familiar with what to look out for.

You will need all the help you can get when starting out with a sports memorabilia collection; therefore it is very worth your while getting to know local sports memorabilia dealers and enthusiasts. These can be great first-hand resources for a person just starting out with a collection and they can help you track down specialist pieces when you struggle to find them.

Educating yourself about memorabilia fraud and how to spot is a great way of protecting yourself. When looking for new pieces, always stick by the rule of if the price sounds too good to be true, the chances are it is! Never buy anything that doesn\'t include documentation to prove its authenticity and be sure to only buy from reputable dealers and you should protect yourself from memorabilia fraud.

Once you have started to build up a good collection of sports memorabilia, don\'t neglect your items. Take the time and money to help preserve your collection so that it lasts for as long as possible, and should you decide to sell it on, you should be able to get a good asking price.

A hobby collecting sports memorabilia can be extremely enjoyable and can even be financially rewarding if carried out properly. Your hobby can very quickly turn in to an investment if you know-how, but if you prefer to keep your collection as something to be treasured and enjoyed, it can last a lifetime.

For a great range of sports memorabilia why not visit Genuine Memorabilia.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/how-to-start-collecting-sports-memorabilia-3977753.html

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