When trying to determine value of a collectable, there are many considerations that an appraiser can more accurately determine. Some of these factors include genuiness, condition, interest, rarity, historical significance, etc. By far finding a local appraiser is much easier, more accurate, and may be less expensive.

In the old days, before EPA and other government regulations, people simply dumped their trash wherever they liked. Many families, especially those on farms, had “burn piles” or places on the land they piled up old refuse. These old piles can be marvelous places to find now seemingly ancient treasures. What kind you ask, bottles, cans, and marbles to name a few.

There are numerous reasons for which to collect. You may simply love something so much that you enjoy being surrounded by the subject matter of your hearts desire. Maybe it's the story that certain items tell, it's historical significance, who or what it is about or even who may have once owned it. Maybe you are in it simply for the money, prospecting and looking for nuggets of gold in items others treasure so much.

What's in your basement, closet, attic, garage, or still stored at your parents house? Have you thought about how much enjoyment you had in your youth collecting one thing or another? Collecting is a wonderful way to enjoy art, history, and most importantly a way to share your experience and joy with others.

If you read the article One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure you will see one thing we used to do was dump our household trash at a location on our property that was acceptable to that particular family. But sooner or later the lady of the house decided that this mess was just way too unsightly and the trash had to go! In the days before government designated "landfills" our ancestors drove out into the woods and dumped their trash.