Limited Interest in Limited Editions

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Limited Interest in Limited Editions

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 12:47

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libblyholloway I am one of millions of Americans who watched the Royal Wedding.� It was the �wedding of the century� and I enjoyed every second of it; though I admit to not being very engaged in the whole process until I flipped on CNN at 6:00 am (as I usually do) and saw Kate Middleton standing at the door of the cathedral waiting to walk down the aisle.� I was hooked.

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Maybe the main reason I was making sourpuss faces at every mention of the wedding before the actual ceremony is the mementoes being sold to commemorate the event.� I don�t really mind the huge gobs of low quality cups and t-shirts which are honestly sold as trinkets.� What makes me cringe are the �limited edition,� high quality, works of art tripe that I see being touted.� Now, that sounds pretty ugly coming from me because I�m usually �so nice�.� I have a term for this type of item � �dusty dodahs,� which does sound more like my mild mannered style of derision.� This term includes just about anything that has to do with the �Something or Other� Mint, designer plates, stuffed animals, bobble heads, etc.� You get the picture.� I�m not against the items per se, and definitely not the people who love and collect them.� I am vehemently against the sales pitches that lead people to believe these items will become highly valuable immediately upon purchase.� I say �Dodah!�

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�Limited Edition� can be a very meaningful term.� There are limited editions of small numbers of 15 to even 500 that can become valuable.� These may be antique or new and anything from wall art to dolls.� The idea that 500,000 of something made for display will become valuable any time soon is the one that bothers me.� Many advertisers fail to mention what the run, or number made, is.� Also, be aware that some limited editions have the right to be re-struck or remade in another run if the item proves popular.� It takes a lot of very naughty children to destroy enough of the item to make single issues valuable.� Don�t even get me started on certificates of authenticity issued by the manufacturer.

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About this time last year I wrote an article which featured a collector who created a display of blue and white Royal Copenhagen plates that was stunning against her yellow dining room walls.� I�m not reversing my opinion that objects such as these make beautiful collections.� I am just trying to let you all down easily before you ask a dealer or appraiser to give you an exciting number for an item of this type.� Her large collection does include a few plates that have value higher than the list price but most could be found on eBay for less than half of what the original price was.

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The subjects of limited editions are often most popular at the time the edition is planned.� Sometimes the subject continues to be popular for a long time and sometimes not.� Princess Diana themed pieces were popular at the time of her wedding, waned, revived during her divorce and death, then waned again.� There has been a small increase in interest due to William�s wedding, but I predict that won�t be long lived.� Some types of editions seem never to go out of style.� Audubon bird prints have been popular since the first folio was presented.� The images are still reproduced as calendar pages and home decor type prints.� The early engravings continue to rise in value though a computer generated calendar page framed for the guest bathroom may be only as valuable as the framing.� Often decorative prints of subjects such as French botanicals are reprinted over and over, including the corner where an edition number is.� This means that there may be 5,000 of number 3/250.� If you choose to collect true limited editions, buy from a trusted dealer or spend a little time educating yourself on what to look for in the true editions as intended by the artist.

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By the way, as soon as the much-awaited kiss between William and Kate was over, I heard journalists begin to mention the Queen�s Jubilee next year.� Wonder if that Queen Elizabeth teddy bear of mine will be worth something now?

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Libby Holloway is a Certified Appraiser of antiques and residential contents.� She is a member of the International Society of Appraisers where she is currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors.� She is also a partner at Antiques and Such.� Libby can be contacted at www.LibbyHollowayAppraisals.com

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