The dividing lines among custom, vintage and collectible fountain pens often get blurred. A vintage pen can be customized and added to a collection. Collectible fountain pens may include vintage, custom-made and customized vintage pens. Any fountain pen, new or vintage, customized or ordinary, qualifies for collection if it appeals to the fountain pen collector. A simple and plain look, a gaudy design or an ancient technique can enthuse a pen collector. There is no limit to the criteria for a fountain pen collection. The reasons could be as varying as the number of fountain pens. Costs do not deter fountain pen lovers from possessing their objects of desire.

Collecting new pens is easier, just like buying coke from the supermarket. Vintage pen collecting is a bit like hunting. Estate sales and flea markets are the places frequented by fountain collectors. Old jewelers and stationers come up with collectible fountain pens sometimes. The best way to buy collectible fountain pens is from a pen show, where hobbyists and collectors buy and sell pens to each other. These shows started as a place to swap pens. But now these shows are complete conventions with advertisements, sales and auctions. And, of course, one can buy collectible fountain pens on the Internet.

An online auction is a way of buying collectible fountain pens. This is different from the regular auction. In online auctions, a third person might come from nowhere and take away the object of desire. The chances of the same thing happening are also present regular auctions, but there it’s a little more predictable. Buying collectible fountain pens online can be distressing as some facts or features of the pen may be misrepresented, and in the absence of testing, it may be difficult to vouchsafe the quality. Buying a collectible fountain pen from a dealer is the safest way.

Practically every child owns a teddy bear and it often remains well loved throughout our lives, or passed on to our children. Many different toys are fashionable with each generation, but the teddy bear has been a constant favorite since the first ones were produced around 1900 and named after Teddy Roosevelt. The story goes that he refused to shoot a captive bear and the teddy bears were named to honor his compassion. Now those early bears have become highly collectible. Most threadbare teddy bears have little value except to their owners, but some fetch high prices when they come to auction and there is such a thriving market that many companies produce bears solely for collection rather than as a toys for children.

The most well known brand is Steiff. This German company started producing their fully jointed bears in 1902. These realistic bears with their humped backs have always been a firm favorite with collectors and command high prices. Steiff bears are still in production and if you cannot afford the cost of an old bear, a modern one may well be an antique of the future. Steiff bears are recognisable by the brand button in one ear which was first introduced in 1904.

In 1908 the English company Farnell produced their first teddy bear and stayed in production until the 1960s. In 1996 Merythought bought the trade name and started producing replicas of the earlier Farnell bears. Like Steiff, early Farnell bears can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, as long as they are in good condition. Numerous companies now produce collectible teddy bears, and there are several worth considering. Boyd bears are highly popular and you will find plenty available to buy online. Do some research on the the earlier Boyd bears and bear in mind that because they are relatively modern you should be looking for close to mint condition.

Many enterprising bears makers have started creating teddies out of old fur coats, particularly mink. If you have inherited an old coat that you prefer not to wear, why not have it made into a bear which could become a family heirloom. A much better idea than a musty old coat hanging in the closet! Collectible teddy bears are different from any other type of collection. Perhaps it is memories of our childhood, that makes us become emotionally attached to every bear that we buy. The enjoyment they give makes them worth every cent they cost.