posted 01-05-1999 09:59 AM
Let's say you are a new collector who's made the committment to start collecting Harbour Lights seriously. (Or you are seriously in need to being committed.)You've got a plan for starting and a budget of $1,500 to start your collection. Of course you'd like to buy each piece for the lowest possible price, but you will pay secondary prices for some of your pieces -- especially if the retired piece is hard to find and likely to increase in value. I don't know your plan (Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast, towers, etc.)
What should your strategy be? And which ones should you buy? Strategy?
1. Create a strategy
2. Decide what you want to collect (Great Lakes, CA & OR, New England, etc.)
3. Make a list
4. Set a budget
5. Buy ones on your list that are available at retail and are retired 1 year ago or longer.
6. Figure which ones retired over a year, no longer are found at retail, and are due for a secondary price jump and buy those
7. Watch for new issues that are going to be sold out on issue.
All you 'experienced' collectors out there - let's help the newbies out. Make your list, show your values and sources and logic. I'll finish my list in a day or two, but for starters:
1. Hillsboro Inlet $125 - retail -- get on some dealer's list right now or you'll be paying double before a year is out.
2. Cape Henry VA $82 (retail) - getting hard to find check Retired@Retail first
3. Cape Florida $78 (retail) - ditto Cape Henry
4. Morris Island Then & Now Set $150 (retail) - you'll be sorry you didn't buy this pair at retail a year or so from now.
5. Point Arena CA $165 (approx secondary)- Not widely dispersed yet; but once it is, you'll really wish you'd gotten one when they were this cheap!
OK so I've spent $600 so far, $900 to go...
[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 01-05-99).]