People enjoy collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia for many reasons. Surely one of the greatest attractions is the wide range of collectibles available. There are many different areas of collecting, but most collectors will collect anything with the famous Coca-Cola logo. Others are specialized collectors. Because of the expense involved, it may be difficult for one collector to amass a great collection encompassing all areas. But that same collector could have a fantastic collection in one specific area. Collecting only Coca-Cola bottles, for example, is a hobby many enjoy. Others may have set a goal to acquire every tray or calendar the company has produced. But when trying to track down items from the early or pre-1900s, they suddenly realize that it is quite a task.
One of my favorite specialized areas of collecting, and one that even the new collector can get into without spending a fortune, is postcards. Any postcard showing a Coca-Cola sign is a very good item. Postcards are easy to find, and early ones are very desirable. But whether you collect anything and everything, or choose to specialize, you always have a good feeling when you add a nice piece to your collection.
Where To Find Coca-Cola Collectibles
When people see my collection, one of the first things they ask is where I find all of the pieces. As many of you long time collectors know, it is not easy and it takes a lot of time and hard work to build a collection. Collections are not made overnight, and even if you have a fortune to spend, it is not always that easy to find quality pieces. For this reason alone, Coca-Cola collecting is such a challenge, and adding a beautiful piece to your collection becomes so exciting. It is very important to let collectors know who and where you are and what your interest is. One must also keep abreast of what is happening in the antiques and collectibles field, subscribing to publications such as the Krause Publications magazine Antique Trader Weekly. This periodical, and others like it provide an excellent place for buying and selling. They also list antique shows and auctions in and out of your area. I have a good friend who travels often, and he never leaves home without checking Antique Trader to see what shows will be taking place in the area he will be traveling to.
Check out auction listings in antique and other publications as well. Many good Coke pieces have been hidden away in a general auction with no competition from other collectors. Subscribe to auctions and try to get on mailing lists of auction houses even if they don't specialize in Coke or advertising items. Coca-Cola pieces turn up in most auctions eventually. Stay alert, and don't assume that because an auction is advertised as having only furniture that there will be no Coke items in it. Ask questions to be sure. Large antique shows all over the country sell anything and everything in antiques and collectibles, while many other shows specialize in advertising, coin-op, paper items, toys, etc. All of these are good sources of Coca-Cola memorabilia. Know when and where the auctions will be held, and be sure to attend.
Some collectors find placing inexpensive “want ads” in local papers to be a great way to find items in their area. Local antique shops are another important stop. Visit the ones in your area regularly, leave your card, let them know your interests, and ask them to give you a call if anything turns up. Many towns have areas with antique shops or malls that specialize in antiques and collectibles. Year-round, weekend antique shows are also very popular. Find out where they are and visit them, perhaps as part of a day trip or a long weekend with the family. Buying good quality pieces and building a collection takes work. Coca-Cola pieces don't come to you — you have to go out and find them. Good luck!
Buying Through Internet Auctions
A picture is worth a thousand words. That saying, for the most part, rings true. But it is perhaps not as true for Internet auctions, which have become a staple of the collectibles marketplace. Without a doubt, Internet auctions are the riskiest buying venues we have when adding pieces to our collections. For the most part, Internet sellers are part-time amateurs and novice dealers. In many cases, they have absolutely no knowledge about the items they are selling. Many feel the picture tells the whole story. Well, as anyone who has been collecting for more than a few weeks knows, this is as far from the truth as you can get. Can anyone, including the world's top authority on counterfeit money, tell the difference between a real twenty dollar bill and a phony from an amateur photo on an Internet auction? I don't think so.
Just in the last few years, I can document hundreds of cases of collectors buying what they thought was a good and valuable piece of Coca-Cola memorabilia only to receive it and find out it is a two- dollar color copy. In some cases, these copies have netted thousand of dollars, most of which has never been returned. Reading the following advice is certainly not going to guarantee anyone from ever getting duped by an Internet auction, but hopefully it will provide valuable tips and make it much less likely that you will lose your hard-earned cash. Many bad deals can be avoided by following these simple steps.
Buying at Auction Houses
Auctions are great sources of Coca-Cola collectibles because they offer excellent artwork. Many pieces were saved and turn up at house sales and auctions. Be sure to subscribe to mail auctions and antique publications, and make sure you are aware of sales in and out of your area. Many auction houses accept absentee bids, so don't be afraid to ask and to use your phone. It can save you a lot of wasted time. I can't tell you how many miles I have traveled to auctions because a creative auctioneer listed in his advertisement “very rare Coke tray” only to find a 1950 tray that looked as if it had been run over by a truck. On the other hand, though, I took a six-hour trip to an auction that listed a Coke sign that turned out to be one of the most important pieces I have ever purchased. Those pieces are the ones that make it all worthwhile.
Get to know your local auctioneers. If you trust them, let them know what your interests are. Believe me, the next time that they have a Coke piece, they will let you know about it. If a piece is listed in the advertisement, make a call, asking for a description and the condition. Go to the sale preview, but don't run up to the piece. Look at other items first and try not to be over anxious. Another tip, as difficult as it may be, is to try to set a limit on what you will spend. Many great Coke pieces have sold at auctions far below their value because they just didn't have the right audience. Yet, many pieces have sold far above their value because competitive bidders were in the room.