Comparing 1899 to 1999

The dawn of a new millennium... the celebration of a momentous occasion... the moment in time when a year's worth of hype comes to a head.

Forgive me for being a little cynical, but with a market flooded with Y2K collectibles, I can't help but feel that some people are going to be in for a letdown if they pay big bucks hoping for a big return. My advice would have to be waiting until after the big event and buying a few things on sale for half price.

Or better yet, hold off for a few years and pick some up at the flea market or a garage sale. That's more fun anyway.

Why am I adopting this "I'm okay without Y2K" attitude?

Far too many people seem to be collecting items purely for investment purposes these days rather than for the joy of owning something that interests them. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but for me, collecting means more than simply a money-making proposition.

It's something that brings people together through a common interest, it's a hobby that lets me focus some of my energy on fun instead of always thinking about what I should be working on next, and most of all, it allows me to surround myself with objects that make me happy.

Many years from now, it's possible that people will actively seek out a collection of millennium items because the nostalgia stirs a few feelings. This is the true spirit of collecting.

For now, in my humble opinion, buying these items should mean you or the person you're buying them for will genuinely enjoy owning them.

For instance, if you know someone who thinks wearing fun neckties is cool, by all means buy them one with a Y2K theme. But if you're married to a man like mine, who hates neckwear with a passion, it probably won't be appreciated quite as much as you'd like.

I've even thought about buying a few Christmas ornaments or rhinestone pins as gifts for friends, but I just can't quite get in the spirit. Maybe it's because I would then be buying into the commercialism we face with every event of importance these days. Something in the back of my mind keeps bothering me and won't quite allow me to do it.

Looking back at the turn of the last century, there wasn't much hoopla at all as far as collectibles are concerned. I'm sure people celebrated in 1899, just as they do every New Year's Eve, but the lack of collectibles on the market commemorating that occasion leads me to believe it was more of a people related event rather than a commercial boondoggle.

When people bought souvineers back then, it was to remember a personal visit to the World's Fair or some other significant exhibition or an important trip. They weren't trucking them away thinking they would increase in value one day, and for this reason, they subsequently did increase in value. There's a lesson to be learned here and I'm kind of longing for the good 'ole days.

That's not to say that I don't have a couple of millennium collectibles around the house now. I received a Millennium Barbie for my birthday, and a Waterford champagne coaster designed especially for 2000 as a graduation gift. I love them and I'll probably have these things until I die, but do I really think they're going to rise sharply in value over time? Probably not.

Of course, I hope I'm around 50 years from now and someone I know will be able to warrant saying, "Ha ha... you were wrong!"

For a list of books on antiques definitely worth collecting, please visit the Antiques Bookstore.

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