Collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia can be a very rewarding and
exciting hobby. The famous logo can be found on just about everything,
which makes these collectibles even more desirable to non-cola
collectors as well. This helps to explain the enormous popularity,
and high prices that Coca-Cola items can achieve. Unfortunately,
this can make it difficult for collectors (especially novice
collectors) to find quality pieces that they can afford. There are
however, many affordable items with the Coca-Cola logo on it.
People just getting into this hobby, often start by keeping
anything with the famous trademark on it. They soon realize that
this is an almost impossible task, so they tend to specialize. It
is a good idea for new collectors to stick to one or two areas of
collecting that (1) they can enjoy, and (2) fits into their budget.
Post cards, magazine ads, and bottle and can collecting are fairly
inexpensive and easy to get into. Coca-Cola used to advertise on
the back of old National Geographic magazines, and Coke also used
many other publications to advertise in. These ads can be clipped
put, and stored in plastic sleeves (make sure to use acid free
plastic and cardboard backing-boards). Many old postcards can
also be found with the trademark on them. These can be readily
found at flea markets, and antique shops. Coke can, and bottle
collecting is also easy for people to get started with. There
are thousands of other collectors always looking for trade
partners. Many of these collectors can be found on the Internet.
It is a good idea to gather a formidable collection in one area
before starting another. This can be much more rewarding and
satisfying. Personally, I also tend to stay away from buying
new items with the logo on them, like figurines and tins etc.
Most of these are produced by the millions, and will never
be worth anything. Also, once friends and family know you are
collecting Coke things, you will get a lot of this stuff as
gifts! Trust me.
New collectors should also be wary of just buying anything
they see at a yard sale or flea market with the Coca-Cola logo
on it. People often try to take advantage of the popularity of
this collectable by over pricing a lot of items, and passing
off reproductions as antiques. Novice collectors should be very
careful of the latter. Many people have purchased items they
believed to be an original, and later discovered they had
been 'ripped off'. Sometimes the seller didn't know the item
wasn't an original piece, but more often than not, they are
just trying to take advantage the its popularity. A good
collector is an informed collector. There are many good
publications, and web pages out there that people can read,
and become better educated. The corner stone of any collection
should be Allan Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Guide. It is
the bible of Coca-Cola guides. It has thousands of pictures,
and prices, which collectors can use as a guide. If your local
bookstore doesn't have it on the shelf, ask them to bring it in.
In future issues of Collector Times Online, we will bring you
more articles on specific Coke items, from collectors' worldwide.
If you have any questions on this hobby, please contact me at:
