collectibles

Attention Storage Wars fans: Though the hit cable-TV show does give viewers an idea of what goes on at the auctions, it doesn't give the entire picture. The odds of you striking it rich at a storage auction are slim, and there are plenty of ways for the novice buyer to lose his shirt.

Why not let a superhero save you from the evil economy? Investing in comic books can be a recession-proof path to steady returns, according to experts at last weekend's New York Comic Con. Just don't let ignorance be your kryptonite.

As America prepares to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, eBay is seeing a surge in sales of relics and memorabilia from the World Trade Center and the terrorist attacks, fueled partly by speculators, and partly by our desire to connect with history, however painful.

If you want to be a player in baseball card investing, you'll probably have to swing for well-preserved, expensive cards. The free-agent vintage cards that have already appreciated are the safest path to big wins in the future.

Elizabeth Taylor fans have been flocking to eBay to pick up memorabilia since the movie star died last week, reportedly doubling prices for some merchandise. But are these collectibles worth the investment? Appraisers from Antiques Roadshow weigh in.

In a Q&A, Wolfe (pictured, left) recounts how he came to be the creator and star of The History Channel show, and he provides some behind-the-scenes glimpses into the life of a collector always hunting the next big discovery. Also, he recalls finding his "holy grail" in a barn near Philadelphia.

What is a collectible? For most of us, it's something that tugs at our heartstrings; an object out of our childhood, or one we associate with special people, places, or events. Meaningful items, if only to us. Unfortunately, many speculators, seeing the climbing value of certain rare items, have...

Can you still make quick money by selling off your family heirlooms? Many of us are tempted to raise cash by unloading the valuable stuff that's collecting dust in our basements. I recently went to the newly launched L.A. Flea Market at Dodger Stadium, and I brought you my first impressions of it...

Bidding on a one-of-a-kind Stephen Strasburg autographed rookie card is already up to $11,000, and is expected to go as high as $40,000. But while the new rising star of the Washington Nationals appears to be worth the hype, the value of that baseball card almost certainly won't be.

When someone recently asked basketball great Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player in NBA history, whom he thought was better -- LeBron James or Kobe Bryant -- he blurted out "Kobe." Based on what people pay for their sports memorabilia, it appears collectors would tend to agree.