Met Kip from the group (PSWCS) the other night...traded some of my older promo, freebie, convention giveaway type stuff with him for a handful of the modern variant SW comic book covers.  Great guy, and since he works with the local comic stores, it was nat to see everything he had.  Got some other stuff, but as far as comics goes, that was it.  Oh, also got the Celebraton VI Dark Horse Dawn of the Jedi patch off of him as well.

I actually like the slow down.  I've had more time to really enjoy the things that are coming out.  I'm psyched about the chance to start over with a brand new collectibles room as well.  Like a few others here, I've gone back to picking up some of the vintage holes in my collection and am loving every minute of it.

I am not actively looking like I was in years past, but occationally when somethign pops up, I'll jump on it.  I just snagged a vintage ESB At-At w/Box for $50.  The box was in excellent shape (unfortunately had one of the flaps cut off and taped back one, but they did a really good job.  At-At was a little beat on the edges, and legs discolored, and one of the side gusn looks like a dog got hold of it.  It's only missing the clear chin guns.  I have a minty vintage At-At just never had a box for it.  A local collector posted on Craigslist and I grabbed it this weekend!  Even with the flap being cut, it will diplay really nice on the shelf.

I'll probably sell the beat up one, or sell for parts...not sure yet.

Sticking with the future of collectng topics...

Ecnomics/prices:
Long term I think we're going to see a slow demise (If we haven't already) of the traditional brick and mortar stores in ALL categories, not just toy/toy collecting. I think for many reasons...mainly technology and I think the country is going to strugle for a bit becasue of it.  Collecting will slow a bi..for a sot while, prices will fall slightly across the board, and slowly after some years will begin to rise.   Distribution, the numbers game, production,etc. will all remain a struggle for some time.

Items/availability/trends:
Electronics, video games will continue to dominate and become even more prevalent, both leading to fewer companies producing "toys" and fewer companies producing non-electronic/tech rlated "toys" in the future.  Therefore the tradtional mediums we're used to now and in the past...action figures, comic boks, etc.will eventually become more collectible, and possibly a thing of the past to some degree (I don't think things like traditional toys like dolls, comics, board games, bikes, etc. will ever go completely away, but we'll see much less being produced.

Supply/demand:

I think as technology and population increases, the globalization of collectibles will also increase. Foriegn countries are becoming more predominant when it comes to collecting (look back jus 30 years ago or in the 70's...anyone buy/sell/trade with anyone in Germany or China ??  How many action figures were YOU sending to Denmark?)  Even once the internet and Ebay came about... in the beginning I didn't see too many folks from foregn countries at all, and NOTHING like I see today.  Lots of countries want what the western world has to offer.  When I was in college foriegn kids used to fill thier suitcases with Levi jeans... in some countries collectibles may not be as big now but I bet they wll be in the futue, an steadily grow.  Eventually I think this will dry up supply.  Vintage items will contine to rise, and probably skyrocket eventually, as the kids today get into the hobby as well things that ae moder TODAY wll also be hihly coveted.  New to us today will be old when the kids tday get older and into collecting.

It's a natura tendancy for u to want everythin and want it NOW.  Relax, look at the long term bi picture.

As the world changes...sports collectibles used to be the big hing when I as a kid..today techies love Star Wars...and what do we see more than ever TECHIES everywere you go. More jobs in the technology segment means more dollars to techies, more dollars to techies, IT departments, etc. mans more dollars for SW colectibles.

Yeah, I gotta say the future looks prett bright.  Pretty safe bet with SW these days.

Buy up...but be smart about it and don't forget to take care of your priorities... and try to have some fun.
 
 

Posted this elsewhere a few days ago...  Found these in grams attic this weekend.  Been digging around in her attic for 15 years.  Thought I found ALL my SW stuff I had as a kid over the years.  Guess not, and am pretty excited...neat little find:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v212/bobafett14/?action=view&current=IMAG0464-1.jpg&newest=1#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fsmg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv212%2Fbobafett14%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DIMAG0465.jpg%26newest%3D1

Sweet!

I have just about every individual issue of the modern SW comics and almot all of the vintage.  I'm only missng a couple standard ones here and there (a couple of the moder classic ones.. kind of an oxy moron I guess)

Vintage Wants:
Vintage SW Marvel: #66, #75, #80, #102, #105
Vinatge Droids: #4, #5, #7
Vintage Ewoks: forget which #'s but I know it's the later ones.
Orginal SW 3-D: #2, and #3

Modern Wants:
Classic Star Wars (the run with the issue # in the upper right corner) #9, #10

That's it as far as all the vintage and modern I need.

Modern Possible Wants:
Any modern cover variation cover, however, not too passionate about and I typically only look for really cheap  clearance deals.

Trouble is with comics oer the years, I've found most of my issues for only a few $ or less (much harder to find realy ceap now), you almost have to fnd at a convention, becaue once you figure a few $ in for S&H it doesn't make it worth it.

Bob

Just saw your pics...that's a very nice piece...almost everyone that I see has significant wear o nthe silver boots!!

Here'ssome photobucket pics (up to over 6,400 item in the collection)

http://smg.photobucket.com/profile/bobafett14

You can click on each indivdual folder to view pics...enjoy!

Bob