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Make Money Collecting Snowglobes

Make Money Collecting Snowglobes
These humble knick-knacks offer a serious collecting opportunity. “The recent wave of interest in ultra-kitsch paraphernalia and culture is fuelling new collecting fields such as the phenomenon for snow domes,” says Kirsty Wallace of Grays Antiques in London.

Why Snowglobes?

Some prices have already displayed impressive growth. A 1990s snow dome based on the Brambly Hedge series of children’s books by Jill Barklem originally sold for around £20; it can now fetch around £200, according to antiques expert Fiona Shoop.
US-based snow dome collector Andy Zito (andyzito.com/snowdomes) says he has a mint seated Bugs Bunny, issued by Universal Studios in the 1970s, worth at least £400–£750.
In the UK, some snow domes picked up for only 50p at a car-boot sale can go for £15 in specialist shops or online if they are in good condition and are sought-after.
Of course, there are mass-produced domes appearing in the shops all the time, though some can be worth picking up if you’re looking for an investment. Zito suggests domes recently issued by Louis Vuitton and also by Lady Gaga, who has released a dome that features her on top of the globe. Good-quality domes from the London Olympics and future events such as the World Cup in Brazil and Rio Olympics are also worth collecting.

How to make money from snowglobes?

  • As with most collectibles, the rarer the item and the better its condition, the more money you’re likely to make. Here are some other considerations when picking up domes at car-boot sales and the like. 
  • “Go for glass rather than plastic—and thick plastic rather than thin,” advises Fiona Shoop, though Andy Zito says he goes for old plastic models and is only interested in very old or very rare glass models. 
  • Anything that marks out a snow dome’s individuality against its mass-produced rivals will make it more valuable. That said, it is worth looking for mistakes in mass-made domes, such as a misspelt name or upside-down figurine. 
  • Look for domes that were made for a one-off event. Zito also suggests going for plastic domes from more unusual international locations that are clearly identified, such as Cuba, Laos, Romania and other Eastern European locations. 
  • When it comes to buying and selling, collectors tend to use eBay, Yahoo and Etsy, or their own websites.
Read more articles by Jasmine Birtles here 
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