I spent a little time in  my  basement today.  It was not my best moment.  In the nooks and crannies of this damp dark place, I found a deck of Tarot Cards I should have taken better care of.    Today I saw them listed on Ebay for two hundred and twenty nine dollars.     An on-going auction had them up to sixty-five dollars with time to grow. A famous online book site  listed the same deck  for hundreds . And those were used. I couldn't believe my eyes!  - - I had picked mine up for eight dollars in the early 80's. And now, there they sat  -- a few cards missing -- but still chock full of memories, and the Zen of being an existential  Hippie.     

      This out of print collectible  had brought me great fun   back in the day.  But  instead of flinging individual cards at friends and family members, as a random reading excercise  (during   high times at  candle-lit parties),  I should have been keeping them straight. 

 I should have kept them dry.   I should have kept them away  from me,  as I  clearly  revelled  in the  same 'zen' Morgan enjoyed when he created this wacky-du deck.   

What bulldozers are to condemned buildings, I am to the antique or collectible of tomorrow.  (Morgan would have called it The War Between Atlantis and Mu.)  But how  was I suppose to know...I was too busy being an existential, anti-materialistic hippie.

    It's never easy to determine what will be tomorrow's most sought after antiques or collectibles .  Oh sure Franklin Mint will always let us know  about their limited editions. But since something is only worth what another person is actually willing to pay for it, I think we would all have to agree that Ebay has changed the landscape of  vintage vogue.    Who would have thought that the old fringed handbag in the corner of my closet would suddenly be Red Hot Ware.  Or the Book I wrote notes on all of the margins  while studying Hermetic Science would go out of print and one day be worth two or three hundred in 'Acceptable' condition.  --  And don't even get me started on the Barbie thing.

     It is just too hard to know what someone else is going to find value in tomorow (  I'm betting on pogs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for my kids.)    And so, I suggest that my  Mommy's Ancient  Wisdom proves  timeless afterall:    "Take care of your things and keep them off the floor."  "Everything has a place and everything in its place." -- If only I had listened to my Mommy.

     In the Case of Morgan's Deck, I regret miscalculating the investment value of this silly little party deck.  But I don't think I would trade the memories of those fun filled nights when my friends and I got very silly  and careless with this present day collectible. Chances are I'll be finding Morgan's   'pearls of wisdom'  in hidden corners of the basement well into the next millenium. 

     But wait...what's this.....under the box of old water slide decals. It's  yet another deck of  Morgan's Tarot!!   An unopened box!! ~ ~  Good rule of thumb, everyone.  Try to develop an OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)  like mine.  If you  enjoy  something  a lot  there's a good chance that  others will also....so buy two. Things like cards and books do go out of print.  And if you loved it, there's a good chance others will  love it  too. That way if you 'love yours to death'  you'll have a second. -- In this case, I remember buying  the second deck  in case I lost the first deck. ( I still do that with lipstick.  Just in case they discontinue a color I really like.) Now that I'm older ( a lot older), my interests have changed.  I just may list  my second  Morgan Deck before it's  reissued, at which case  it could lose its current  market  value. 

     So what is the  best way to determine tomorrows collectibles today?  Ask yourself : do you like it?  Nay, do you 'love' it?  Books cards, printed works;  The same rule applies to vintage jewelry.  Is it quality made?  Is it in good conditon?  Is it signed? These points are important.  But most important....do you love it?    If you love it, there's a good chance others will hold the same appreciation.  Another question to ask yourself : Was  it mass produced?  Artisan pieces will never saturate a market,and as long as they are quality made,(try to get them signed)  you have a good start.  In a global economy  crawling with mass production, it's the artists out there who are more likely than not to be creating tomorrows collectibles today. 

Some things are just a lot harder to find than others, thus increasing their value. --- Yes that is a tomato...with a nose. Very rare, indeed.  Unfortunately not signed by the Artist: God.  -- So we ate it.

       In conclusion,  if you get anything out of this guide, know that collecting is as much luck as it is clever analysis. -- Classics, like religious jewelry  always work. -- Or trust your instincts. --  What rocks a generation? -- Look for a trend you like, but  then  focus on the artists within that trend.  Get to your local flea markets and your gallery craft shows and see what's coming out of your own local artist community.    Think small and thin for storage purposes.   Some of the highest price tags come in on 4" figurines and jewelry sets. Trust me,  you don't want large items taking up space in your home. Life should be gentle...fly light. Don't get bogged down in  wishful thinking. Collecting should be fun not overwhelming.  Wait a decade or two...or three....with Gods grace..you'll be able to  send your grandkids to college with the profit gain.    So  remember it's never too soon to start wrapping up  your favorite things in tissue paper and storing them in a cool dry place. Off the floor and in its place...you know, just in case. - -  Your children, or your children's children will appreciate it someday.

Happy Hunting!

                                                                         Roxanne  ENTER THE ENCHANTED TEA ROOM