We all know that Clarice Cliffe, even Lorna Bailey, pottery can fetch a MINT both at live auctions OR on ebay these days, however who would have thought it at the time?

This guide summarises what may indeed become the Clarice Cliffe jug, Bakelite telephone, or Boxed Darth Vader figurine of the FUTURE...

What to collect

Objects can become collectable for many reasons:

• They sum up the spirit of their times (i.e. rock and pop dolls).
• They're only available for a limited amount of time (i.e Manchester United Football strips).
• They're comonly disposed of after use (magazines, comics, newspapers: particularly first issues or editions marking major newsworthy events).
• They're revolutionary, innovative designs of the time, whether it's a kitchen utensil or a dining chair.

Kitsch Prints

No Sixties or Seventies home would have been complete without a glowing green Chinese Girl portrait by Vladimir Tretchikoff or a Woodland Nymph by JH Lynch. Once printed in their thousands, the work of these artists has become synonymous with collectible kitsch and is undergoing something of a revival in the context of the ironic modern interior. As their popularity grows, original examples are becoming more difficult to find but you might be lucky enough come across one in a car boot sale or junk shop for next to nothing; or in the Vintage section on Ebay for around £40 for one of the more common prints. Not everyone's cup of tea, but highly collectible all the same...

Branded Merchandise

Since the beginning of advertising itself, big-selling brands like Coca-Cola, Playboy, Harley Davidson, Heinz, Esso and Kellogs have produced branded items of every description to promote their products. From Coca-Cola glassware to Playboy calendars, for every brand, there's a collector out there - just take a look at the Advertising section in Ebay's collectables department if you don't believe us! There's no guarantee a collection will net you anything other than the respect of your collecting peers but it's great fun, and a perfect and affordable hobby for the younger enthusiast.

Comics

They might be kids' stuff, but for some collectors, comics are serious business. A rare 1937 first edition of The Dandy comic book was recently sold for a record £20,350 according to the auctioneers who handled the sale. Not bad going for something that was originally a cheap, throwaway item! Apart from rare editions of popular titles like the Beano, the most sought-after British buys include comics from the war years. They are the hardest to get because everyone threw things away during that era. The key to good collecting is knowing which comics you like and buying the best of them - your collection may never be good for much but a little childish nostalgia... but you never know, you may get lucky!

Perfume Bottles

Perfume bottles are becoming increasingly collectable. My own fragrant tip is the Jean Paul Gaultier bottle. It's curvaceous corsetted form reflects Gaultier's designs for Madonna, and also pays tribute to Schiaparelli's 1930s scent 'Shocking', the bottle of which was modelled on Mae West. Gaultier also designed an aftershave bottle, with a stripy matelot top recalling the designer's own signature outfit.

Handbags

We are currently in a golden age of the handbag. For big names such as Hermès, Prada or British bag queen, Lulu Guiness, there is already a strong second-hand market. These designer bags however can cost hundreds of pounds.

Toys

Nostalgia is a powerful spur when it comes to collecting, and many adults seem to end up going to auction rooms to buy back the toys of their childhood. The principal crazes of the moment to start collecting, are Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter merchandise has been produced in such vast and overflowing amounts that I think you will have to wait longer than a wizard's lifespan for much of it to become collectable.

Harry Potter

Having said that, given the propensity of Lego to disappear up the vacuum cleaner, a complete Lego Hogwart's castle could well be a collectable possibility. The ultimate desirable item however is a first edition hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone published in 1997. Only c.300 of these were printed and already they have been fetching prices in the region of £10,000 to £15,000. Now there's magic for you!

The Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings might be older in literary terms, but the merchandise is flourishing. Games Workshop have created a battle game, complete with miniature plastic figures, based on the film. The figure of Bilbo was only available on the day the game was released (7 Nov 2001). Sold for £3, already these little models are changing hands for around £20.

Dolls houses

My own favourite toy however is the Kaleidoscope doll's house made by Bozart toys. The house itself (state of the art and ultra modern) was created by a painter and an architect and sells for approximately £350. The furniture and accessories, which range in price from £16-40 are by leading designers and artists of the day. If you want but can't afford a full size chair by Ron Arad or a photograph by Cindy Sherman, then this is the thing for you.

Remember - what makes it collectable in 20, 30, 50 years time is the fact that it is STILL in the SAME condition as when it was bought....

Hence -

- Avoid temptation - DO NOT open them or play with them!

- Put books, magazines or comics into individual mylar (not vinyl!) sleeves. You might be tempted to cut costs by forcing several issues in one bag, but that puts stress on the comics or magazines, and keeps you from sorting them later.

- Store the collectable in a bag for protection from the elements, animals, bugs and dirt. Some high-quality bags have resealable stickum on the flaps, making it easy to open and close. Others need to be taped shut -- don't use masking tape or duct tape! Be careful not to stick the tape or flap to the item in question!

- Include an acid-free cardboard backing that is slightly bigger than item. If you buy bags and boards from the same source, they should fit together without problems. The treated side of the cardboard is the white side. Replace the board every five years or so.

- Store them standing upright if possible in a sturdy box.

- Keep the boxes in a stable environment, away from light, smoke and humidity, and away from extreme ranges in temperature.