How to Get Rich Reading Comics and Seeing Movies by Peter Rexford on Creators.com

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How to Get Rich Reading Comics and Seeing Movies

Occasionally, someone will refer to me as "the guy who writes about antiques." I've always politely corrected them, noting that I write about collectibles. Some ask what is the difference. Good question.

By definition, an antique is an object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age. Similarly, a collectible is defined as, "an item valued, of interest to and sought by collectors." By those standards, the major difference is the "considerable age."

That creates a conundrum because I've written about 2,000-year-old coins. I suppose they are antiques, but because so many varieties are found in abundance, most numismatists consider them a collectible. In the end, the question is "who cares?" The answer: Someone with a lot of money.

A week or so ago, I thought of that when a comic book made the news. It was the first edition in which Batman made his debut. It was issued in 1939, which is not old by today's standards. Back in 1970, a person spent the then- staggering amount of $100 for it and just tucked it away. Clearly, his relatives must have considered him a nerd, an idiot or both.

Fast forward to February 2010. That same comic — that many still remember from their youth — just sold at auction for over $1 million. Of course, the condition of the comic was virtually pristine, but that little paper book for kids is now the equivalent to the price of a fine home in most parts of the country.

This tells me that something else needs to be added to the definition of the word "collectible." The word "nostalgia" has to enter. After all, who doesn't long for objects they enjoyed in their childhood and yearn to relive just a taste of that time, let alone profit from it?

This nostalgia now appears to be true for something every bit as popular today as 70 or 80 years ago — movies. More money than ever before in history is being spent to go to the movies. The same is true for the amount of money being spent on vintage movie posters.

For any and all who have nostalgia for favorite films they saw (or the people with whom they saw them), movie posters are a virtual trip back in time.

Sure, some are quite old, such as those for classic Charlie Chaplin films of the early 1900s, and worth a pretty penny — upward of $33,000.

Others are from the recent past, including "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" from 1958. The original movie poster for that film is worth a hefty $21,000. Even though it's considered one of the "worst science-fiction films of all time," there are still many who recall seeing the film and are willing to pay dearly for the poster.

As anyone with an antique or collectible knows, the two ingredients for value are rarity and demand. The few known surviving posters create the rarity. But who has the kind of money to pay over $300,000 for a poster that advertises "Dracula" or "The Bride of Frankenstein"? The answer is actors, movie studio heads, producers and directors who have made their fortunes in Hollywood and want this original and authentic vintage memorabilia on their walls. According to officials at Heritage Auctions, which handles 70 percent of movie poster sales, that high demand has created one of the hottest collectible markets in the last 20 years.

For those interested in the history of movie posters, or anyone just looking for a trip down memory lane, a new book by Whitman Publishing, "Collectible Movie Posters — Illustrated Guide with Auction Prices," has just been released showcasing the top 100 posters desired and sold.

The book's title pretty much says it all, but the full-color images of each poster — accompanied by a detailed description of the subject and its rarity — make it fun. The book's foreword is by Sara Karloff, daughter of horror film luminary Boris Karloff. The introduction adds substantial facts about condition and what present-day enthusiasts might look for when it comes to modern movie posters.

Possibly the most enticing aspect of the record prices for comic books or movie posters is the fact that there are surely more out there forgotten in drawers or rolled up in the corner of attics. They're waiting to be found, and collectors are eager to pay for them. Let the treasure hunt begin!

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the book, "Collectible Movie Posters," has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.