Advertising
One of the first known methods of advertising was outdoor ads, or "billboards", painted on the wall of a building. Today advertising is ingrained in our culture and includes everything from classic Wheaties boxes, to Cigar Store Indians, to celebrity memorabilia and sports figure merchandise.

American Indian
The American Indian culture has a tremendous sense of pride and tradition. Many of their works have become popular collectibles including pottery, leatherwork, jewelry, baskets, beadwork, and rugs.

Antiquities
The works of the ancients have always held much mystery and splendor to modern day collectors. Items like Egyptian mummies, and Greek and Roman artifacts tell stories of centuries past and are popular collectible items.

Architectural
Architecture is a symbol of different time periods and cultures. Today popular architectural collectibles include bathtubs, doorknobs, windows, and crown moldings.

Art
Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch postimpressionist painter, whose work represents the prototype of expressionism. Today his works, like those of many famous artists including Rembrandt, Picasso and more, are very popular collectibles.

Arts and Crafts
A Dirk Van Erp Hammered Copper and Mica Shade Table Lamp (post 1915) recently sold for $19,550 at Butterfields. Arts and crafts have become popular collectibles and include furniture, art, pottery, metalware, and items by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

http://www.butterfields.com/catalog/realized/prices7145n_b.html

Art Deco
The Art Deco movement exploded in popularity following the 1925 Paris Exposition. Popular Art Deco collectibles feature geometric designs, bright colors and include items such as Bakelite Jewelry.

Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an ornamental style of art that flourished from 1890 to 1910 throughout Europe and the United States. The term "Art Nouveau" was coined by a gallery in Paris that exhibited much of this work. Popular collectible Art Nouveau items include works by Tiffany, Galle, and Lalique to name a few.

Books
Gutenburg invented the printing press in 1439. Since then, books and the printed word have shaped our world. Popular collectors' items include first editions, leather bound books, history books, children's books, art books and the Gutenburg Bibles.

Breweriana
Beer was known to and enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. It was a common beverage in these northern climates that were not conducive to grape cultivation. Popular breweriana items include stills, rum runners and, of course, beer.

China and Dinnerware
Flora Danica china is perhaps one of the most expensive forms of dinnerware. The Flora factory was founded in Copenhagen by a chemist, Frantz Heinrich Müller. Three wavy lines, one above the other, were adopted as a factory mark in 1775. Today china and dinnerware by many manufacturers remain popular and valuable collectible items.

Clocks and Watches
Grandfather clocks were originally called "coffin clocks". It wasn't until 1876 and the song "Grandfather's Clock," written by Henry Clay Work that the term gained popularity. Today, timepieces are popular collectibles and include Patek Phillip, Cartier, Vintage, Carriage clocks, Tall Case clocks, Alarm clocks and Mickey Mouse watches.

Scripophily
The Central Pacific Railroad was an American railroad company founded in 1861 by a group of California merchants known later as the "Big Four". This group included Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker. The company grew by leaps and bounds as more and more Americans moved westward. Today, the company's stock certificates are a popular collectible item. Other popular scripophilia include Standard Oil Company stock certificates made out to John D. Rockefeller and autographs of sports legends and famous actors.

Coin Operated Machines
The first slot machines in the United States were mere novelties. They didn't return coins, but instead presented gambling opportunities, such as two toy horses that would race after a coin was inserted. Devices like these were set on bar tops in saloons and attracted wagering between patrons. These "one arm bandits", as well as arcade machines, nickelodeons, gum ball machines, Swami Fortune and Prediction and Guess Your Weight machines are all popular collectibles.

Coins and Currency
Since December 31, 1974, private citizens of the United States have been allowed to own gold but not use it as currency. Today, coins and currency are popular collectibles and include sliver dollars, five dollar gold pieces, and silver certificates.

Comics
In January 1894 a comic strip filled a full-color page of Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper the New York World for the first time. Since then, comics have gained much popularity and worth. Some of the most popular include the First Superman, Super Heroes, Serial Adventures, and many first series comic books.

Disneyana
Disney was founded by motion picture animator Walt Disney and his brother Roy in 1929 as Walt Disney Productions to incorporate the brothers' animation studio.
Since then, Mickey and his pals have taken the world by storm. Many Disney items claim top dollar on the collectibles market and feature such characters as Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and more.

Dolls
In March 1959 the first Barbie doll was unveiled at a toy fair in New York City. Today, doll collectibles can earn top dollar and include Madame Alexander, Kewpie dolls and porcelain-made dolls.

Figurines
Meissen porcelain was also called Dresden Porcelain in England, Porcelaine De Saxe in France, German hard-paste, or true porcelain. It was produced at the Meissen factory, near Dresden in Saxony, which is now Germany, from 1710 until the present day. It was the first successfully produced true porcelain in Europe and dominated the style of European porcelain manufactured until about 1756. Today figurines made of this porcelain as well as other manufacturers including Hummel's, Lladro and Doulton are popular and very valuable collectibles.

Furniture and Accessories
Stylistically furniture resembles the architecture and interior design of a certain period or culture. Popular furniture collectibles include tables, chairs, dressers, armoires and mirrors.

Furniture (Period and Style)
Chippendale furniture was extremely fashionable in the late 18th century. It was named after the English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale and was the first style of furniture in England named after a cabinetmaker instead of a monarch. Chippendale became the most famous name in the history of English furniture at a time when furniture craftsmanship was at its most popular. Today, it's a sought after collectible along with other styles including Georgian, Queen Ann, and 18th Century American.

Glass
The earliest examples of glass date back to the mid 15th century BC and were located in the Near East. Other popular glass styles include Lalique, Art Nouveau, and more.

Holiday and Seasonal
The modern Christmas tree originated in western Germany. The Germans set up a paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it to symbolize the host, the Christian sign of redemption. In a later tradition, the wafers were replaced by cookies and candles were often added as the symbol of Christ. Today, Christmas ornaments, as well as other holiday and seasonal decorations including Hallmark items, candelabras, and even Easter baskets are popular collectible items.

Jewelry
The art of jewelry-making originated in prehistoric times. Primitive people used animal objects such as horns, shells, and feathers to adorn themselves. Since that time so many million years ago, jewelry has had mass and universal appeal. Some of the most popular jewelry among collectors are gold, silver, Art Deco and costume jewelry.

Kitchen Collectibles
The kitchen has always been a great place to showcase new inventions. Today, some of these inventions have become popular collectibles including reamers, egg beaters, batter bowls, apple peelers, pie birds rolling pins, and ice cream scoops.

Knives
The Egyptians fashioned cutting implements from flints chipped to form serrated edges and then glued into slots cut out from pieces of wood to form handles. Today, popular collectible knives include ivory handled, hunting, jackknives, Bowie, Stag handle, and pocket knives.

Lamps and Lighting
The first true lamp was the oil lamp. The exact origin is not known but such lamps were in general use by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. Today, modern and antique lamps and lighting are popular collectibles.

Limited Edition Plates
In the world of collectors, plates are for more than just eating. Popular collectible plates can feature detailed artwork, historical events, movie art and sports stars.

Luggage
Luggage documents our social history and records the many methods of carriage over the decades in different cultures. Popular collectible luggage includes Louie Vuitton and steamer trunks.

Lunchboxes
On an early episode of Happy Days, Richie Cunningham carried a Wild Bill Hickok lunchbox. It was a symbol of childhood and today lunchboxes can carry many fond memories. These childhood accessories often feature Super Heroes, TV show characters and cartoons and can claim top dollar in the collectibles market.

Memorabilia In 1881 the Cooper, Bailey and Co.'s Circus merged with it's major competitor, P.T. Barnum's "Greatest Show on Earth". Together they created a circus dynasty that still lives today. Posters from these and other circus' have become popular collectibles as well as programs and memorabilia from other events including commemorative spoons and barbershop, movie and rock'n'roll items.

Metalware
Metals comprise about two thirds of the known elements. Popular metal collectibles include brass candlesticks, bronze statues, iron gates, copper pots, pewter plates and silverware.

Militaria
World War I began as a local European war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia on July 28, 1914. Today, more than 85 years later, the uniforms, weapons, medals and badges from this war, as well as the Civil War, WWII and others, are very popular collectibles.

Miscellaneous
Some collectibles you just can't categorize. You'll find them here.

Music Related
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian violin maker who brought the craft of violin-making to the height of perfection. His "long" models, dating from 1690, represent a complete innovation in the proportions of the instrument. Today, musical instruments like the Stradivarius violin can command top dollar. Other popular musical collectibles include sheet music, phonographs, piano rolls, records, and instruments.

Orientalia and Asian
Chinese civilization began in 3000 BC, on the plain of the Huang He (Yellow River). This area sustained large farming communities of people who raised silkworms and spun silk thread and cloth. Today, Oriental and Asian ceramics, Lacquer ware, metalware and art are popular and expensive collectibles.

Paper and Ephemera
One of the earliest known magazines was a German publication, Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen ("Edifying Monthly Discussions"), which was issued periodically from 1663 to 1668. Today, vintage magazines as well as newspapers, manuscripts, postcards and matchbooks are all popular collectibles.

Pens and Pencils
The earliest ancestor of the pen was a brush used for writing by the Chinese in the 1st millennium BC. Popular collectible writing utensils include fountain pens, Montblanc, Eversharp, Waterman, inkwells and mechanical pencils.

Photographics
The earliest camera was the camera obsucra. In the 1820s and 1830s, it was adapted to create permanent images by Joseph Nicéphore Niepce and Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre of France. Today, popular photographic collectibles include cameras, Daguerrotype, tinplates, and photos.

Porcelain and Pottery
The nature and style of pottery is determined by the composition of it's clay, the way it is prepared, its firing temperature and the type of glazes used. Popular collectibles in this category include Capo di Monte, Belleek, Limoges, Fulper, Roseville, Rookwood, Weller and Van Briggle.

Primitives
Ancient man began creating tools millions of years ago. Their inventions were based simply on function and have become popular and valuable collectibles.

Religious
Religion has been around since time began. The relics and ceremonial objects of many sects and deities are popular collectible items and can potentially carry much value.

Scientific Instruments
Evangelista Torricelli, was an Italian mathematician and physicist, best known for inventing the barometer in 1643. Today antique barometers as well as dental, nautical and medical instruments are popular scientific collectibles.

Silver
Peru and Norway boast the most notable deposits of native silver in the world. Their mines have been worked for centuries and yielded the materials for popular collectible items like elaborate Victorian silverplate, sterling flatware and hollowware.

Sports In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts invented basketball. The game caught on quickly in the United States, and in 1896 the first college basketball game with five team members on a side was played at the University of Iowa. Today basketball and other sports including baseball, football, tennis and more are hugely popular though out the world. Popular collectibles include everything from autographs, balls, and equipment to jerseys, cards and posters.

Stamps
In 1840, the first postage stamps for the prepayment of letter postage were issued in England. Today, stamps and stamp collecting are more popular than ever. Some items that command the most value are First Day Covers and Priority Mail stamps.

Steins, Jugs and Mugs
Everyone has a favorite glass that they like to use. Today many collectors spend a fortune on theirs. Popular drinkwear includes beer mugs and items by Villeroy and Boch.

Textiles
Tapestry has always been a luxury art, and its highest point of artistic achievement came under noble patronage in Flanders in the 15th century. Tapestries were frequently designed and woven in sets. In fact, it was not uncommon for a set to have six or more panels. Today, tapestries as well as linens, lace, quilts, and rugs are popular collectible items.

Tobacciana
When Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, he found the natives using tobacco in much the same manner as it is used today. The American Indians believed tobacco had medicinal properties, which was the main reason for its introduction into Europe. Today, tobacco products have become popular collectibles and include cigars, cigarettes, humidors, lighters and ash trays.

Tools
Dating back about 2,600,000 years ago, the beginning of the Paleolithic Age, the earliest known tools consisted of variously sized examples of the pebble tool, or chopper. The chopper is thought to be the first tool made and used by human beings. The tool typically consisted of a water-worn, fist-sized rock, which had been chipped away at one end to create a roughly serrated edge. It was used by Paleolithic man to cut through the skin and sinews of hunted animals. Today ancient and antique tools have become popular collectibles and include anvils, axes, blow torches, gauges and saws.

Toys
Toys, playthings, and games survive from the most remote past and from a great variety of cultures. Popular collectible toys include tin toys, dolls, teddy bears and games.

Transportation
American aviators Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright of Dayton, Ohio, are considered the fathers of the first airplane. Methods of transportation have always fascinated mankind. Automobiles, airplanes, boats and trains and the items associated with them have become popular collectible items.

Vanity Items
Only within the past few years, have perfume bottles and packaging received international attention as an appreciated art form. They now serve to chronicle the historical trends and fashion styles dictated by past decades. These and other vanity items including dresser accessories and compacts have become valuable collectibles.

Vintage Clothing
Climate and natural resources, historical changes in religion and culture exert a huge influence on clothing. Because of this, garments can often tell the story of the past and have become popular collectibles; especially clothing from the 1950's and earlier.

Vintage Electronics
The rapid growth of modern electronics began after the introduction of vacuum tubes at the beginning of the 20th century. Popular collectible electronics include telephones, televisions, radios and computers.

World's Fair and Expos
world's fairs, have become elaborate showcases for technological and cultural developments and manufactured products. World's Fair collectibles and souvenirs are especially popular from the 1939 New York World Fair and the 1925 Paris Exposition.

Optics
An English philosopher named Roger Bacon recorded the earliest statement about the optical use of lenses way back in 1268. Possibly as early as the 10th century, however, the Chinese had used magnifying glasses placed in frames. Modern eyeglasses were first used in Italy, and some Middle Age portraits depict people wearing eyeglasses. Today, optics are popular collectibles and include eye glasses, binoculars, monocles and opera glasses.

Pianos
Johann Andreas Stein of Augsburg, is credited with inventing piano improvements that became the foundation of the "Viennese" piano. This piano was praised by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and favored by most German composers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Popular collectible pianos are Steinway's, Chickering's, and Baby Grand's.

Gambling Memorabilia
Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada, and one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the U.S. It's also the home of gambling in the Western U.S. In recent decades, gambling memorabilia has gained popularity and includes poker chips, roulette, dice, cards, and slot machines.