Something to think about

You mean I can’t take mine with me into the West? 😁

A Tolkien Museum where we could store rare Tolkien books would be amazing.

It is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to spend large sums on collecting, tbh. I'm well aware it will be down to my family to dispose of my collection once I have shaken off the mortal coil / kicked the proverbial. Even a moderately sized collection still represents a challenge and a headache for all concerned. I think all you can do is make sure it is well documented so your heirs don't miss out on their inheritance due to giving stuff away that might have significant value.

The late Stu wrote:

It is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to spend large sums on collecting, tbh. I'm well aware it will be down to my family to dispose of my collection once I have shaken off the mortal coil / kicked the proverbial. Even a moderately sized collection still represents a challenge and a headache for all concerned. I think all you can do is make sure it is well documented so your heirs don't miss out on their inheritance due to giving stuff away that might have significant value.

Making a catalogue of your books is a great idea. My plan is to make a catalogue for my whole family so they can understand each book's value. I often forget how specialized our field of collecting is and how many years it took me to understand valuations. So my plan is to make an approximation of the value of every book in my collection with low, average, and high prices. If my kids decide to sell, they can always factor in inflation through future years and calculate a good price to sell in the future. Of course, they will have to take into account additional shifts in the markets. Who knows what the future will bring, but my guess is that prices will continue to rise in the next 10 years and beyond.

Lokki wrote:

Making a catalogue of your books is a great idea. My plan is to make a catalogue for my whole family so they can understand each book's value. I often forget how specialized our field of collecting is and how many years it took me to understand valuations. So my plan is to make an approximation of the value of every book in my collection with low, average, and high prices.

As a modest record collector I use Discogs regularly to catalogue my collection, as well as buy and sell records. Their system allows you to sort your collection into folders, specify the condition of each of your records, see min., max. and median value, you can set wants, etc. If we could have something like that for Tolkien books that would be excellent.

Éarendel wrote:

Lokki wrote:

Making a catalogue of your books is a great idea. My plan is to make a catalogue for my whole family so they can understand each book's value. I often forget how specialized our field of collecting is and how many years it took me to understand valuations. So my plan is to make an approximation of the value of every book in my collection with low, average, and high prices.

As a modest record collector I use Discogs regularly to catalogue my collection, as well as buy and sell records. Their system allows you to sort your collection into folders, specify the condition of each of your records, see min., max. and median value, you can set wants, etc. If we could have something like that for Tolkien books that would be excellent.

I would recommend that we implement something like that on this site.

We could then;

1. track our collections on this site
2.share them between ourselves ( who is willing - completely optional)
3. track what we don't have with wishlists etc.
4. make a more active marketplace between ourselves.
5.keep a record of how much you paid for specific items ( Mr. Underhill's idea)
6.additional ideas welcome

As I know that this idea is a big project and I am not a programmer by trade I am very much willing to donate for that goal. If we can crowdfund a thing like this maybe it could be done?

Cheers,

Lokki

I would add that it's also important to keep a record of what you paid for the item. As that can get forgotten over time as well.

Mr. Underhill wrote:

I would add that it's also important to keep a record of what you paid for the item. As that can get forgotten over time as well.

Great addition!! I agree wholeheartedly!!

Lokki wrote:

I would recommend that we implement something like that on this site.

We could then;

1. track our collections on this site
2.share them between ourselves ( who is willing - completely optional)
3. track what we don't have with wishlists etc.
4. make a more active marketplace between ourselves.
5.additional ideas welcome

As I know that this idea is a big project and I am not a programmer by trade I am very much willing to donate for that goal. If we can crowdfund a thing like this maybe it could be done?

Cheers,

Lokki

It's one of our long-term projects to have that functionality here. It's on our ever growing list of things to do. ;)