1. I am (for the purposes of this survey only) ______male ______female ______ other, and as of today ____years old. I was the ___ only child or oldest/middle/youngest (circle one) of ___total number of ____brothers ____sisters. I grew up in ___the U.S. ________ country and currently live in ___the U.S. _____________Country (outer space not an option, sorry).

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2. Looking back, I have been collecting (something) ___ All my life ___ Starting when I was _____

 

3. I call myself a collector ___without reservation ___with hesitation/if I must ___ only compared to others who aren’t ___because others tell me I am, or think so

 

4. Areas of collecting interest – starting with the your first (since childhood). Just list them all, whatever they were and are now. If you need more space, extend the lines or write on the back ___________________ _____________________________ ___________________________ ___________________ _____________________________ ___________________________ ___________________ _____________________________ ___________________________

 

5. Now go back, and number your interests (in question 4 above) so that they are in chronological order . . . starting with #1 to indicate

“earliest thing I collected” and so on to the highest (same) number to indicate “things I collected most recently, or still collect”

 

6. When I think about things I collected for the longest time, or still collect, it’s because (check as many as apply) they are: ___ most fun ____ could afford it _____ readily able to find new pieces ______ opportunities to buy, trade and sell _____ knew others, had friends who collected _____ there were clubs, organizations, conventions ________ easy to display, exhibit, live with ____they had the highest asset value ____Other (Explain) ______________________________________________________________

 

7. When I think about things I used to collect, but don’t actively collect anymore, I stopped because I (check as many as apply) ___ lost interest ___ couldn’t afford it ___ couldn’t find ones I wanted ___ ran out of room ___ my friends (spouse, family etc) disapproved ___ no opportunities to buy, sell or trade ___ ___ no clubs, organizations, conventions ____hard to display, exhibit ____ had to sell ___Other (Explain) ______________________________________________________________

 

8. Thinking back over the years, I really enjoyed collecting __________ the most and _________ for the longest time.

 

9. Speaking of things I collect, I would say my greatest focus/primary collecting interest today is ___________. If you were to ask other people, they would ___ agree ___not agree.

 

10. How far along are you in building your primary collection? Would you say you are ___still beginning ___ pretty well along __ just looking for a few/rare items ___finished

 

11. What year did you start this collection? ____ Are you active in the field today? ____ (Y/N)

 

12. Do you know exactly what you own? ____ (Y/N/Sort of) Do you keep records of every purchase/sale/trade etc ____ (Y/N/Sort of) Do you know the current market value of your collection? ___ (Y/N/Sort of) Do you care about any of those things? ____ (Y/N/Sort of) Do you think it’s important to do and know those things? ____ (Y/N/Sort of)

 

13. ___I like ____don’t like to tell, talk about or show other people what I collect. ___ I tell ___sometimes tell ____ never tell anyone where or how I acquired something and ___I tell ___ sometimes tell ___rarely tell _____never tell anyone what I have paid.

 

14. Whatever I am collecting today, ______% of the collection is displayed in some fashion, where I live. I use _____display cases _____hang on wall _____on stands/pedestals _____other (check all that apply)

 

15. I have used the services of a restorer on occasion ____ (Y/N). I have used the services of an appraiser on occasion ____ (Y/N) I have used the services of a framer, cabinetmaker, et al. on occasion ____ (Y/N)

 

16. Speaking of my primary collection(s), my main sources for acquisitions are/were (check all that apply): ___ other collectors ____ maker or creator of the object _____ dealers ____ galleries or shops ____ auctions _____ conventions, shows, exhibits _____flea markets, estate sales, similar Other (describe) ____________________________________________________________

 

17. Speaking of my primary collection(s), my main method and process for acquisitions are/were (check all that apply): ___ in person ___ online ___ phone, and ___buying and/or ___trading. Other (describe) ____________________________________________________________

 

18 Speaking of my primary collection(s), my main sources for information and learning about the field were (check all that apply) ___dealers ____gallerists ____creators/makers ____ other collectors ____ books, articles ____ school/classes Other (describe) ____________________________________________________________

 

19. Speaking of my primary collection(s), my main sources and method for de-acquistioning (pruning, downsizing, refining) are/were (check all that apply): ___ dealers ____ auctions _____ charity ____ other collectors ____ family/relatives/close friends Other (describe) ____________________________________________________________

 

20. Speaking of my primary collection(s) today, I will ultimately ___ be buried with it ___ give it away ___sell it __ have no idea what I will do with it

 

21. Taking a moment to give it thought, and assuming burial with your collectibles is not really an option, your preference would be: ___dispersal ____ keep the collection intact, and this would most likely happen ____before death or ____ after death and the method(s) would be (check all that apply): ___ private sale ____public sale (estate sale, Craig’s list or similar) ____ public auction (online or auction house) _____ charitable donation (organization, institution, etc) ____ friends, family _____to heirs Other (describe)

 

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THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ME! 

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