"As a general rule, it is foolish to do just what other people are doing, because there are almost sure to be too many people doing the same thing."
That's a quote by William Stanley Jevons back in the 1800s. But it could be the best piece of advice you receive right now.
Let me explain why, with this 1970s example...
Back in the '70s, British Rail set up a Pension Fund that invested in works of art. It was ridiculed at the time. Why? Because not many people were doing it.
Pension fund portfolios at the time were mostly in equities and bonds, and inflation-linked bonds were thought to be the future.
Yet British Rail's art fund proved a success. It was breaking new ground.
This was at a time when inflation was running at an annual rate of 30% - a big concern. The stock market was in decline and the property market had collapsed.
Does all this 'doom and gloom' sound familiar?
According to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Prices Index of inflation rose above 5% in September of this year. Yet another dent in the living standards of families across Britain.
But, at the time of writing this, new World Record prices keep happening in the collectibles markets. These include John Wayne's green beret, recently sold for $179,000.
Elsewhere "the oldest working car in the world," a De Dion Boton, sold for a whopping $4.62m.
 Could this pristine version of Superman's first-ever adventure, |
And a high quality copy of Action Comics #1 (Superman's first-ever comic adventure) once owned by actor Nicholas Cage is expected to be another World Record. In fact, it could be the world's first $2m comic.
In other words, the collectibles markets are stronger than ever - continuing the success of British Rail's art fund, despite all the economic gloom.
As Money Observer's Cathy Adams writes: "Recent stock market volatility and increasing UK inflation have driven investors towards tangible assets."
This could be the best time to get involved
Because, to paraphrase William Stanley Jevons, not too many people are doing it.
Rather, enough people are doing it - there are roughly 200 million serious collectors worldwide - with enough passion and dedication to drive these strong markets to new World Record prices.
And the number of worldwide collectors is growing, including in places like China and Russia.
While commentators and experts in the mainstream financial markets argue about the true impact of high inflation, more and more people are getting fed up.
They're realising that "it's foolish to do just what other people are doing" and are expanding their portfolios into collectibles.
These new opportunities are out there, and are yours to explore. To find out more view our special investment guides, or contact our experts for a free consultation at:
+44 (0) 117 933 9500
info@paulfrasercollectibles.com
Until next week,
Paul
