From baseball cards to player bobbleheads, sports memorabilia evoke happy memories of childhood and camaraderie. Because of this, it continues to be a popular type of collectible. If you’re one of the many people who are interested in building a collection, here’s what you need to know to get started.

How to Build a Sports Memorabilia Collection

Start With a Focus

There’s no shortage of sports-related items, and if you try to collect everything you can find, the process can become overwhelming. At the very least, it can become costly. To avoid this, give yourself a focus. It can be on a single team, athlete, or sport. You can even choose just one type of item like trading cards, jerseys, helmets, or other equipment. You can always branch out later, but staying on one topic or category will be more manageable when you’re starting.

Learn as Much as Possible

Another reason why it’s good to start with a focus is to make learning about the items much easier. You’ll be wading through various auctions and shops, and you’ll need to know about the condition, signs of forgery or fraud, and typical costs. Check hobby publications, online forums, and any books you can find on the subject. Even if you see something at a reputable shop, it’s still your responsibility to discern whether the piece is what it is and whether it’s a worthwhile investment.

Get the Items Appraised

Even if you’re diligent in learning about the condition and price of certain items, for the most part, it’s best to have it professionally appraised. When the items are professionally appraised, you can trust the reliability of the price range because the appraiser has taken the item through a rigorous examination.

Have Fun

Collecting sports memorabilia should be enjoyable. If you’re feeling frustrated that you haven’t found a particular piece, take a step back and reevaluate what you’ve acquired so far. Additionally, don’t get too bogged down with the value of an item. If you found something that you like, but it doesn’t have much money on the market, that’s okay—it’s your collection.

If you’re seeking legitimate sports memorabilia, visit 5J Music in Elko, NV. For 25 years, they’ve served people throughout the region; they even have customers who travel from as far as 120 miles away! Besides sports memorabilia, they sell various other hobby items, such as musical instruments, games, and decorative figurines. You can see some of these on their website, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call them at (775) 778-0484.