How to Start a Marble Collection
Whether you start with agates or reals, oxbloods or cat's eyes, shooters or peewees, a marble collection can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Unlike some collector's items, which are good for little except gathering dust, marbles are useful, beautiful and often valuable, as well. But before you can tell an Akro Corkscrew from a Christiansen Swirl, you need to master a few basics.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
-
Classify the Marbles You Have
-
1
Gather up all the marbles you currently have in a bag or box.
-
2
Divide the marbles into separate categories that make sense to you--for example, size, opaque or transparent, board game marbles (such as Chinese Checkers), by color, etc. Small plastic sandwich bags can provide inexpensive storage.
-
3
Go to the Land of Marbles or another picture site where you can compare what your marbles look like with typical examples (see Resources below).
-
4
Write down the types of marbles you have by the terms listed on the site. If you believe you have a marble of value and want to sell it, consult an expert to be certain of its pedigree.
Add to Your Collection
-
1
Go to a marble show to see what is available and what you like. Talk to people there to find out how they pursue the hobby, what resources they use and so on. Borrow or buy books on the subject at the library or at "The Marble Shop @ Land of Marbles."
-
2
Join a marble club or Internet group to learn more about how and why people collect marbles. Ask club members what types of marbles are best for a new collection. A helpful site is Marvelous Marbles (see Resources below).
-
3
Decide what you like. This is the main criterion for any collection. There are dozens of types of marbles, from one-of-a-kind art glass to to ultra-common cat's-eyes, and it is unlikely that you have the time or the resources to collect them all. Use your own taste to narrow down your selection.
-
4
Start with a local toy or hobby store or an Internet site such as MegaGlass for new marbles or Marvelous Marbles for antiques (see Resources below).
-
1
Tips & Warnings
A single type of marble may have several different names, depending on what country or region it comes from. Check with a local expert, or visit a number of different informational sites to track down exactly what type of marbles you have in your collection or want to buy.
The variations between common marbles and truly valuable ones are not always easy to spot. Practice comparing designs under an expert or on a site that offers advice before you buy or sell a piece.
Like stocks, collector's items like marbles go up and down in price. Keep an eye on the market when you are considering buying or selling.
Don't spend a lot of money on display cases or other paraphernalia until you are sure that you will stick with this hobby. Use boxes and plastic bags to start.
