How to Collect 1930s Memorabilia

The 1930s are a focal point for many memorabilia collectors. Coming off the fanfare of the 1920s and diving into a global depression, the 1930s saw a flowering of film, music and culture that produced a sea of collectible memorabilia. Today, much of the stuff is still around. Follow these steps to collect some 1930s memorabilia treasures.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Pick a theme, genre or category. Even though it's tempting to reduce the whole decade to a few simple ideas or concepts, life in the 1930s was as rich and complex as it is today. You should pick a specific theme, medium or kind of memorabilia to collect so that you have a clear objective in mind with which to pursue items to collect.
2. Check out places where people get rid of their "junk." Flea markets, lesser-known antiques shops and estate sales are all places where one person's junk becomes another person's joy. Keep an eye out in local papers for estate sale announcements and peruse antique stores on a regular basis to find well priced memorabilia from the 1930s.
3. Look for collections to buy. One way to jump-start or enhance your 1930s memorabilia collection is to buy someone else's collection. Frequently, collectors who lose interest or run out of money sell off an entire collection at very low prices. Monitor collecting websites like Steve's Collectibles for a good opportunity.
4. Shop for select or specialty items on online markets. If you're looking for a very specific piece of memorabilia, use online markets like eBay to find what your looking for. If you can't find it initially, post an ad in your newspaper classifieds or on Craigslist to see if anyone out there has one of what you want and is willing to sell.