Ten collectibles of 2030

Alternative investments are especially attractive when stock markets are in turmoil. So Times Money asked five antiques experts to name their best bets for collectibles of the future. We wanted contemporary items that could be bought online or in mainstream shops for £100 or less and should increase in value – hopefully significantly – by 2030. Their tips are supplemented by our own choice and by two suggestions from Christie's for bigger spenders. To realise the best price in a future sale, all items should be kept in original condition, with all packaging. Note that predicted prices are in today's terms and do not take inflation into account.

"I'm not a plastic bag" by Anya Hindmarch
Anita Manning, Great Western Auctions
Expert on Bargain Hunt (BBC) and Flog It! (BBC)

We should look for something which will reflect our present day world, is well designed, made in limited editions and, if possible, of some quality. Anya Hindmarch’s “I’m not a plastic bag” re-usable canvas tote is my bet for a collectible of the future. It reflects our present day concern for climate change and preserving the resources of our planet. These bags were made in limited editions of four colours and sold new at Sainsbury's for just £5. They are already changing hands on eBay for eight times that. Anya Hindmarch is one of our leading designers, and the bags were not only topical but gave people a chance to buy a designer piece which would otherwise be out of their reach. By 2030 I predict that these will become collectors’ pieces and change hands for at least £500. Condition is all important, so store carefully.

Times Money adds: The bag is no longer available from Sainsbury's. Examples in original condition can, however, be had on eBay for around £20 to £30.

The mobile phone
Philip Serrell, Philip Serrell Auctioneers & Valuers
Expert on Bargain Hunt and Flog It!

Think of one possession that most of us have at least one of. Sometimes these gems of modern day technology are given to us and we pay for the privilege of using them. In my view the mobile phone has revolutionised our lives and will become collectable in the way that phone cards have. But make sure you keep all the accessories, including the packaging (and the thing that fits in the ear that makes one look like a night club bouncer). Surely the front runner will be the “Del Boy brick”. Value in thirty years time? Who knows but in today’s terms my guess is £100 or more.

Times Money adds: Carphone Warehouse sells a vast range of handsets. Retrobrick deals in classic mobiles, including the Motorola DynaTAC 8500x used by Derek Trotter at £59.

The celebrity autograph
Philip Serrell

Alternatively, my £100 could be spent travelling to rock concerts, film premieres and sporting events to collect autographs. The four Beatles signatures from the early 60s are now worth thousands. Sadly as time passes and our heroes pass with it, the value of their signatures can only increase. I think I would have to try to persuade young racing driver Lewis Hamilton to sign my small book. Value in the future? Well there is the gamble, but if our Lewis wins Championship after Championship and, perhaps, becomes very reclusive, then his mark could well be worth as much as £500 by the year 2030.

Times Money adds: Autograph Magazine has some interesting features on "philography" here.

David Linley gifts
Philip Serrell

The trouble with choosing a collectible of tomorrow is one needs the ability to predict fashion changes. Will Beckham Fragrances aftershave (from £15) – complete in its carton – become collectable? Who will be the next Banksy and turn graffiti into gold? For my third choice, I would log on to the website of David Linley, furniture maker and the Queen's nephew. There I would probably go for either the set of 10 cased pencils at £15 or a rosewood bookmark shaped as a paperclip at £19, all stamped Linley. This investment would have it all – a royal connection linked to a sought after designer name. How could it fail to be worth £100 or more in thirty years' time? Provided of course I hadn’t sharpened my pencils.

Times Money adds: Another affordable item with a Royal Connection is this £45 gardener's gift set from the Prince of Wales' Duchy Originals range, with a hand trowel, hand fork and wooden box-cum-planter.

Children's books
Kate Bliss, independent fine art valuer
Expert on Bargain Hunt and Flog It!

It is no secret that collectibles in mint condition are the most desirable and expensive. “Mint” collectible children’s books are rare – most have been loved and enjoyed repeatedly and bear the scars. I particularly love children’s pop-up books, not only the most vulnerable to damage but a world of discovery for toddlers meeting books for the first time. I remember as a child Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski, a pop-up book published in the 1970s and 80s, that has already become a collector’s item. I think the classics such as Eric Hill’s Spot books and Rod Campbell’s Dear Zoo available in bookshops today for as little as £4.99 will be worth collecting for the future. By 2030, a mint example may be worth three or four times its price and should continue to rise in value. My tip is buy two copies and keep one away from sticky fingers!

Times Money adds: Amazon.co.uk has a huge selection.

The mouse mat
Elizabeth Talbot, Diss Auction Rooms
Expert on Bargain Hunt and Flog It!

My nomination for an affordable contemporary item that should increase in value is the humble mouse mat. They are a creation specifically for the current age, have no predecessor and will be made redundant by swiftly developing technology in the very near future. Therefore, although mass-produced, we already know there will not be an infinite supply. Being a piece of equipment, bought to be pressed into service, most mouse mats are ripped out of their packaging without a second thought being paid to it. Therefore, a mouse mat “in original packaging” or “original condition” will be a rare find in 22 years time. I believe a new mat currently costing £5 to 20 with any of the desirable characteristics sought by a collector may well sell-on for £50 to £100-plus in 2030.

Times Money adds: Google "mouse pad" as well as "mouse mat" if shopping online. Interesting options include Mouse Rugs and the London Transport Museum's Underground map mats.

Something craft-y
David Harper
Expert on Bargain Hunt

Avoid anything that is readily available in every department or furniture store in the land. What you are looking for is rarity, individualism and something made by hand by a craftsman. So, the trick is to find a talented potter, painter or sculptor either locally or through the internet – someone who’s work you like and will enjoy owning.  Buy it from them direct, make sure you keep the receipt with the item and even better get the artist to sign a letter of authenticity and if you can, have your picture taken with them!  It all sounds a bit cheeky, but if they drop dead in ten years time and turn into an Andy Warhol, you will be quids in.

Times Money adds: The Crafts Council can help you to find a suitable maker.

For bigger spenders

According to experts at Christie's, two wines that should make a good investment are:

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2000 – now £500 a bottle at The Antique Wine Company

Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000 - now £1,295 a bottle at Berry Bros. & Rudd

Note also: "The 2005 vintage wines will start to be traded in the auction market in 2008, and I expect that the top wines from this vintage will increase in value, as it is a superb vintage, possibly as good as 1961."

If wine does not appeal, Christie's tips "cutting-edge" gadgets, such as the Apple iPod and iPhone.

"Whether we'll sell this sort of thing by 2030 remains to be seen, but the consensus is that they could potentially be of interest."

The compiler's choice

A browse of Abebooks.com shows that signed first edition books by popular authors can rocket in value. Hatchard's, of Piccadilly, always has a good selection, many for under £20. One good bet for 2030 could be The Reaver, the last novel of George Macdonald Fraser, author of the Flashman novels, who died on January 2. This costs £18.99. As an example of investment potential, a signed first edition of Spike Milligan's Robin Hood I bought new for £10.99 in 1998 now fetches around £300 in as-new condition.

Compiled by Mark Bridge

Please post your own suggestions in the comments below

Comments

[Otto]

Toys are a no brainer, particularly ones associated with that particular era. There are many toys from 1986 which bring many times what they cost then in an easily sellable forum like ebay. Terms like MIB (Mint-In-Box) and MOC (Mint-On-Card) are jargon developed to facilitate sales of these items. People have purchased houses with the proceeds from Star Wars toys purchased in 1986.

[Matthew Bacon]

Im no expert, but my guess is petrol. sell your house. buy some petrol... then give it... 2 days? to 30 years..? depending how long y ou can wait... and no doubt the value will go up... by about twice per week. dont sell it on in Britain though... otherwise the govermonet will sting your ass with that wonderful tax thing they have... that they need... for some reason... oh wait.... no.. i forgot again....

On a more serious note. i suggest AOL free trial disks, the were a craze for mug coasters... and hopefully AOL will be down the tubes in 30 years... so youll have people buying them for their wonderful experience with AOL.. (or just to point and laugh)

[Dan]

Great list, but a mouse mat? -- I know for certain that at least i will continue using a mouse and mousemat for as long as they are manufactured, and a keyboard probably as well (although speech recognition is quite nice). the reason? well a mouse gives you more control than anything else, and more accurately. Touch? no where near? Infa-red Tracking? also, who wants to wave their hands in the air for hours on end to control some sort of cursor? Not me. another reason is simply FPS games (first person shooter) i play Day of Defeat, quite often, and it is just brilliant with a mouse, mousemat and keyboard...there is nothing that could replace those things. maybe a custom keyboard for the WASD keys, but a mouse? simply nothing. that also explains why i mentioned me being able to do without a keyboard in the future, because of speech recognition for anything other than gaming, and for gaming, the custom boards that are even now being manufactured.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BU0F5Y/ref=dp_cp_ob_title_0/002-0793611-7751221 http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-n52te-Tournament-Edition-SpeedPad/dp/B000WMEHYG a game controller similar to a playstation or xbox one? no definitely not for a FPS game. not for me, or thousands of others. see what i mean, im 15 now, and by 2030 im not going to change until there is no option. At least one manufacturer will always make these things,for people like me who wont let of the mouse and keyboard layout. Hope all that made sense...and sorry, it seemed quite long...

[Bill]

Its funny what mundane things become collectibles. The things that we collect today, had almost no significance at all 30 years ago.

[Alisdair Fardon]

Hi,
What I have done for a future investment is to buy a first edition signed copy of Angie Sages books Magyk , Physik and Flyte, as the rumour is that Warner Brothers have signed Angie Sage to a seven book deal, the fourth book Queste is out in May and already I have doubled my investment...could be the next Harry Potter!!

[AnneMarie]

Hello!!
Just to satisfy my curious mind...I was watching Cash in the Attic and the expert was a younger version of my favorite Burberry scarf toting antiquary, Philip Serrell. I did not catch the gentleman's name in the credits and was wondering if perhaps this is Philip's son. And he too, wore the trademark neckwear!!! Hope you can either answer or pass on to Mr. Serrell. Thank you!!!

AnneMarie

[Murray Furtado]

I collect the first handheld electronic games from the late 70s & early eighties. Given that they heralded the start of the multi billion pound computer gaming industry and they have a cool retro aesthetic, that's where I'm putting my money! Technology, in general is becoming collectable. eg. the first walkman, space age Weltron 6 track players, etc...

[N]

The Spurs Opus if you believe the marketing guys at THFC.

[Elena Ivanova]

All those are very fascinating and funny.
But very difficult to be sold out not considering more serious items.

[Harvey Lee]

If you fancy a flutter on philately and the unusual floats your boat - you could do a lot worse than tucking away some QE2 GB errors.
Prices have risen some 20% pa for the last few years and this trend is expected to continue. Many of these items are genuinely rare and in particular missing colours and imperforates appeal.

[Andy Dyer, London]

Ask yourself what you're in love with now, and what good memories are/will be attached to the object of your affections. That's what will make tomorrow's collectibles.

I'll choose mobile phones, with accessories. But I'll not bother with the packaging - which has none of the magic that, say, the boxes in which Matchbox toys came in. You and many/most collectors of the future will want to display these phones the way you see them in shop windows, packaging nowhere in sight. You don't want to be carefully opening dozens of boxes every time you show off your collection. (Packaging is also bulky and has to be kept in the dark - put it in the attic if you insist). Always collect things in a way that gives you pleasure first.

[Justin Bryant]

Where's the limited edition Marmite??

[Wayne Rickard]

Hi, how about precision scientific instruments, i.e. Slide Rules. I believe they are becoming very collectable.