Collectibles have been a part of almost every culture since ancient times.
从古代开始，收藏品就是文化的一部分。
Whereas some objects have been collected for their usefulness, others have been selected for their aesthetic beauty alone.
一些物品因它们的有用性被收藏，而另一些则纯粹因为它们的美被收藏。
In the United States, the kinds of collectibles currently popular range from traditional objects such as stamps, coins, rare books, and art to more recent items of interest like dolls, bottles, baseball cards, and comic books.
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Interest in collectibles has increased enormously during the past decade, in part because some collectibles have demonstrated their value as investments.
对收藏品的兴趣在过去十年中大大地增长，部分原因是一些收藏品显示出了它们的投资价值。
Especially during cycles of high inflation, investors try to purchase tangibles that will at least retain their current market values.
尤其在高通货膨胀时期，投资者尽量购买那些至少会保持他们现有市场价值的有形资产。
In general, the most traditional collectibles will be sought because they have preserved their value over the years, there is an organized auction market for them, and they are most easily sold in the event that cash is needed.
Some examples of the most stable collectibles are old masters, Chinese ceramics, stamps, coins, rare books, antique jewelry, silver, porcelain, art by well-known artists, autographs, and period furniture.
Other items of more recent interest include old photograph records, old magazines, post cards, baseball cards, art glass, dolls, classic cars, old bottles, and comic books.
其它更近期的物品有旧唱片、旧杂志、明信片、垒球卡片、彩色玻璃、布娃娃、早期汽车、古瓶和连环画册。
These relatively new kinds of collectibles may actually appreciate faster as short-term investments, but may not hold their value as long-term investments.
作为短期投资这些相对说来较新颖的收藏品的确可能更快地增值，但作为长期投资则可能不能保值。
Once a collectible has had its initial play, it appreciates at a fairly steady rate, supported by an increasing number of enthusiastic collectors competing for the limited supply of collectibles that become increasingly more difficult to locate.
