collectible, collectable

collectible, collectable
   An object of a type that is valued or sought after by collectors. This term is used less with high art than it is with crafts, memorabilia, and other objects that are becoming rarer, and were previously little recognized as worthy of collection. Another sort of collectible is that which is designed to be marketed as instantly collectible. Examples include sports cards, certain toys, medals, porcelain plates and figurines. At worst, "collectible" is applied in a calculated and inauthentic manner by manufacturers and sellers of new products to increase their appeal, when otherwise those things are simply gewgaws, tchotchkes, kitsch, or replicas. Some of the earliest collectibles of this sort were included as incentives with other products, such as cigarette cards in packs of cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and sometimes became the subject of "collectible crazes," as occurred with Beanie Babies and Pokemon cards, manufactured, as many collectibles are, in series, in order to encourage the gradual buying of larger and larger collections. The early versions of a product, manufactured in smaller quantities before demand has begun to grow, sometimes command exorbitant prices on the secondary market. In a mature market, collectibles rarely prove to have been a sound investment. Although some authorities accept "collectable" is an alternative spelling, it is commonly considered incorrect. According to a study of Usenet traffic several years ago, "collectible" was among the most frequently misspelled of words.

Glossary of Art Terms. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • collectible — col‧lect‧i‧ble [kəˈlektbl] noun [countable] a valuable object bought as an investment: • diamonds, stamps, and other collectibles * * * collectible UK US (also collectable) /kəˈlektəbl/ noun [C, usually plural] ► an object that people collect… …   Financial and business terms

  • collectable — collectable, collectible Fowler (1926) said that the first is better, and this is still true. See able, ible …   Modern English usage

  • collectable — (also collectible) ► ADJECTIVE 1) worth collecting; of interest to a collector. 2) able to be collected. ► NOUN ▪ an item valued and sought by collectors. DERIVATIVES collectability noun …   English terms dictionary

  • collectible — (adj.) also collectable, 1650s, that may be collected, from COLLECT (Cf. collect) + ABLE (Cf. able). Meaning sought after by collectors of relics, souveniers, etc. is recorded from 1888 …   Etymology dictionary

  • collectible — collectable, collectible Fowler (1926) said that the first is better, and this is still true. See able, ible …   Modern English usage

  • collectible — or collectable [kə lek′tə bəl] adj. 1. that can be collected 2. suitable or desirable for collecting, as by a hobbyist n. any of a class of old things, but not antiques, that people collect as a hobby, specif. a thing of no great intrinsic value …   English World dictionary

  • collectable — [[t]kəle̱ktəb(ə)l[/t]] collectables also collectible ADJ GRADED A collectable object is one which is valued very highly by collectors because it is rare or beautiful. Visitors will be impressed with the enormous range of collectable objets d art… …   English dictionary

  • collectible — I. adjective or collectable Date: 1660 1. suitable for being collected 2. due for present payment ; payable • collectibility or collectability noun II. noun or …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • collectable — I noun things considered to be worth collecting (not necessarily valuable or antique) • Syn: ↑collectible • Hypernyms: ↑curio, ↑curiosity, ↑oddity, ↑oddment, ↑peculiarity, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • collectable — col|lect|a|ble [kəˈlektəbəl] adj also col|lect|i|ble [ ıbəl] something that is collectable is likely to be bought and kept as part of a group of similar things, especially because it might increase in value >collectable also collectible n ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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