Eric Takabayashi wrote:

> That pleasure of ownership (or sentimental value as with the family house or
> things ancestors passed down) is precisely what would not allow me to sell my
> "collection", even to make a living or a load of money. (I give away or even
> trash things I lose interest in.) Much better to trade in pieces of paper such
> as stocks and bonds which represent mere money.
> 

That's exactly the problem with collectibles. I have known quite
a few people that refer to their collections as investments but
the truth is they will never sell them. Although I am not
suggesting John is like this, it is very common.